Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency receives US$60 million under Tuna Treaty framework
The Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) announced last week that it has received US$60 million (about F135 million) for 2024 under the Economic Assistance Agreement linked to the South Pacific Tuna Treaty with the United States. FFA director-general Noan David Pakop underscored the contribution’s importance to the 16 Pacific Island Parties that form the agency’s membership, including Fiji.
The payment, released by the United States government, will be allocated to the Pacific Island Parties in line with an agreed distribution approach. Pakop described the development as a positive and welcome signal of the U.S. government’s commitment to the Economic Assistance Agreement, the treaty, and its cordial relations with Pacific Island States. He added that this initial payment should pave the way for the approval of the 2025 payment and future installments.
U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau confirmed the transfer after meeting with Pacific Islands ambassadors and representatives in Washington, reaffirming ongoing U.S. support for the EAA and the broader partnership.
Key context
– The Treaty, in force since 1988, allows U.S.-flagged purse-seine fishing vessels to operate in the exclusive economic zones of the Pacific Island Parties.
– The latest renegotiation, concluded in June 2024, extended the Treaty for the next decade (2023–2033) with revised terms, conditions, and a new financial package.
– The members of 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
– The payment supports regional governance, surveillance, and the coordination of fisheries management across the Pacific, helping to sustain tuna stocks that underpin food security and government revenues.
– For the United States, the framework balances access for its distant-water fleet with sustained investments in regional institutions and private-sector engagement, reinforcing diplomatic and economic ties in the region.
Outlook and implications
– The 2024 payment aligns with the broader, multi-year cooperation under the South Pacific Tuna Treaty, which ties access rights to economic assistance and governance investments.
– By strengthening regional capacity, the arrangement aims to promote sustainable management of tuna resources while encouraging greater private-sector participation that can benefit Pacific communities and U.S. industry alike.
– Officials have signaled optimism that the approach will continue to deliver balanced benefits—supporting livelihoods and conservation, while preserving favorable access arrangements for the U.S. fishing fleet.
Summary
The US$60 million 2024 payment under the South Pacific Tuna Treaty’s Economic Assistance Agreement reinforces a long-running partnership that links tuna-resource access with regional governance and sustainable management. With the 2024 installment and the 2025 outlook, the arrangement seeks to bolster Pacific fisheries governance, support local economies, and maintain constructive U.S.–Pacific ties for years to come.
Additional note
This development fits within a broader pattern of cooperation in the Pacific that combines conservation goals with economic opportunity, underscoring a hopeful pathway for sustainable fisheries, regional resilience, and shared prosperity.
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