Environment

MMR seeks more fishing days
Purse seining agreement ‘outdated’
Talley’s may get licence
Japan export gateway opened

MMR seeks more fishing days

The marine resources ministry intends to expand the country’s purse seine industry by pushing out the number of days purse seiners can fish in the Cooks’ waters.

Around 15 people attended a public meeting organised by Ministry of Marine Resources (MMR) last week.

MMR secretary Ben Ponia told them the ministry intends to negotiate more fishing days for purse seiners under the Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA) vessel day scheme.

Purse seiners started working in the Cooks in 1988 under the US Treaty, which allows 40 vessels to operate within 17 Pacific country’s waters. They do not have to have to be granted licence as they have permission under the Treaty. The total catch since then is 9500 tonnes. “So it’s not much,” said Ponia.

The purse seiners target skipjack tuna because of the high price it can fetch on the international market. MMR data shows there is 6.5 million tonnes in the region and189,000 tonnes in the Cooks – about 3 per cent of the region’s stocks.

“But figures show we’re only fishing 0.2 percent of the region’s catch,” said Ponia.

While the Cooks have 3 per cent of stock, the west high seas pocket has 1.7 per cent and catches there make up 13.7 per cent of total catch. The international waters are heavily fished by Filipino boats, said Ponia.

There has been a huge spike in purse seine catches in the Cooks from 2011 to 2012. Last year there were nearly 12,000 tonnes caught – up from 476 the year before. This is likely due to increased fishing effort in the region.

Skipjack makes up 93 per cent of these catches – Ponia said purse seining better targets species than long lining.

Cabinet is now looking at designating and regulating the purse seine fishery.

“We want to establish a total allowable catch of 1250 fishing days a year,” said Ponia.

In April the Cook Islands hopes to join the PNA vessel day scheme, which could give revenue up to USD8500 per day. In June a new US Treaty is likely to be negotiated from $20 million to $60 million – and the cut of that deal goes up if a country is a PNA member.

Ponia described the PNA as the Western Pacific “tuna cartel”, which controls tuna fishing in the region.

“Purse seiners have fished here for 500 days last year so the Cooks have a good chance of getting our fair share of the days and profits,” he said.

Marine Resources Minister Teina Bishop said the purse seining is no longer part of an exploratory programme, as the vessels which fished under the US Treaty had done that step.

“We felt there was no reason for us to explore this fishery. We’re moving to the stage where we pushing the exploratory aside.

“We need to push our claim. There are 1250 days to lay on the table, to say these are the fishing days for the Cook Islands.”

• Calida Smylie

Purse seining agreement ‘outdated’

The current purse seining agreement the Cooks has with the United States is outdated and restrictive, says a regional fisheries director.

Pacific Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) deputy director general Wez Norris addressed a public meeting last week which Ministry of Marine Resources (MMR) organised.

Forty purse seiners can fish through the waters of 17 Pacific island countries due to the US Treaty, signed in 1988.

Norris said while the conditions in which they fish under were stringent at the time the treaty was signed, the treaty is now outdated and FFA has been negotiating with the US for the last two and a half years.

“It’s a very restrictive agreement.”

The agreement allows the boats to follow the fish, and fish move with weather patterns. The total catch since 1988 in the Cooks under this scheme is 9500 tonnes. But one benefit the agreement has had for the Cooks is it has done the “exploratory work” needed for the country to pursue more purse seining fishing days when the treaty is negotiated later this year, said Norris.

MMR intends to negotiate more fishing days for purse seiners under the Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA) vessel day scheme.

Norris said FFA – the management advisor for the Pacific islands – is negotiating hard to get a better deal for foreign countries involved because currently the 40 US vessels can fish as many days as they want. Under the new treaty, this will be limited to just over 8000 fishing days. The overall profit for the countries from the US is currently $21 million per year but this is set to increase to $63 million.

Fifteen percent of revenue distributed between the countries each year, and the annual treaty payout for the Cooks is about $400,000. This will increase under the newly negotiated treaty.

Another benefit under the new treaty is that from June, countries can impose their own laws on the US vessels when they are in that country’s waters.

One member of the public asked why it is beneficial to the Cooks to be in the PNA vessel scheme, and why fishing effort is measured by a daily rate rather than tonnes caught.

“Can these vessels catch as much as they want?”

Norris replied when boats are crossing international boundaries all the time and the rate is based on tonnage, it is hard to work out where the fish were caught.

“But as satellite tracking is required on all boats operating under the US Treaty, a daily effort based system is better.”

