Key Developments
The New Zealand Government hosted 16 Pacific Island fisheries ministers in Wellington for the Forum Fisheries Ministerial Committee to strengthen cooperation on sustainable tuna management. The sector was valued at $9.9 billion and accounted for 80 percent of global tuna catch in the Western and Central Pacific, the government said.
Key Statistics
- $9.9 billion estimated annual value of the Pacific tuna sector, according to the New Zealand Government
- 80 percent share of global tuna catch taken in the Western and Central Pacific, according to the New Zealand Government
Main Body
On 28 June 2026, the New Zealand Government said Oceans and Fisheries Minister Shane Jones hosted 16 Pacific Island fisheries ministers in Wellington for the Forum Fisheries Ministerial Committee. The government highlighted the economic weight of the tuna sector, stating it was worth $9.9 billion and that 80 percent of the global tuna catch occurs in the Western and Central Pacific, underscoring its importance to Pacific Island economies.
The meeting focused on sustainable management of shared tuna resources and sought to enhance cooperation among member countries to ensure long-term stock health, according to the New Zealand Government. Officials framed the discussions around strengthening coordination for resource stewardship and reinforcing regional approaches to fisheries governance.
In related policy continuity on sustainable fisheries, on 19 June 2026 the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced a 126 million NOK investment to strengthen local communities, improve ocean governance, and support small-scale fisheries in Africa and Asia. While outside the Pacific, the initiative illustrated wider international efforts to bolster sustainable fisheries management.
The Wellington meeting mattered for regional stability and economic resilience because member states rely on cooperative management of a resource the government said represents a large share of the world’s tuna catch in the Western and Central Pacific, according to the New Zealand Government. By prioritizing long-term sustainability, ministers sought to protect a sector that supports national revenues and regional development across Pacific partners.
