Project Success Stories

OFMP began in October 2005, with an early pilot phase concluding in 2004  and so far has achieved the following:
•    negotiation and coming into force of a major international fisheries Convention, the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Convention
•    establishment of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission for the Convention and early progress on putting in place conservation and management measures for the regions highly valuable tuna fisheries
•    recognition of Pacific Islands as Small Island Developing States and as Commission members, to ensure that their policies, laws and regulations are amended to reflect their obligations to not only regional but international fisheries conventions and agreements
•    support of  the leading role that Pacific islands countries have taken in the work of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission
•    contribution to the need to address fisheries conservation and management taking into account the whole ecosystem and addressing by-catch and non-target species concerns, such as sharks, turtles and seabirds.
•    strengthening of the scientific knowledge base, including ecosystems analysis for better management decision making in the region
•    improvement in national capacity to analyse stock assessments and coordinate and monitor fisheries data
•    increased understanding of the impacts of fisheries on the regions seamounts

Indirectly through better management of oceanic fisheries, livelihoods and food sources for many Pacific Islanders, and directly through capacity building, OFMP has also benefited many Pacific Islanders.
Read their stories:
Tuna takes you places - Cynthia Wickham