March 15, 2016
Pacific illegal tuna US$600m problem
The Forum Fisheries Agency has scaled back estimates of the amount of tuna illegally taken from Pacific waters.
A report released today on the quantification of illegal, unreported and unrelated fishing in the region puts the figure at just over US$600 million a year, well down on previous estimates of $1 billion to $1.5 billion US dollars.
FFA chief executive James Movick says it represents a loss to island nations of at most $150 million a year in lost rents.
Most of the losses come from under-reporting of catch or other infringements by licensed fishing operators, and so-called pirate operators are responsible for only about 4 percent of the illegal catch.
Mr Movick says having a better handle on the scale of the problem will better help Pacific Island nations and partners like New Zealand to develop more effective responses.
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