Letter From Majuro
What About Japan?
U.S.- FFA Fisheries Pact A Benefit To All.
One of the more bizarre twists in Pacific fisheries has been Japan’s about-face on the region-wide conservation and management treaty that it was part of negotiating up until its refusal, at the final session last year, to sign onto with the vast majority of other countries involved.
As a contrast to Japan’s attitude on the regional fisheries front there is the currently ongoing negotiation between Pacific Island nations, through the Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) and the United States tuna industry and U.S. government. Since the late 1980s, the U.S. tuna industry and Washington have generally enjoyed superb relations with island countries as a result of a long-term treaty that was put in place. The arrangement, which licenses up to 50 purse seiners to fish anywhere in the FFA-region, now pays the Pacific Islands about $18 million annually. The treaty is up for extension in 2003, with negotiations now in progress.
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This U.S.-FFA treaty has set the tone for American fisheries relations in the region. One doesn’t have to have a long memory to recall the blaring headlines around the region accusing American fishermen of being “pirates” and “poachers” for fishing without licenses with the 200-mile exclusive economic zones of FFA nations. For years the American fleet had the worst reputation in the region. That’s a thing of the past.
One thing’s clear about the talks with the U.S.: everyone, islands and the U.S., wants the agreement extended. Yes, there’s some tough bargaining now in progress on the money that Washington is willing to pay for access by its vessels. The U.S. is currently holding out for a lower amount, while island nations want to hike the deal that presently brings in $18 million to about $24 million annually.
Contrast that with Japan’s go-it-alone attitude in opposition to the tide of countries working to conserve tuna in the region. Japan was an active participant in the negotiations that crafted the first regional conservation system — and then at the very last minute rejected the entire package and has refused to participate since.
Just about everyone — including Japan, it seems — recognizes the urgency of putting in place effective methods for insuring that commercial fisheries do not wipe out the important tuna resource in the Pacific, as has happened with other fisheries in other parts of the world. Clearly a multi-party agreement that reflects the needs of many diverse interests in the region has a far greater ability to work than initiative by individual countries.
It’s time that Japan got back on board with other Asian and island countries. Like the U.S.-FFA treaty, regional cooperation is in everyone’s long-term interest.
Contact Giff Johnson at pacmag@ntamar.com
