According to the Marianas Variety as reported on Pacific Island Report on December 01, one American official has called the negotiations “extremely disappointing” as Pacific negotiators demand “fair” returns for the unique treatment accorded to U.S. fishing boats.
According to the same report, “other fishing nations such as South Korea, Japan and Taiwan must negotiate on a one to one basis with each island” in order to fish in any of the Pacific countries’ EEZ.
The 25 years treaty between U.S. and Pacific islands has accorded the U.S. a one-shop negotiation scheme for a Pacific-wide access right. PNG has said it will pull out of the treaties by next year.
The FSM was represented at these negotiations by the FSM National Oceanic Resource Management Authority (NORMA), the office responsible for managing sustainable fishing and negotiating fishing rights and access in FSM’s Exclusive Economic Zone.
Negotiations will continue January or February of 2012.
