Work in the South Pacific

New Zealand is in negotiations to establish the South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organisation (SPRFMO).

This organisation will manage fishing of non-tuna species and the environmental impacts of fishing in high seas areas of the southern Pacific Ocean and Tasman Sea.

During the third round of negotiations for establishing SPRFMO that took place in Renañca, Chile in 2007, participants agreed to a set of interim conservation and management measures. An interim SPRFMO secretariat has also been established in Wellington, New Zealand.

Negotiations are underway to finalise issues such as the area the agreement will cover, funding for the organisation once it is established, entry criteria and associated rights and obligations, and high-level policy relating to management of fish stocks.