ABSTRACT
Assessments of regional cooperation in the Pacific islands have often identified cooperation in oceanic fisheries, namely tuna, as a shining example of successful Pacific islands cooperation. The purpose of the chapter is to first examine the areas where these assessments are substantiated and demonstrated; that are the practical and political achievements of regional cooperation in the oceanic fisheries sector. Secondly the chapter identifies the various factors that have facilitated successful cooperation in this area. Finally, the chapter highlights factors that undermine or weaken cooperation or the effectiveness of cooperation in fisheries. It suggests that while the fisheries sector provides good insights into the reasons behind successful cooperation, it also reveals some of the weak points and challenges confronting cooperation in the Pacific islands region. In some respects the establishment of the Tuna Commission under the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Convention (WCPF) Convention completes a process begun with the formation of the Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA).
