Fiji, Nov. 26 -- The US$1 billion South Pacific albacore industry is on the line as the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) heads into critical talks in Manila next week, with PEW warning that outdated management is putting the region's most valuable "white tuna" market at risk.

PEW's Senior Officers International Fisheries, Dave Gershman and Glen Holmes say the stakes could not be higher after the WCPFC failed last year to adopt a Modern Management Procedure (MP) for South Pacific albacore - a move now essential to keep the fishery's access to key markets.

"If the same thing happens this year, the US$1 billion market for this tuna. may face severe disruption," they said.

The pressure is coming from consumers and b...