Tuvalu has accused large nations of trying to manipulate fisheries management measures to the disadvantage of small states like Tuvalu.
Tuvalu is trying to develop its own domestic purse-seine fleet so it can create revenue from fishing its own waters.
Purse Seine fishing Photo: Supplied
But the minister for natural resources, Pita Elisala, says some members of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission opposed this, saying Tuvalu's involvement would be inconsistent with fish management practices.
Mr Elisala says some states' recent attempts to block Tuvalu from building a second purse-seine was only overturned when the Parties to the Nauru Agreement threatened to prohibit those countries from PNA waters.
He says it is not unreasonable for Tuvalu to have two purse seiners when foreign nations harvest 60,000 tonnes of fish each year.
Mr Elisa has threatened that Tuvalu will not agree to the commission's capacity measures unless larger nations adopt policies which allow small island states to develop their own fisheries.
