Theme: Our Shared Path to Sustainable Development and Full Control of our Tuna Fisheries.

Leaders from Kiribati, Nauru, Palau, Tokelau, Tuvalu, met on Funafuti, Tuvalu on 3-4 September 2025 for the 4th PNA Leaders’ Summit. Federated States of Micronesia and Solomon Islands were represented by the Vice President and Deputy Prime Minister respectively and Marshall Islands and Papua New Guinea were represented at the Ministerial level respectively.

LEADERS,

Reaffirming our commitment as Parties to the Nauru Agreement to co-ordinate and harmonise the management of fisheries with regard to common stocks within our Fisheries Zone to maximise the sustainable economic benefits from our tuna fisheries for the benefit of our peoples;

Noting the Federated States of Micronesia Arrangement for Regional Access and the Palau Arrangement for the Management of the Western and Central Pacific Tuna Fishery; 

Recalling the Koror Declaration Committing Parties to the Nauru Agreement to Joint efforts to increase the Economic Value and derive greater benefits from the tuna resource adopted by PNA Leaders on 25 February 2010 confirming the establishment of the PNA Office in Majuro and the implementation of the purse seine Vessel Day Scheme; 
 

Further recalling the Delap Commitment to reshaping the future to take control of the fisheries: Securing Our Common Wealth Of Oceans adopted by PNA Leaders on 2 March 2018 committing the Parties to strengthening measures for the conservation of PNA tuna resources and the management of PNA tuna fisheries including strengthening the governance of PNA and the PNA Office;

Further recalling also the Kiritimati Communique Charting the Course: Economic Independence Through Collaboration in Sustainable Tuna Fisheries, adopted by PNA Leaders which called for Parties to build on the success of PNA in managing stocks and increasing revenue by increasing our collaboration in catching, processing and marketing our own fish and becoming self-reliant in these areas as well.

Recognising that our path to sustainable development is shared and depends on exercising full control of our tuna fisheries, which are the largest sustainable tuna fisheries in the world, with a catch of 1.5 million tonnes annually; 

Encouraged by the scientific advice from the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission that all three major tropical tuna stocks in the region (bigeye, skipjack and yellowfin) continue to be healthy and the fisheries on those stocks are assessed as being sustainable, noting in particular the recent updated scientific advice on the healthy status of the centrally important regional skipjack stock;

Encouraged also that the measures adopted by the Parties contribute substantially to the healthy status of the regional tuna stocks and to the sustainability of regional tuna fisheries, with most of the catches of these stocks being made under PNA control;

Recognising that maintaining healthy marine ecosystems and a healthy marine environment are essential elements for sustainable tuna fisheries;

Welcoming the continuing success of the PNA Longline and Purse Seine Vessel Day Schemes in controlling fishing effort, conserving tuna stocks and increasing the revenue from fisheries and the economic value of the tuna fishery to the Parties;

Welcoming also the continuing success of PNA commercial programmes including the investment in FIMS Inc which provides the management information system that underpins the effectiveness of the Vessel Day Schemes, the successful operation by the PNA Observer Agency of one of the largest fisheries observer programmes in the world; and the extension of the Marine Stewardship Council certification of the sustainability of the PNA purse seine fishery;

Emphasising closer collaboration between us as a key element in our participation in the tuna value chain;

Welcoming the progress made in the development and implementation of the East New Britain Initiative and Pacific Island Tuna since our Kiritimati Summit, and the preparation of a range of other innovative initiatives designed to increase PNA participation in the tuna value chain for the benefit of the peoples of PNA. 

Noting the decision by FFC Ministers that PNA Ministers take the lead on the commercialisation of the ENBi.

Acknowledging that these initiatives are a timely response to reducing risks and uncertainty for investment in vessels and onshore facilities.in PNA tuna fisheries in the face of increased global economic uncertainty. 

