ABOUT THE SC-SPTBF

This committee works towards the broader aim of promoting cooperation among FFA Members to ensure their peoples receive the maximum sustainable benefits from fisheries targeting species occurring mostly below 10 degrees south in latitude. Members of the committee are Australia, Cook Islands, Fiji, New Zealand, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.

FFA member observers are Kiribati, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru, Palau and Marshall Islands.

Other observers are American Samoa, French Polynesia, New Caledonia and the United States Western Pacific Regional Fisheries Management Council.

For more information about this committee, read the terms of reference.

FFC APPROVED SC-SPTBF WORK PLAN 2008-2010

SC-SPTBF COMMON GOALS & OBJECTIVES

 Mission Statement

To maximize value to FFC Sub-committee members from sustainable fisheries, taking into account other fishery sectors, such as traditional and artisanal fisheries

Strategic Objectives

1)      To ensure that the exploitation of the fisheries resources are compatible with stock sustainability throughout their range and in consistence with the principles of ecosystem-based fisheries management and the precautionary approach

Operational Objectives:

·         Develop effective stock based conservation and management measures

o        Determine reference points/TAE/TAC

·         Develop by-catch conservation and management measures

·         Carry out assessment of harvest levels

·         Develop/ revised National Tuna Management Plans consistent with the principles of the EAFM 

·         Develop/ refine WCPFC CMMs for South Pacific Albacore, Southwest Swordfish and Striped Marlin;

·         Develop and strengthen high-seas management arrangements for key target south Pacific tuna and billfish stocks in the area below 20°S.

 ·         Carry out research activities in the South Pacific longline fishery focusing on the target species of SP albacore, SW swordfish and striped marlin, and bycatch species of bigeye and yellowfin

 2)      To maximize long term economic and social benefits through the utilization of fisheries resources and effective promotion of fisheries developments that enhance economic growth at the national level.

Operational Objectives:

·         Development of domestication policies

o        Promote and encourage joint venture arrangements

o        Create conditions for profitable and stable domestic longline fleets and on-shore investment that deliver social and economic returns to the wider community

o        Promote charter arrangements

·         Develop fishery access rules for implementation at the national & sub regional level

·         Achieve greater control over, and more secure access to, the south Pacific tuna and billfish stocks for Pacific island countries and territories both in national waters and on the high seas.

·         Continue to explore broad participation and equitable access within the Sub-committee membership through reciprocal licensing arrangements. 

·         Develop and strengthen greater capacity, range and mobility in the Pacific Islands domestic longline fleets to capture greater social and economic benefits from the south Pacific tuna and billfish resources throughout the range of their distribution;

·         Transporting products to market

o        Meeting market requirements (business to business, assistance from government, get help from FFA, etc)

o        Quality control (environment standards, legal issues, food quality standards)

o        MSC accreditation schemes

·         Facilitate allocation between sectors

o        Commercial industry

o        Subsistence/ artisanal

o        Recreation

·         Facilitate trade promotion of fish and fisheries products

·         Develop sub-regional arrangements

·         Develop bilateral arrangements

·         Promote value adding

 3)      To promote good governance within the Sub-committee membership to enhance accountability & transparency

 Operational Objectives

·         Develop and implement effective MCS measures

·         Strengthen and enhance national Institutions

o        Capacity building

·         Sharing information/ people/ assets

·         Enhance and strengthen institutional capacity to  meet regional & international obligations

·         Strengthen regional partnerships between Pacific Islands countries and territories in the south Pacific

·         Safety of vessels/ crew

 4)      To promote the importance of the contribution of southern  tuna and billfish to food security

 Operational Objectives

·         Support and protect development of traditional and artisanal fisheries