This Guidebook, Pacific Islands Countries, the Global Tuna Industry and the International Trade Regime, outlines the major trade-related elements of the tuna fishing industry in the Western Central Pacific Ocean. In particular, it is meant to be a reference guide to assist government officials (particularly fisheries, trade and foreign affairs officials) and tuna industry operators to better understand the rules and requirements of international and regional trade agreements, and how they impact the fisheries sector. This information is supplemented with insights into the trends and structure of the global tuna industry. Drawing from the conclusions of the analysis within, this Guidebook provides a range of policy options available to Pacific Island governments.

Drawing on the experiences of six main case study countries (Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands and Tonga) that reflect an array of positions and concerns in both the global trading system and in fisheries production and trade, the consultants applied several methods to collect data. These included: a critical and comparative analysis of a wide range of economic and social official statistics and scientific indicators on tuna; a critical-historical reading of over 600 documentary sources, such as government reports, academic articles, etc. (including ‘grey’ literature, i.e. consultancy reports); over 450 semi-structured interviews with fi sheries, trade and other government officials and private sector representatives; and direct observations (i.e. of canning facilities) in order to gain a deeper understanding and practical familiarisation of the regional workings of the tuna trade in FFA member countries and in principal markets.