New Zealand has ratified an agreement to fight illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing in the Pacific.

It did so on Tuesday at the opening of the annual ministerial meeting of the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Committee in the Federated States of Micronesia.

Combatting illegal fishing said the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Fletcher Tabuteau, remains a key priority for New Zealand.

The solution lies in a collective regional approach, he said.

Thirteen countries have now ratified the Niue Treaty Subsidiary Agreement according to the director-general of the Forum Fisheries Agency, Manu Tupou-Roosen.

The agreement focuses on enhancing cooperative efforts in monitoring, control and surveillance said Ms Tupou-Roosen.