Fisheries Minister Semi Koroilavesau says they will be banking on the goodwill of neighboring Pacific Island Countries as they head into the Tuna Commission this week.

Fisheries Minister Semi Koroilavesau says they will be banking on the goodwill of neighboring Pacific Island Countries.

This, as they head into the Tuna Commission this week.

Leaving for Papua New Guinea tomorrow, Koroilavesau says the negotiations for Fiji will focus on securing a minimum fishing license fee at a cost of more than 17 thousand dollars a day to fish for skipjack tuna.

Under the Parties to Nauru Agreement, fishing fees currently range from a minimum of 8 thousand US dollars up to 24 thousand US dollars a day.

“As you know the PNA, they charge per day, their charge comes from a per rate in US dollars so we will like them to give us a special privilege or special consideration because of the other bilateral partnerships that we had in the past been in the close proximity of the South Pacific, we help each other so that is basically where we are trying to hinge our negotiations with the islands up North.”

Meanwhile, the Pacific Fishing Company has had to reduce its operations given the shortage of supply of the Albacore Tuna species.

PAFCO’s Chair Ikbal Jannif says to make up for the shortage, the cannery is now going to process Skip Jack Tuna which requires bilateral agreements with the Pacific States.

The Tuna Commission will be held in PNG from the 5th to the 11th of this month.