US Funds Pacific Tuna Treaty Governance With $60 Million Payment

US Releases $60 Million to Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency Under Tuna Treaty

The United States has released US$60 million to the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) under a 10-year Economic Assistance Agreement tied to the South Pacific Tuna Treaty. The funds, confirmed by FFA Director General Noan Pakop, will be allocated to member countries according to an agreed distribution plan, following the U.S. announcement of the payment’s release.

This tranche marks the initial disbursement in what officials describe as a longer-term package of assistance designed to balance U.S. fishing access with regional governance and sustainability. The payment aligns with the 10-year Economic Assistance Agreement that accompanies the South Pacific Tuna Treaty, a framework that has governed access for U.S.-flagged vessels in the EEZs of 16 Pacific Island countries since the treaty’s inception in 1987 and revised recently to extend its terms.

The latest renegotiation, concluded in June 2024, extended the treaty for another decade. U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau announced the $60 million release during meetings with Pacific ambassadors and representatives from nations including Fiji, the Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Palau, Papua New Guinea, the Republic of the Marshall Islands, Samoa, the Solomon Islands, Tonga and Tuvalu. The discussions also focused on expanding private-sector engagement in the region to foster broader prosperity.

For Pacific Island nations, the South Pacific Tuna Treaty and its accompanying assistance help strengthen governance, surveillance, and regional cooperation over shared tuna stocks. The arrangements support food security, government revenues, and local livelihoods tied to tuna fisheries, while providing the United States with continued access for its distant-water fishing fleet and reinforcing diplomatic and economic ties across the Pacific.

Pakop welcomed the development as a positive sign of the U.S. government’s ongoing commitment to the EAA and the treaty, noting that the initial payment “paves the way for the approval of the 2025 payment and future payments under the EAA.” The investment is seen as a concrete step toward bolstering regional fisheries governance and sustainable management of highly valuable tuna resources.

Outlook and value add
– The payment strengthens regional institutions tasked with coordinating fisheries management, enforcement, and collaboration with external partners, helping to secure long-term stock health and regional resilience.
– By linking financial assistance to continued access rights, the arrangement aims to promote sustainable fishing practices that benefit Pacific communities while supporting U.S. industry interests.
– The emphasis on private-sector engagement is positioned to unlock additional investment, technology transfer, and market opportunities that contribute to local economic growth.

Summary
The United States has disbursed US$60 million to the FFA under the South Pacific Tuna Treaty’s Economic Assistance Agreement, marking the first tranche of a broader ten-year package. The step reinforces commitments to sustainable fisheries governance, regional cooperation, and mutual benefit for Pacific Island nations and the United States, with ongoing work to finalize 2025 payments and expand engagement across the private sector.

Positive takeaway
This funding signals a steady, collaborative approach to managing shared tuna resources, supporting ocean health, regional livelihoods, and continued diplomatic and economic cooperation in the Pacific.