Three Pacific nations say they are closing their waters to foreign tuna fleets in a bid to maintain sustainable fishing limits in the region.
Tuvalu is the latest nation to join the Nauru Agreement Concerning Cooperation In The Management Of Fisheries Of Common Interest and close its fishery, notifying foreign vessels they are no longer permitted to fish for tuna in their surrounding waters.
Other signatories include PNG, Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, Palau and Federated States of Micronesia.
Tuvalu’s closure follows the decision by Nauru a fortnight ago to close its waters, stating fishing limits had been reached.
In June this year, Solomon Islands Cabinet decided to close that nation’s fishery.
As a key part of conservation and management of tuna, the joint countries will limit the number of days vessels can fish in a 14 million square kilometre section of the Pacific Ocean.
This are of ocean provides around 30 per cent of the world’s tuna supply.
