India, Aug. 12 -- U.S deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau has announced a US$60 million release to the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) under the South Pacific Tuna Treaty.

The funding is part of a 10-year Economic Assistance Agreement tied to the treaty, which allows U.S-flagged vessels to fish in the exclusive economic zones of 16 Pacific Island countries, generating hundreds of millions of dollars annually for the U.S. economy.

Landau made the announcement during a meeting with Pacific Islands Ambassadors and Representatives from Fiji, Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, and Tuvalu.

He also discussed with the diplomat...