Vanuatu Losing Out on Tuna Wealth, Says Prime Minister

May 4, 2026 9:43 pm | Posted in Business News | Share now TwitterFacebook

By Doddy Morris.

Prime Minister (PM) Jotham Napat has warned that Vanuatu is failing to fully benefit from its tuna resources, saying the country is losing significant national revenue and must urgently reform its fisheries sector.

Speaking in Port Vila during World Tuna Day commemorations yesterday, the PM said he was passionate about the ocean and present to highlight the importance of marine resources to Vanuatu’s future.

He expressed disappointment at the absence of the Director General (DG) of Fisheries, calling on officials to “step up” and stressing that the Ministry of Fisheries was established due to the sector’s national importance.

“As Ni-Vanuatu, and as a country, we are not maximising the potential of our marine resources,” he said.

Napat said he would not follow the prepared speech, choosing instead to raise key government concerns about fisheries management and economic returns.

He specifically pointed to the 2005 Sino-Van fisheries agreement, saying Vanuatu has not obtained maximum benefit and must reconsider whether the country is truly gaining from it.

“Tuna is not just a commodity; it is a resource of significant economic importance,” he said.

PM Napat revealed that the Government has been working to recover unpaid or uncollected fisheries revenue from the past 20 years, adding that reforms are now beginning to show some improvement in collections from tuna vessels flying the Vanuatu flag.

However, he warned that significant revenue is still missing.

“Revenue estimated at around VT20 billion is missing,” he said.

He said current fisheries revenue collection remains far below expectations, with only about VT1 billion collected compared to a projected VT4 billion annually.

“This must change within our fisheries sector,” he said.

Napat said Vanuatu must recognise the scale of its ocean resources, noting that about 80 percent of the country is ocean and only 20 percent is land.

“We are seeing tuna stocks declining. We need to manage them properly,” the PM said, adding that he would meet with leaders from Fiji and Papua New Guinea to discuss marine reserve areas to help protect fish stocks.

PM Napat also raised concerns about tuna caught in Vanuatu waters being exported under foreign labels, particularly through Fiji.

“Tuna caught in our waters is being sent to Fiji, labeled as a Fijian product, and exported. This is not right,” he said.

The PM said companies operating in Vanuatu waters are required to pay a percentage of revenue to the Government, but this is not being properly enforced.

“Our laws require that fishing companies pay a certain percentage to the Government.

“Unfortunately, this is not working,” he said.

Napat criticised what he described as misleading optimism in official reports, saying the reality of the sector does not match the prepared statements.

“I chose not to read the prepared statement because it does not reflect reality,” he said.

He added that while tuna is displayed and celebrated during the event, the economic benefits are not fairly distributed.

“The tuna displayed today is not truly ours. We export it, but it carries someone else’s label,” he said.

The PM said he had reviewed multiple reports and expressed disappointment with the current state of the sector, while stressing that the issue must be made public.

He called for total reform within the fisheries sector, praising officials for their efforts but insisting that performance must improve.

“We expect more, and our people expect more from us,” he said.

Napat also said that with proper reform, Vanuatu could generate between VT5 billion and VT6 billion annually from its tuna industry, compared to the current VT1 billion.

He urged cooperation and unity among stakeholders to ensure national interests come first.

“This is our country. If agreements do not benefit us, we must reconsider or cancel them,” he said, specifically referring again to the Sino-Van agreement.

He also questioned long-standing delays in establishing a tuna cannery, which has been discussed for over 20 years without progress.

The PM reiterated the need for stronger understanding and management of marine resources, stating that fish and the ocean are directly connected.

The two-day World Tuna Day celebration in Port Vila, which began yesterday, will conclude today with a range of activities across the capital.

Events include public awareness programs, exhibitions, and community engagements highlighting the importance of Vanuatu’s marine resources.

The celebrations will end with a major football final at Port Vila Stadium between Galaxy Football Club (FC) and Tafea FC, expected to draw large crowds as part of the closing festivities.