However, he said FFA has to look carefully at how rapidly the effort shifts so as not to disrupt breeding patterns.

• Calida Smylie

Talley’s may get licence

Marine Resources Minister Teina Bishop said no purse seine licences would be issued without the consultation of the ui ariki and northern group. / 13022117

The marine resources minister was asked in parliament yesterday what the government’s plan was to issue purse seining licences over the next year.

Opposition leader Wilkie Rasmussen asked Marine Resources Minister Teina Bishop,

“In light of the promotions of two traditional leaders on television yesterday about purse seiningcan the government tell us whether it will be issuing purse seining licences to foreign companies?”

Bishop replied Cabinet is in the process of forming regulations to regulate purse seining in the Cook Islands.

The priority of that regulation comes ahead of the revised US Treaty regulations in June.

The Cooks, along with 16 other Pacific countries, have been party to this treaty for over 20 years. It allows 40 US purse seiners to fish wherever they want in these countries waters.

The revised treaty says these boats must recognise the jurisdiction of the country’s waters, which is why government is firming up its purse seine regulations.

“Secondly, by November of this year, all countries in Western and Central Pacific must lay their claim to the tuna commission.” Bishop refers to the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) – which MMR secretary Ben Ponia recently referred to as the Pacific ‘tuna cartel’.

The claims are to be based on a vessel fishing day scheme rather than licences held.

“Our ministry will lay claim for more than a 1000 days. The revenue derived will be $5000 to $10,000 per day for the once this scheme is in place.”

Bishop also said apart from those purse seiners fishing under the US Treaty – which do not need licences – MMR is looking at giving licences to one company. This is Talley’s, from New Zealand, which was recently in the Cooks to advise MMR about purse seining practices.

“I have strict instruction from Cabinet that no licence is to be issued without consultation with the people. Hence the consultation with ui ariki yesterday, and we will be moving on to the northern group people next,” said Bishop.

This has all been reported in CI News over the last week after the information came out in a public meeting, which 15 people attended, on February 13.

• Calida Smylie

Fish being processed in Rarotonga for export to Japan in 2011 – all future Cook Islands flagged vessels will now have to register with the Organisation for the Promotion of Responsible Fisheries to be able to export tuna to Japan. 11110925

A gateway has opened to export tuna to Japan, but potential exporters must obtain a special membership.

Ministry of Marine Resources (MMR) has accredited a Cook Islands fishing association to have membership to the Organisation for the Promotion of Responsible Fisheries (OPRT).

All future Cook Islands flagged vessels considering shipping big eye tuna to Japan will have to register with the Cook Islands Commercial Association (CICFA), as only OPRT members can export tuna to Japan.

After being granted membership, CICFA registered six tuna long line fishing vessels with the OPRT.

Based in Tokyo, Japan, OPRT is an international NGO which promotes the proper conservation and management of tuna stocks worldwide.

With sashimi tuna being an essential part of the food culture in Japan and tuna stocks being exploited worldwide, OPRT was created to promote responsible tuna fisheries.

It represents all tuna fisheries stakeholders, including worldwide owners of tuna longline fishing vessels and traders, distributors and consumers in Japan.

Members include Japan Tuna Fisheries Co-operative Association, China Overseas Fisheries Association, Malaysian Tuna Association, Japan Fish Wholesalers’ Union of Central Wholesale Market, Indonesia Tuna Association – and now the Cook Islands Commercial Fishing Association.

Some activities OPRT promotes are restraining the increase in the number of large scale tuna longliners in the world to prevent tuna over fishing; information exchange with international bodies to conserve and manage tuna resources; protecting sea birds and turtles caught in commercial fishing operations; and coordinating parties involved in the production, trade, distribution, and consumption of tuna resources.

CICFA members are Landholdings, Ocean Fresh Ltd, Ocean Fresh New Zealand Ltd, Alikai Fishing Co Ltd and Toamoana Fishing Co Ltd. These companies will assist MMR to develop and maintain hygiene and quality standards in the Cook Islands commercial fishing industry. Fishing vessels currently owned by Alikai Fishing Co Ltd and Toamoana Fishing Co Ltd will be replaced by ultra low temperature vessels. These are approved by MMR as Cook Islands vessels.

MMR secretary Ben Ponia said being accepted as a member in OPRT is a worthwhile venture for the Cook Islands, providing we can adhere to management plans.

“It’s a gate way for commercial fishers with an organisation which is heavily involved in promoting sustainability and key issues of tuna fisheries.”

• MMR