The South Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Organisation is an inter-governmental organisation that is committed to the long-term conservation and sustainable use of the fishery resources of the South Pacific Ocean and in so doing safeguarding the marine ecosystems in which the resources occur. The SPRFMO Convention applies to the high seas of the South Pacific, covering about a fourth of the Earth's high seas areas. There are 15 members: Australia, Peoples Republic of China, Cuba, the European Union, Republic of Korea, Peru, Chinese Taipei, Vanuatu, Chile, Cook Islands, Ecuador, Denmark (in respect of Faroe Islands), New Zealand, the Russian Federation and the United States. Cooperating non-contracting parties are Columbia, Curacao, Liberia and Panama.