In 2016, more than 25 percent of global tuna output was caught in the exclusive economic zones of Pacific Island countries. Eight of the most productive Pacific Island countries formed a coalition, called the Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA), to manage their shared fishery cooperatively and improve revenue from fishing licenses sales. Since 2007, the PNA has sold licenses as effort units through the Vessel Day Scheme (VDS). The VDS was a success, significantly improving revenue levels to the PNA. However, two issues have emerged. First, the key criticism of the VDS is that there is no upper limit on the size of the catch, raising concerns over the sustainability of the fishery as well as the returns from the fishery. Second, licenses are specific to each country, which results in competition between members that potentially limits license prices. In this presentation, Deveraux Talagi will share the results of his dissertation, examining alternative licensing arrangements that aim to address these two issues.

Video of Deveraux Talagi's presentation on 04/30/19 at East-West Center:

 

Deveraux Talagi recently completed his Ph.D. in Economics at the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa. He is from the Pacific Island of Niue and first came to the East-West Center as a recipient of the United States-South Pacific Scholarship Program (USSP). He has previous work experience at the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), and the Niue Government. He received his M.A. degree in Economics at the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa and completed his Bachelor’s degree at the University of the South Pacific.

In 2016, more than 25 percent of global tuna output was caught in the exclusive economic zones of Pacific Island countries. Eight of the most productive Pacific Island countries formed a coalition, called the Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA), to manage their shared fishery cooperatively and improve revenue from fishing licenses sales. Since 2007, the PNA has sold licenses as effort units through the Vessel Day Scheme (VDS). The VDS was a success, significantly improving revenue levels to the PNA. However, two issues have emerged. First, the key criticism of the VDS is that there is no upper limit on the size of the catch, raising concerns over the sustainability of the fishery as well as the returns from the fishery. Second, licenses are specific to each country, which results in competition between members that potentially limits license prices. In this presentation, Deveraux Talagi will share the results of his dissertation, examining alternative licensing arrangements that aim to address these two issues.

Video of Deveraux Talagi's presentation on 04/30/19 at East-West Center:

 

Deveraux Talagi recently completed his Ph.D. in Economics at the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa. He is from the Pacific Island of Niue and first came to the East-West Center as a recipient of the United States-South Pacific Scholarship Program (USSP). He has previous work experience at the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), and the Niue Government. He received his M.A. degree in Economics at the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa and completed his Bachelor’s degree at the University of the South Pacific.