Ocean governance in the Western Pacific purse seine fishery—The Palau arrangement

The Pacific island states have developed various legal and political mechanisms to manage the regionʹs vast tuna resource. This article discusses the most recent arrangement—the Palau Arrangement. It traces its history and identifies its strengths and weaknesses. The paper argues that the Palau Arrangement needs to be reviewed in light of recent developments in international law, in particular the conclusion of the UN Agreement on Straddling Fish Stocks and Highly Migratory Fish Stocks.