US Pacific aid cuts suggested

WASHINGTON – A US congressman in California has called for a ban on some American aid to those Pacific countries that are parties to the South Pacific Tuna Treaty.

The congressman, who represents the San Diego area, said that the economic assistance that the US provides to the region is linked to the US-flagged tuna fleet’s ability to fish in the region.

His comments follow the end of the treaty arrangements when the US failed to pay its first quarter levy and the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency is no longer issuing licences to fish for tuna in the island countries’ waters.

Republican Duncan Hunter wants the US Congress to stop the US Government using congressionally approved funds as aid to the Pacific countries involved – which includes all the independent island nations in the region.

Congress allocates about US$21 million dollars each annually to the US State Department as part of the federal government’s financial aid under the Tuna Treaty.

Hunter said it’s important to stress economic assistance does not occur on its own – it had always been tied to United States boats fishing in the Treaty area.

He said the multi-year fishing agreements had been fairly stable under the Treaty for the first 25 years, with the last 10-year agreement expiring in 2013.

Since then, he said the US and Pacific island nations have only been able to agree on annual agreements, the last few being detrimental to United States-flag vessels due to lower tuna prices and payment for unused fishing days causing economic hardship.

(See further stories on opposite page.) - PNC sources