Nauru Agreement

The Nauru Agreement: A Brief Overview

The Nauru Agreement, also known as the Nauru Agreement Concerning Cooperation in the Management of Fisheries of Common Interest, is a multilateral agreement between Pacific Island countries that aim to manage the tuna fisheries in their waters. Signed in 1982, this agreement stemmed from the growing concern over the overfishing of tuna in the Pacific region.

The Nauru Agreement is unique in the sense that it involves the cooperation of eight Pacific Island countries, namely the Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Tuvalu. These countries are collectively known as the Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA). Together, they have established a regional fisheries management organization called the PNA Office that supervises the implementation of the agreement.

One of the primary goals of the Nauru Agreement is to ensure the sustainable management of the tuna fisheries in the Pacific. This is done by implementing a conservation and management regime that restricts the number of fishing vessels in the region and sets limits on the amount of tuna that can be caught. The agreement also promotes the use of innovative fishing techniques that minimize the bycatch of other marine species.

In addition to the conservation aspect of the Nauru Agreement, it also contains provisions that ensure the economic benefits of the fisheries are shared equitably. The agreement provides for the establishment of a vessel day scheme that allows Pacific Island countries to sell fishing days to foreign vessels. This enables them to generate revenue from the tuna fisheries in their waters, which is vital for the economic development of these countries.

The Nauru Agreement is widely regarded as a successful model for regional fisheries management. Since its establishment, the tuna stocks in the region have been conserved and the economic benefits of the fisheries have been fairly distributed among the Pacific Island countries. The agreement has also served as a basis for other regional fisheries agreements, such as the Parties to the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission.

In conclusion, the Nauru Agreement is a crucial tool in the management of the tuna fisheries in the Pacific. It demonstrates the power of cooperation between countries in achieving sustainable and equitable fisheries management. As the global demand for tuna continues to grow, the Nauru Agreement serves as a beacon for countries around the world to work together in conserving and managing their shared fisheries resources.