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The Solomon Islands prime minister has called on the leaders of distant water fishing nations to curb illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing by their fleets in the Pacific.
In his address to the UN General Assembly over the weekend Manasseh Sogavare said Solomon Islands tuna industry employs over 2000 people and contributes around $US60 million per annum to the local economy.
But he said Pacific countries have been losing $US160 million in direct fisheries revenue to illegal fishing each year.
"I call on distant-water-fishing-nations to reduce the incidents of illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing in our waters," the prime minister said.
Manasseh Sogavare also reiterated his country's stance alongside fellow Pacific Islands Forum nations, seeking a legally binding instrument on the conservation and sustainable use of marine bio-diversity in areas outside of national jurisdictions.
