EUROPE, PACIFIC ISLANDS, 31 JANUARY 2011: As consumer pressure for sustainable tuna grows, the Parties of Nauru Agreement (PNA) are working with scientists, governments, non-government organisations and industry to provide consumers with a sustainable choice for purse-seine caught tuna. The PNA are global leaders in conservation and fisheries management responsible for a marine area of 14.3 million square kilometers – an area 40% larger than the region of Europe.

This Pacific paradise is owned by eight large ocean states that are the members of the PNA. Collectively, the PNA controls 25% of the world’s supply of tuna and cooperates to sustainably manage and develop tuna.

PNA Director Dr Transform Aqorau said: “Recent media and campaigns in the UK have helped raise awareness of the environmental costs of fishing. PNA is determined is to show the world that through close cooperation between scientists, industry and governments, it is possible to develop and manage sustainable purse seine tuna fishing. We minimise environmental risks for PNA’s purse seine fisheries by taking steps to reduce bycatch and catch of juvenile tuna to ensure the future of our oceans and our people.”

Many PNA conservation measures are world firsts – such as closure of 4.5 million square kilometers of high seas to fishing and the 100% coverage of purse seine fishing vessels with observers. The PNA was the first group of countries to ban setting of nets on whale sharks and has pushed for a broader regional ban at the regional level.

Tuna is caught from purse seine vessels which use a large net, drawn together like a purse, to capture tuna. The majority of fish will land on board alive and PNA tuna fishing vessels have strict requirements to retain all catch, and to release alive any sharks or turtles brought on board. PNA regulates and aims to reduce setting on so-called FADS (Fish Aggregating Devices, which attract fish to man-made floating shelters in the water, and can often result in juvenile fish being caught). Instead, the PNA encourages purse seiners to set their nets on free schools of mature tuna, which reduces by-catch to sustainable levels.

PNA Director Dr Transform Aqorau said: “The PNA has been the first group of countries in the world to close high seas areas, ban setting on whale sharks, introduce 100% coverage of fishing boats with independent observers and cut the number of days vessels spend fishing tuna. We are proud of our responsible ownership and management of our tuna and hope others will also support our efforts here in the Pacific Islands.”

PNA Members are Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Tuvalu.