Recent Developments in Pacific Tuna Fisheries: The Palau Arrangement and the Vessel Day Scheme

Abstract

The Vessel Day Scheme (VDS) under the Palau Arrangement is the largest and most complex fishery management arrangement ever to be put in place, at least in terms of the value of the fishery, the area covered and the multi-national nature of the fishery. Its significance to the conservation of the world's last remaining healthy tuna stocks cannot be underestimated. It also represents a paradigm shift in the way in which Pacific Island States have often viewed their tuna resources. For a long time, the major beneficiaries from their tuna stocks have been vessels from distant-water fishing nations (DWFNs). The change from capacity limits to effort controls was not without resistance. DWFNs did not want to see effort controls replace capacity limits, which they believed rightfully belonged to them. This article discusses the VDS, highlights its key features and explores a number of options which may be applied by the Pacific Island States in its implementation. The article also examines some of the issues that could potentially have an impact on the implementation of the scheme. The article concludes that the VDS puts power firmly in the hands of Pacific Island States. The onus however is on the Pacific Island States to ensure that they achieve the efficacy desired by the planners of the VDS.