IUU fishing echoed at the Honiara PNA Summit

Parties to Nauru Agreement (PNA) Convenes to Ensure Sustainable Tuna Management

THE PARTIES to Nauru Agreement (PNA) has begun its crucial series of meetings this week at the Mendana Conference facility in Honiara, Solomon Islands. The meetings will focus on ensuring the sustainable management of tuna stocks in the region and the effective implementation of the Vessel Day Scheme (VDS).

The VDS was the main topic of discussion during the first day of the meeting. The PNA Technical and Science Committees reviewed technical issues encountered during the implementation of the VDS in 2022, with the outcomes of the discussions set to be presented to the PNA Annual officials meeting scheduled for Thursday, March 16th, 2023.

Additionally, updates on the PNA Fisheries Information Management System (FIMS) were discussed, which helps to monitor fishing activities of vessels within the PNA member’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). The system captures information on the number of days and locations of fishing vessels, allowing for more effective management of fisheries in the region. The meeting also focused on compliance issues, specifically reporting requirements for vessels operating in PNA EEZ. The PNA officials reviewed the annual report of the organization and discussed the implementation of the VDS for the year 2022, particularly for Longline and Purse Seine fishing to determine the total allowable effort for 2024.

The PNA committee will continue its meetings, with a focus on the Palau Arrangement. Fisheries delegates from the eight PNA member countries and Tokelau are attending the meeting, underscoring the importance of international cooperation in ensuring sustainable tuna management.

These meetings are crucial to the PNA's ongoing efforts to manage and preserve tuna stocks in the region for future generations.