Kiribati Pacific Oceanscape Takes Action To Preserve Tuna Stocks

On June 16, President Anote Tong of the Republic of Kiribati, an island nation in the Pacific Oceanscape, announced that his nation’s Phoenix Islands Protected Area (PIPA) will close to ALL commercial fishing on December 31, 2014!

Covering an area roughly the size of California, PIPA hosts some of the world’s most economically important waters. In fact, if you order a spicy tuna roll in the United States, chances are good that it was made with fish caught in the waters of the Pacific Oceanscape — which supports 60% of the world’s tuna catch.

Tuna numbers are dwindling, though, and the off-limits PIPA will be a globally important test case for large-scale conservation of the popular fish as well as other ocean resources.

Related articles

US : Kiribati commits to fishery-free reserve

Pacific nations lead on saving seas

World's Largest Ocean Preserve Launched at Pacific Islands Forum

Kiribati Bans Fishing in Crucial Marine Sanctuary

Pacific Island nation shuts fishery to protect tuna

Kiribati moves to preserve ocean

2014 Top Ten Earth Day Awards - Honoring Our Leaders