Countries agree on Pacific fish pact

Agreement was reached today on a new organisation to manage South Pacific fisheries.

Fisheries Minister Phil Heatley announced a new convention text had been agreed which would create a regional fisheries management organisation to manage non-highly-migratory fisheries in the high seas.

The organisation would manage deep sea fish stocks such as orange roughy and pelagic species such as jack mackerel, Mr Heatley said.

More than 20 countries have been meeting this week in Auckland to establish the South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organisation (SPRFMO).

"This new convention is a key milestone in sustainable management of South Pacific fisheries," Mr Heatley said.

"It sets out how the fisheries of the South Pacific will be managed and addresses one of the world's last remaining governance gaps for high seas fisheries.

"The area of the high seas for which the commission will be responsible will be the largest to be managed by any regional fisheries management organisation."

New Zealand will host the commission secretariat.

The commission will not govern tuna and other highly migratory species, which are managed by the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission.

Participants also agreed new interim measures to prohibit deepwater gillnetting on the high seas.

Mr Heatley said unchecked use of nets in deepwater resulted in lost gear which could continue to "ghost fish" for a long time.

The existing interim measures on pelagic fisheries, which expire at the end of 2009, were also replaced.

"We are disappointed that states could not agree on stronger measures for the jack mackerel fishery adjacent to South American waters," Mr Heatley said.

"But we are hopeful that stronger action will be taken in line with scientific advice."

- NZPA