Policy Reform is the central and most challenging element of the Project. It is the main area of support in the Project for Pacific SIDS as they work to establish the new Commission and it seeks to play a major role in effecting deep-seated changes in national policies in the direction of sustainable and responsible fisheries. On the surface, the resources committed to these outcomes are modest, but this area of the project is closely integrated with substantial baseline and incremental FFA programmes in economics and fisheries management and by the work of other agencies, particularly FAO. In large, Polict reform seeks to work by levering powerful ideas centered on sustainability into well-established regional fisheries policy dialogue structures - from national grass roots level consultation through regional FFA meetings, workshops and consultations, to the annual meetings of Pacific Leaders. Its key features are the provision of high calibre technical advice to Pacific SIDS on national and regional management issues, including analysis of economic factors contributing to over-exploitation and of the principles of allocation of access to resources; the preparation, implementation and review of national plans and strategies for oceanic fisheries management; supported by a range of training and capacity building.
Pacific SIDS will be assisted to develop and put forward proposals for the development of the Commission. This will involve the establishment of the Commission itself and its Secretariat, including its staffing, budget and work programme and in the consideration and adoption of conservation and management measures by the Commission. Annual OFM capacity building workshops will be held prior to the annual Commission meetings to strengthen Pacific SIDS capacities to participate in the Commission and to implement the Convention, with planned support from the New Zealand Agency for International Development.
Policy reform will provide analyses of the policy implications of the results of ecosystem analysis, including policies for the regulation of pelagic fishing around seamounts. This will support proposals for the adoption of ecosystem-based measures by the Commission at the regional level and by Pacific SIDS in their national waters. Seamount-related policy studies, including legal and compliance aspects will be undertaken by IUCN.
Policy Reform will also support the call by Pacific Islands Leaders at their 2004 Forum meeting for greater Ministerial involvement in regional fisheries governance by co-financing appropriate regional and sub-regional Ministerial meetings. It will also offer a course on the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, developed in cooperation between Train Sea Coast and the University of the South Pacific.
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| Seabird Bycatch longline fisheries report Sept_06.pdf | 324.04 KB |
| Addressing Shark Finning in FFA Member Countries: Issues and Consideration.pdf | 402.91 KB |
Application of the Ecosystem-Based Approach to Fisheries Management in Tuna Fisheries at the Western-Central Pacific Ocean (WCPO)
Samasoni Sauni, Moses Amos
Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA), Solomon Islands
Correspondence: samasoni.sauni@ffa.int; moses.amos@ffa.int
Abstract
The issues related to tuna fisheries in the Western-Central Pacific continue to challenge decision-making among various stakeholders in the tuna industry. The Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) has adopted the ecosystem-based approach to fisheries management (EAFM) to manage tuna fisheries among its 17 member countries and territory. In 2005 the Agency started this work and includes series of meetings within its Members aiming to incorporate ecosystem related issues National Tuna Management Plans. Tuna fisheries contribute directly to small and poor economies of FFA members and the EAFM approach will help members meet their obligations towards ensuring sustainable fishing and fisheries in the WCPO. The paper explains the approach in the context of Pacific Island countries’ situations and further presents insights into its intended outcome.
Keywords: ecosystem-based approach, fisheries management, sustainable fishing and fisheries
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| Application of the Ecosystem-Based Approach to Fisheries Management in Tuna Fisheries at the Western-Central Pacific Ocean (WCPO) | 197.82 KB |
School of Marine Studies Facilities, University of the South Pacific, Suva, Fiji
9th - 20th July 2007.
The International Ocean Institute-Pacific Islands and the School of Marine Studies at the University of the South Pacific invite nominations for people to participate in the next Train Sea Coast (TSC) course. The course on Responsible Fisheries in the Pacific Islands Region: implementation of Post-UNCED International Instruments will be offered at the School of Marine Studies Facilities from 9 - 20 July 2007.
The overall goal of the TSC is capacity building at the local level. Thus, the course emphasizes
The TSC methodology ensures that the highest pedagogical and technical standards are attained and arrangements are established for cooperation among the training centres so that training courses, experience and personnel may be shared for the benefit of all the members of the network. All TSC courses can be shared by TSC members who may adapt and deliver the courses as many times as needed.
Please see attachment for more information regarding this course.
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| TCS-Responsible Fisheries-2007-announcement-Final.pdf | 743.47 KB |
The FFA Secretariat lead a delegation that participated as observers in the recent Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission (IATTC) Ad Hoc Meetings held at La Jolla, California (USA) from the 5-10 February 2007. The FFA delegation to this meeting included two FFA staff, Mr. Samasoni Sauni, a Fisheries Management Advisor Officer and Mr. Darren Cameron, Fisheries Management Advisor, and two representatives from the FFA member countries, Mr. Bernard Thoulag, Executive Director for the Federated States of Micronesia National Oceanic Resources Management Authority; and Ms Tooti Tekinaiti the acting Director for the Kiribati Fisheries Department. Both country representatives are Pacific Islands Oceanic Fisheries Management Project focal points of contact for their respective countries.
The IATTC members spend the week in long discussions in three consecutive sessions on Conservation and Management Measures, Finance and By-catch. The outcome of the meetings included a series of recommendations and statements that are expected to form the basis for further discussion and endorsement at the IATTC annual meeting to be held in June 2007.
The exposure to the way in which the IATTC conducts meetings by way of debate and discussion on related issues common to the WCPFC was considered of great benefit to the FFA delegation that attended the ad hoc IATTC meeting. The FFA Secretariat has traditionally supported the attendance of member country representatives at the meetings of other regional fisheries management organizations in an effort to build capacity of its membership for their participation in regional management events in the western and central Pacific.
The IATTC meeting did not reach a general consensus on possible management measures that would address priority issues on excessive catch of juveniles and adult stocks of bigeye and yellowfin. Nonetheless, the discussion at the meeting evolved to take into account possible complimenting measures or a ‘tool kit' of measures such as spatial and temporal closures, global total allowable catches, capacity limits and effort controls, as well as restrictive FAD fishing.
On financial matters, the IATTC meeting spent a great deal of time debating the funding formula used in their proposed 2007 budget, particularly in regard to variables used in the formula. There was clear separation in the debate, between the Latin American countries plus USA and Vanuatu in opposition to Japan, Spain, Taiwan and Korea.
The IATTC By-catch Working Group was not able to agree on issues of discussion relating to by-catch. Eventually the group stressed the need for more research findings to further guide management decisions in future Commission meetings.
The participation of member country representatives and that of Mr. Cameron at the IATTC meeting are supported by the Pacific Islands Oceanic Fisheries Management Project funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF).