The international study estimates US$616 million worth of tuna is taken illegally out of Pacific waters every year.
“No more than four per cent of fishing may be occurring illegally by pirate boats. So we know now that most of the problem is of unreported and unregulated activities of licensed boats,” said James Movick, Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency director general.
It's the first time the extent of tuna poaching in the Pacific has been valued and the report finds better monitoring is desperately needed.
