A sight to see at the Suva Harbour...Subsidised foreign fishing vessels is threatening the survival of tuna operators in the South Pacific.
By RACHNA LAL
Greenpeace says island tuna boat operators targeting albacore in the South Pacific are under threat of being pushed out of operation altogether.
The reason given for this is because of the steady growth in numbers of subsidised foreign fishing vessels.
A recent report by the Forum Fisheries Agency indicated certain foreign fishing fleets were receiving subsidies in the form of fuel offsets, new vessel construction, preferential tax treatment and payment for access fees.
Greenpeace Australia Pacific Oceans campaigner, Duncan Williams, said these subsidies fuel the plunder of South Pacific albacore.
“This is now leading to localised depletions and declines in catch rates across the fishery, jeopardising the livelihoods of locally-owned small-scale tuna boat operators in Pacific Island countries,” he said.
Annual forum fisheries meet
The 85th Annual Forum Fisheries Committee meeting is being held in Honiara, Solomon Islands this week and concludes on Friday.
Greenpeace is urging the Pacific national attending the meeting to support local, sustainable small-scale fisheries over foreign owned, large-scale fishing vessels and fleets that utilise high-impact fishing practices and operate under a ‘pay, fish and go’ model.
“Favorable policies must be put in place by governments at the national and regional levels to assist this transformation of Pacific fisheries,” Mr William said.
“There is growing demand in major markets for sustainable tuna caught by socially responsible fisheries.
“Our region is well-positioned to develop its small-scale and community level tuna fisheries to meet this demand and bring the benefits back to our countries and island communities.”
Greenpeace campaign
Greenpeace is campaigning for a global network of marine reserves covering 40 per cent of the world’s oceans, including the four high seas pockets known as the Pacific Commonsiii to be all declared off limits to fishing.
The environmental group is also seeking a ban on the use of fish aggregating devices (FADs) in purse seine fisheries and a 50 per cent reduction in the catch of big eye tuna.