Dr Transform Aqorau

Marshalls fisheries hires one of the Pacific's top fisheries experts

The Authority's Director, Glen Joseph, confirmed Thursday that a contract was reached this week to hire Dr Transform Aqorau as the fishery department's legal advisor.

Dr Aqorau, a former deputy director at the Forum Fisheries Agency in the Solomon Islands and more recently the first CEO of the Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA) office in Majuro brings a wealth of regional experience to MIMRA, said Joseph.

He headed the Majuro-based PNA office from 2010-2016.

US pulls out of Pacific fisheries treaty

According to the terms of the nearly 30-year old deal with the islands region, the move will take effect in 12 months.

It is likely to hurt budgets of the island countries involved who had benefited from the annual payment of over US$80 million from the US government and industry.

The US State Department this week advised the Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA)that it had officially communicated to the Papua New Guinea government - which is the depository for the treaty - that it is withdrawing from the treaty.