Solomon Times said the decision to do so has been described by many in the fishing industry as “bold and decisive.”
Solomon Islands has used up its allocated tuna fishing days under the Vessel Day Scheme. To follow their commitments to the Vessel Day Scheme the Solomon Islands chose to close their tuna fishery while it seeks to purchase further days from other Parties to the Nauru Agreement countries.
This is the first time Solomon Islands have applied hard limits and been faced with this decision.
PNA chairman Ludwig Kumoro and PNA director, Dr Transform Aqorau, paid a courtesy call on the Prime Minister Danny Philip, Minister for Finance Gordon Darcy Lilo and senior fisheries officials to discuss the matter.
The prime minister was briefed on this critical situation. The decision was referred to the Solomon Islands cabinet which decided late Friday to close the fishery to foreign purse seine vessels while they pursue options to purchase further fishing days.
“While the decision facing Solomon Islands is a serious one, it is not without precedent. Last year the PNA was able to assist Nauru to find a solution after it used up its fishing days. This decision also benefited Marshall Islands, which had under-used its allocation of fishing days,” said Kumoro.
“All the PNA ocean states are committed to their goal of creating the world’s largest sustainable tuna purse seine fishery. To do this, sometimes they must face difficult decisions to limit overall fishing effort.”
