The United States is seeking to renege on an agreement it signed with Pacific Island Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) member states.
It now says it cannot afford to pay the full US$89.2m deal it signed with the pacific nations in August, and cannot afford to fish in PNA waters under the Vessel Day Scheme (VDS).
Dr Transform Aqorau, PNA chief executive officer, said, “One hand you have one party (the US) that has signed an agreement to pay for fishing access in our waters and are now not able to pay.
“Whilst on the other hand you have countries who have made days available to the US treaty for 2016 and will face difficulty if they have to take them back now with only a month away from the start of the fishing season,” he added.
The US was given 5700 days under the signed agreement and is now asking PNA to take back 2000 days and cut the deal considerably.
But the Pacific Island Parties said they have signed a business agreement with the US State Department and want to maintain the agreed arrangement for 2016.
"We have contributed over 75% of our VDS days to make the treaty work so if it fails we will lose very heavily," said Stan Crothers, Tokelau Fisheries’ advisor.
He continued, "This is the sort of money that builds schools that pays teachers, builds new hospitals and pays doctors and nurses and there will be serious consequences for Tokelau if we are not able to make up the revenue we could potentially lose from the treaty.
"It is a pretty sad day when you really can't rely on a written agreement between the 16 Pacific Island nations and the United States of America.”
