Efforts to reach an agreement between Pacific parties and the US on the fishing treaty is still ongoing.

The US advised they would not renew the fishing treaty with Pacific nations when it expires next year after they reneged on their 2016 fishing days agreement with Pacific parties early last month when their fishing vessels were grounded due to unpaid fees.

In recent negotiations, the US request for fewer fishing days for its fishing fleet was discussed at a Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) meeting in Nadi, Fiji, last week. The FFA also looked at ways to move forward with the US Treaty for 2016 as well as ways to mitigate financial losses.

FFA Director General, James Movick, said a counterproposal was developed for the US to consider and that negotiations were still ongoing.

“But the Pacific parties to the Treaty have been very mindful of the urgency of this matter and do not think it is in any Party’s interests for the fleet to remain tied up, and they took this into consideration in preparing a proposal they believe should satisfy the US without the need for any further negotiation," said Mr Movick. 

According to the PNA’s the Tuna Market Intelligence report on 17 February 2016, the American Tunaboat Association Executive Director, Brian Hallman, said that he understands US Congress introduced a bill to stop foreign aid to the Pacific Islands if there is no tuna treaty.

Mr Hallman also added that US vessels were prepared to pay the licensing fee agreed previously but had to confirm the number of fishing days to purchase. He confirmed some US vessels were willing to purchase more fishing days than other vessels and added not all the US fleet was tied up and they were fishing legally in the eastern Pacific, in US waters or in waters outside of the Treaty Area.

Dr Transform Agorau, CEO of Parties to Nauru Agreement (PNA) said it is time to develop a new arrangement and that they were better off without the treaty.

"Parties have sold the days taken back (1996 days) to other fleets who need them and are fishing in their waters and also to their domestic fleets,” he said, “the only risk is the aid component which the US is threatening to remove.” "We can reshape this fishery and stop bending down to their demands feeling sorry for the US as if we owe them something.”

“We did not renege on this arrangement, the US did, so we have accommodated to US wishes by taking back our days. Frankly, the PNA is better off without the Treaty and those that rely on the US treaty should now look to reshape that relationship," said Dr Agorau.