Two Pacific island nations are at loggerheads over illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
The Cook Islands has reported a Vanuatu flagged fishing boat for possible black listing in the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) Vessel List.
The ship, according to the latest report of the Technical and Compl
iance Committee (TCC) of the WCPFC, is identified as ESSEN No 108. The report did say that the two countries are already in talks and hope to resolve the matter before the 13th session of WCPFC, which is due to start in Nadi, Fiji next week.
“If they could do so, the Cook Islands would be willing to withdraw the nominated listing,” states the report of the committee dated 17 November 2016. “Vanuatu confirmed that it was working to resolve the matter with Cook Islands,” added the report of the TCC.