Policy Reform

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.