United States President Joe Biden has announced a pledge of $5 million to co-fund a fisheries and ocean science vessel to support the sustainable management of tuna resources in the region.
The pledge was announced at the U.S.-Pacific Islands Forum Summit meeting at the White House on September 25.
“Through the Partners in the Blue Pacific, the United States intends to provide $5 million, subject to Congressional notification, to co-fund a fisheries and ocean science vessel to be managed by the Pacific Community (SPC),” a fact sheet statement by the White House stated.
The vessel will support sustainable management of the region’s tuna resources at the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission and ocean science research critical to addressing climate change impacts on the ocean.
The Western and Central Pacific Ocean is considered the richest tuna waters on the planet.
The region produced an average annual tuna catch of 2.7 million tonnes in 2014-2018 and 56% of the global tuna supply.
WCPO tuna stocks are in a healthy condition due mostly to the strong management in the exclusive economic zones (EEZs) of Pacific countries.