fishing officials

Micronesia

Bribes bait

A State lawmaker in the Federated States of Micronesia has accused fish ing officials of accepting gifts from for eign companies seeking fishing permits.

Pohnpei state senator Wagner Lawrence alleged the officials accepted foreign trips from Asian companies seeking to exploit the country’s vast ocean resources. Fishing and fishing license fees are one of the main sources of revenue for FSM, which comprises hundreds of islands divided into four states.

The allegations follow growing hostility in Micronesia toward Taiwanese and Chinese fishing companies operating in its waters.

Chinese fishermen have been assault ed by Micronesians who believe foreign boats are guilty of overfishing and wast ing unwanted fish that could be supplied

to locals.

Senator Lawrence, in a speech last month to the National Congress, called for the resignation of the board of the Micronesian Maritime Authority.

He accused the authority’s board mem bers of acting as “lobby”on behalf of for

eign boat companies rather than trying

to help Micronesia get the best deal from its fishing resources.