Fiji, Nov. 24 -- As Pacific fisheries officials gather in Manila for the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) meeting next week, major global seafood markets are emerging as the strongest force pushing members toward tougher, more transparent management of the region's tuna stocks.

Bubba Cook, Policy Director at Sharks Pacific, told PACNEWS that market pressure particularly from big retailers is now too significant for WCPFC members to ignore.

"Markets, including the big buyers and major retailers, are playing an increasingly important role in driving some of these important sustainability decisions," Cook said.

He highlighted the Global Tuna Alliance (GTA) as one of the major coalitions using its purchasing power t...