MAJURO, MARSHALL ISLANDS, FRIDAY 26 NOVEMBER 2010: The Ministerial Meeting of the Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA) which includes leaders from Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Tuvalu, today agreed to take action to restrict access to fishing grounds and so increase economic returns to its members.

The Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA) advanced their record of innovative conservation and management measures last week by advancing a proposal to protect whale sharks.

Up to 12 metres long, whale sharks are the largest living fish species in the world admired for their distinctive spotted markings and gentleness towards divers. Being a long-lived species (70 years), and subject to fishing, their status has been classified by the IUCN as vulnerable.

International media reported the announcement of the PNA to seek certification by the Marine Stewardship Council of its purse-seine caught skipjack tuna. For an example of the praise given to this initiative, see comment from WWF below.

SCIENCE CENTRIC/WWF
Western Pacific Islands taking back control of their fisheries
http://www.sciencecentric.com/news/10042838-western-pacific-island-states-taking-back-control-their-fisheries.html

MAJURO, MARSHALL ISLANDS, 23 APRIL 2010: As this week’s meeting of the Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA) drew to a close today, the PNA agreed for the world’s largest closure of the high seas to purse seine
fishing.

The Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA) includes Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Tuvalu – collectively these countries are the owners of 25% of the world’s tuna supply.

MAJURO, MARSHALL ISLANDS, 22 APRIL 2010: The Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA) Office was officially launched today in the presence of the RMI President and the PNA Ministers.

The PNA brings together eight Pacific Island countries to sustainably manage tuna and increase economic benefits for their peoples. PNA members are Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Tuvalu. These countries own waters which supply 25% of the world’s tuna, an estimated $2 billion worth of fish every year.

KOROR, PALAU, 25 FEBRUARY 2010: The Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA) which includes Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Tuvalu, stated today they would seek ‘eco-label’ certification from the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) for skipjack tuna.

KOROR, PALAU, 25 FEBRUARY 2010: The first Presidential Summit of the Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA) which includes leaders from Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Tuvalu, today released a declaration on future direction of their tuna fisheries.

The Presidents met at the Ngarachamayong Cultural Centre to discuss the development of the PNA, which aims to develop innovative ways to maximize economic gains from sustainable management of the members’ tuna fisheries.

The PNA Presidents agreed:

KOROR, PALAU, 25 FEBRUARY 2010: The first Presidential Summit of the Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA) which includes leaders from Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Tuvalu, opens today.

The Presidents will meet at the Ngarachamayong Cultural Centre to discuss the development of the PNA, which aims to develop innovative ways to maximize economic gains from sustainable management of the members’ tuna fisheries.