The European Commission is reported to invest $7.5 million to develop tuna fisheries in the Pacific Ocean, one of the world''s largest tuna fisheries which accounts for 1.8 million tones worth $3.5 billion in annual landings.
FIS has reported that the General Secretary for the Pacific Islands Forum, Greg Urwin, met with the head of the EC for the Pacific, Maria Ralha, to sign the cooperation for two projects.
One of the projects, the Development of Tuna Fisheries in Pacific ACP (Africa, Caribbean, and Pacific) Countries (DEVFISH), aims to bring more economic benefits to 14 ACP states by enhancing tuna resource management practices.
The funding will cover the four-year project, and will help boost native private sector development.
Responsibility for its implementation has been given to the Forum Fisheries Agency, headquartered in Honiara, Solomon Islands, and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community in Noumea, Fiji.
Loch Torridon Nephrops Management Group won the Catching for the Market award at the Seafood Awards 2005 celebrated in London last month.The fishery passed the MSC standard for well-managed and sustainable fisheries in January 2003.
Some of the benefits are that the live Torridon Nephrops sold in European markets are worth on average 3.5 times the value of their trawl caught counterparts. The live Nephrops Fishery supports 14 boats, the by catch is negligible and the physical damage to the seabed and marine environment is also miniscule.
