Solomon Islands, Honiara – In a landmark move for Pacific fisheries, leaders from Papua New Guinea (PNG), the Marshall Islands, and the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) on Monday 24th February 2025, signed a historic agreement aimed at strengthening their tuna industry.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), formalized during the Honiara Summit 2025, is part of the East New Britain Initiative (ENBI) and marks a significant step toward ensuring that Pacific nations reap greater benefits from their rich tuna resources.
A Game-Changing Agreement
Spanning a vast 7.5 million square kilometers of ocean, the agreement seeks to transform how tuna is managed and processed in the region. For decades, Pacific nations have supplied over half of the world’s tuna, yet much of the economic value has been lost to foreign companies that process and market the fish elsewhere. The new agreement is set to change this dynamic by keeping more profits within the region.
At the core of the agreement is the ‘100×100’ framework, which introduces two major commitments:
1. 100% electronic monitoring on all licensed fishing vessels – Every fishing boat operating in the region must be tracked using electronic monitoring systems to prevent illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. This will enhance transparency and accountability in the industry.
2. 100% dockside offloading of tuna catches – All tuna caught within the participating nations’ exclusive economic zones (EEZs) must be offloaded at local ports for processing. This rule is expected to create jobs, support local industries, and maximize economic gains for Pacific communities.
Boosting Local Economies
Papua New Guinea’s Prime Minister, James Marape, emphasized the importance of the agreement in securing economic independence for Pacific nations.
“Our people must benefit from the resources in our ocean,” Marape stated at the summit.
“By processing tuna locally, we create jobs, grow our economy, and take control of our future.”
Currently, a significant portion of tuna caught in the Pacific is shipped overseas for processing, limiting the economic returns for Pacific nations. By ensuring that processing happens locally, this agreement is expected to generate thousands of jobs in fish processing plants, transportation, and related industries.
Protecting the Environment and Fighting Illegal Fishing Illegal fishing has long been a major challenge in the Pacific, with foreign vessels exploiting the region’s rich waters without proper accountability.
By requiring electronic monitoring on all vessels, the agreement strengthens enforcement mechanisms and ensures sustainable fishing practices.
Additionally, keeping the entire supply chain—from catch to processing—within the region will enable better oversight of environmental impacts, ensuring that tuna stocks remain healthy for future generations.
A Model for the Pacific and Beyond
The ENBI agreement could set a precedent for other Pacific nations looking to safeguard their fisheries and increase economic returns. If successfully implemented, the ‘100×100’ framework could reshape the global tuna industry and position Pacific nations as key players in seafood processing and exports.
As climate change and overfishing continue to threaten marine resources, this agreement represents a proactive approach to securing long-term sustainability and profitability. With regional cooperation and the right policies, Pacific nations are charting a course toward greater economic resilience and sovereignty over their natural resources. — By George Maelagi, Freelance Journalist