US$60 million paid to Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency under Tuna Treaty signals sustained funding for regional fishery governance
The Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) has received a US$60 million payment for 2024, under the Economic Assistance Agreement tied to the South Pacific Tuna Treaty with the United States. FFA Director-General Noan David Pakop welcomed the payment, stressing its importance for the 16 Pacific Island Parties that comprise the FFA membership.
The United States government announced the release last week, with the funds set to be allocated to the Pacific Island Parties according to the agreed distribution method. U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau met with Pacific Islands ambassadors and representatives in Washington to confirm the payment and reaffirm the U.S. government’s ongoing support for the Economic Assistance Agreement. He underscored the commitment to an annual US$60 million payment over a 10-year period and highlighted the strong relationship with the Pacific Island States.
“This is a positive and welcome development, and a clear demonstration of the U.S. Government’s commitment to the EAA, the Treaty, and its cordial relationship with Pacific Island States,” Pakop said. He added that the initial payment should pave the way for the approval of the 2025 payment and future installments under the EAA.
The Treaty, which came into force in 1988, has long governed fishing in the exclusive economic zones of the Pacific Island Parties by U.S. purse-seine vessels. Over time, terms and packages have been renegotiated, with the most recent renegotiation concluded in June 2024. This renegotiation extended the treaty for the next 10 years (2023-2033) and introduced revised terms, conditions and a new financial package.
The Pacific Island Parties are: Australia, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.
Why this matters
– For the Pacific islands, the South Pacific Tuna Treaty links U.S. fishing access to economic assistance, helping to strengthen regional governance, surveillance, and stock management.
– For Pacific economies, tuna resources underpin food security, government revenues, and livelihoods tied to the fishing sector.
– For the United States, the arrangement preserves access for its distant-water fleet while reinforcing diplomatic and economic ties across the region.
What to watch
– The ongoing cooperation aims to increase private-sector engagement in the region, creating broader economic opportunities while supporting sustainable management of tuna stocks.
– The 2025 payment and subsequent installments will continue to fund regional institutions and capacity-building efforts essential for effective fisheries governance.
A positive outlook
The payment reaffirms a long-running partnership that balances U.S. access to Pacific tuna resources with investment in regional governance and sustainability. By strengthening the capacity of the FFA and its member states, this funding supports sustainable fisheries, protects marine ecosystems, and promotes shared prosperity for Pacific communities and the U.S. fishing industry.
In summary, the US$60 million release to the FFA under the South Pacific Tuna Treaty, part of a 10-year economic assistance framework, reinforces a collaborative model of governance, sustainability, and economic development that benefits both Pacific Island nations and the United States.
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