If successful, more that 560,000 metric tonnes of skipjack tuna will be eligible to bear the MSC ecolabel.
The fisheries entering into full assessment use purse seine nets targeting free swimming schools of tuna and log sets i.e. they do not use artificial Fish Aggregating Devises (FADs) that are constructed to attract tuna.
The PNA states announced their intent to enter this distinct element of their skipjack fishery into MSC full assessment following the first PNA Presidential summit earlier this year. Skipjack from PNA waters is sold to Europe and North America.
Director of the PNA, Dr Transform Aqorau says: “The PNA exists to maximise the economic benefits to Pacific Islanders from sustainable management of our tuna.
"Seeking MSC certification is an important step towards this goal so that consumers of our tuna can recognise the value of our work here to control access to tuna resources for the benefits of our PNA members. We hope that this process can result in MSC certification in 2011 for skipjack tuna caught on free schools and look forward to taking this forward.”
500,000 MT Of Tuna Enter MSC Assessment
NAURU - Up to 50 per cent of all skipjack tuna caught in the Western and Central Pacific, which is managed by the eight states Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA) will be assessed against the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) standard for well-managed and sustainable fisheries.