Deeply concerned at the risk that the damage to our tuna resources from the effects of climate will remove a substantial share of the gains that we should be expecting from the sustainability of our fisheries;

Welcoming the decision of the International Court of Justice on Obligations of States in respect of Climate Change, which determined that damage to the oceans caused by greenhouse gas emissions is marine pollution for which polluters may be held responsible and that failure to act may constitute an internationally wrongful act, triggering obligations for reparation, including restoration, compensation, and guarantees of non-repetition and determined that defined baselines for maritime zones, including EEZs, will remain in perpetuity irrespective of the impacts of climate change.

Committed to implementing the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent and addressing the priorities for oceanic fisheries identified by Forum Leaders at their recent Forums;

Expressing their warm appreciation and gratitude to the Government and People of Tuvalu for their warm welcome and generous hospitality, and their commitment to promoting PNA collaboration in hosting the fourth PNA Leaders’ Summit;

HAVE AGREED:

  1. To reaffirm the central importance of PNA collaboration in the management and development of our tuna fisheries for the benefit of our peoples.
  2. To prioritise harnessing PNA strengths in maintaining healthy stocks and tuna fisheries to unlock a new era of value creation, strategic branding, and market positioning that reflects the PNA’s leadership in sustainability and innovation,
  3. To prioritise also the building of the capacity of PNA people and businesses to own, control and provide the skills for our tuna fishing and processing industries.
  4. To maintain and grow the important financial contribution of VDS revenue from tuna fisheries to PNA governments and communities.
  5. To ensure that the PNA continues to manage sustainably the world’s largest tuna fishery, and care for the regional marine ecosystems and the marine environment.
  6. To support Ministers’ work towards closing the eastern high seas in 2026 as a condition of fishing in PNA EEZs, as a contribution towards conserving marine resources in the high seas.
  7. To welcome and support the progress reported in the implementation of the East New Britain Initiative to develop regional hubs and spokes to support fisheries development and growth within the Pacific Islands and to establish a regional development fund to address the high capital costs.
  8. To welcome in particular the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Kiribati and Solomon Islands on collaboration on the development of the Bina Harbour Tuna Processing Plant, as a fine example of PNA collaboration implementing the East New Britain Initiative.
  9. To welcome and support the progress reported also in the implementation of the Pacific Islands Tuna (PIT) Venture working with boatowners and Walmart and other major tuna retailers to source and supply sustainably caught catch from PNA tuna fisheries.
  10. To welcome and support the initiative by the Tripartite Parties (Federated States of Micronesia, Marshall Islands and Papua New Guinea) to accelerate the development and implementation of the ENBi in four main areas - Dockside Offloading, Electronic Monitoring, In-Region Processing and Scaling Pacific Island Tuna, and welcome in particular the opportunities for participation by other PNA Members in the Tripartite Group Arrangements.
  11. To support the adoption of strategies to use PNA’s collective market power as a major player in the global tuna industry, to increase the value of tuna and maximise economic returns for both governments and vessel operators by strategically managing tuna supply, access rights, and market integration.
  12. To endorse the development of a regionally owned and administered Blue Pacific Fisheries Standard as a framework that unifies PNA environmental stewardship, socio-economic justice, and sovereign control over the world’s largest tuna fisheries.
  13. To endorse the proposal for a PNA Initiative Fund for use for PNA initiatives and commercial activities.
  14. To welcome and encourage the very important national tuna development initiatives described by Parties at the Summit.
  15. To prioritise the development and implementation of Electronic Monitoring (EM) to supplement the POA observer program to enhance the collection of data and monitoring of fishing operations.
  16. To welcome the ongoing strengthening of PNA programmes including the implementation of the PNA Compliance regime and the Capacity Development Programme; and the full PNA ownership of FIMS Inc after clearing the loan for the purchase of the company by PNA.
  17. Looked forward to all eligible PNA entities participating in future Leaders’ Summit.
  18. To welcome advice that the first annual payment of US$60m under the Fisheries Treaty with the United States had been received by the Forum Fisheries Agency.
  19. To endorse the ongoing work to prepare for the actions necessary to adapt to climate change, and to seek climate justice for the damage done to PNA tuna fisheries by climate change, including access to high seas fisheries.
  20. To convene a 5th PNA Leaders’ Summit in the Federated States of Micronesia in 2027.
     


 

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