Overview:
The Cook Islands has secured its share of a major regional tuna fisheries fund, with the Ministry of Marine Resources signing off on the latest payment schedule alongside FSM and the Marshall Islands. The agreement, worth USD 60 million annually through 2033, strengthens long-term revenue streams for Pacific nations under the U.S–Pacific Fisheries Treaty and supports sustainable tuna management across the region.
RAROTONGA, 08 DECEMBER 2025 (COOK ISLANDS NEWS) — Cook Islands Ministry of Marine Resources (MMR) secretary Pamela Maru joined Heads of Fisheries from the Federated States of Micronesia and the Marshall Islands, signing the latest schedule for their share of a regional fund worth USD 60m annually, or USD 600m for the decade to 2033.
The formalities were signed in the margin of the 22nd Regular Session of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) meeting held in Manila last week.
The four Pacific parties to the U.S–Pacific Fisheries Treaty welcomed the signing of the latest schedule for their share of the regional fund.
A joint media statement mentioned that this has been renegotiated over the years, and the signing of documentation by the Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), Republic of Marshall Islands (RMI), and Tuvalu means FFA can now process their annual allocations under the 2023-2033 payment schedule for the U.S Treaty.
Other FFA members will also be able to receive their funds once their paperwork is received.
The annual payments for the decade 2023–2033 provide a critical and predictable source of public revenue for participating Pacific economies and support regional efforts to manage tuna resources sustainably.
Secretary Maru emphasised the contribution of tuna fisheries and related revenues to economic growth, food security, and livelihoods.
“For the Cook Islands, fisheries make an important contribution to GDP and are a key pillar of our blue‑economy strategy.
“The U.S Treaty funds, alongside our own access revenues, help us to maximise the value of tuna while strengthening monitoring, control and surveillance across our vast ocean space.”
Meanwhile, the formalities track a long history between Pacific nations and the U.S – the 1988 U.S-Pacific Fisheries Treaty is the only multilateral tuna fisheries agreement of its kind in the world, allowing access for U.S tuna fishing in the EEZs of FFA members – home to some of the healthiest tuna stocks in the world.
As the WCPFC session ended, FFA confirmed Niue had also completed the final signatures ahead of the transfer of funds. With their updated documentation now in place, the five Pacific Island Parties jointly reaffirmed their commitment to regional solidarity under the Treaty and ensuring that tuna resources continue to generate sustainable economic benefits for their peoples, and for future generations…. PACNEWS