Fiji is one of the countries that need to take the lead in fisheries management in the Pacific.

Oceans Campaigner at Green peace Australia Pacific Duncan Williams made the comment in relation to a report on fishing overcapacity in the Pacific.

Williams said other countries such as Japan, Taiwan and Korea also need to take the lead as they are conducting the largest fishing in the Pacific.

Williams said comprehensive measures need to be put in place to reduce fishing capacity to save the regions tuna fisheries.

He said the other issue facing Fiji is Albacore fishing conducted by international fleets operating in the high seas.

He said this marginalizes the domestic tuna industry.

According to Williams, they work closely with governments across the region.

Green peace states in 2012 there was a record tuna catch and record number of vessels in the purse seine fishery.

There are already almost 300 purse seine vessels and around 3000 long line vessels fishing in the Pacific while another 45 purse seine vessels are under construction in Asian shipyards destined for the Pacific.

The report also calls on the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission to urgently agree to cap the number of long line and purse seine vessels in the fishery when it meets for its 10th regular session from the 2nd-6th of next month in Cairns, Australia.

2013 FijiVillage.com