October 14, 2014 — New Zealand's tuna sector representatives voiced concern after learning that Kiribati has settled a fishing deal with China and Taiwan without telling the rest of the Pacific Nations and will force most of the American tuna fleet out of its vast waters.
The small South Pacific nation’s decision, which is a major threat to the viability of New Zealand tuna fishing operations, has shattered the regional fishing consensus, Stuff website reported.
Besides, New Zeland's officials wonder what the future of the skipjack tuna fishery in the South Pacific will be like. This species, one of the major one in the Pacific, is currently regarded as sustainable and healthy
“With this, China is now taking over the South Pacific and there will be no sustainability,” one industry leader told Stuff and also warned that “this will rip the guts out of the American tuna fleet.”