New Zealand hosts Pacific Fisheries Ministers for landmark Forum Fisheries Committee meeting

Fisheries Ministers, senior officials and delegates from across the Pacific gathered in Aotearoa New Zealand today for the opening of the 25th Annual Forum Fisheries Committee (FFC) Ministerial Meeting, where leaders will discuss the future of the region’s fisheries and strengthen cooperation on the sustainable management of the Pacific Ocean’s most valuable resource.

Hosted by the Government of New Zealand, the meeting opened with a traditional Māori pōwhiri at Te Papa Tongarewa, New Zealand’s national museum. The formal welcoming ceremony brought together Members, development partners, observers and delegates in a powerful expression of partnership, respect and shared purpose.

The pōwhiri, which included traditional speeches and waiata from both hosts and visitors, welcomed delegates onto the marae and into the meeting space. The ceremony reflected the deep cultural connections shared by Pacific peoples and their ocean, while reinforcing the collective responsibility to sustainably manage the region’s fisheries for future generations.

Opening the meeting, FFA Director-General Noan Pakop thanked New Zealand for its warm hospitality and acknowledged the significance of the welcome.

“We are honoured by this expression of manaakitanga, which reminds us that our work is grounded in friendship, mutual respect and our shared commitment to the peoples of the Blue Pacific,” he said.

Mr Pakop also congratulated New Zealand’s Honourable Shane Jones on assuming the Chairmanship of the Forum Fisheries Committee Ministerial and thanked senior fisheries officials for their work in preparing recommendations for Ministers.

“The careful deliberations of our senior officials have laid a strong foundation for the important decisions Ministers will make over the coming days,” he said.

Over the course of the meeting, Ministers will consider several strategic issues that will shape the future of Pacific fisheries, focusing on three key priorities: sustaining and strengthening fisheries management, increasing the economic and social benefits from the region’s fisheries resources, and ensuring regional institutions remain strong and responsive to Members’ needs.

Among the key agenda items is the proposed South Pacific Albacore Allocation Arrangement, which aims to provide greater long-term certainty for one of the region’s most important tuna fisheries while reaffirming the leadership of Pacific coastal States in managing the resource.

Ministers will also discuss ways to maximise the value of Pacific fisheries through initiatives such as the East New Britain Initiative (ENBi), which supports greater domestic participation in the tuna industry, stronger local economies, employment opportunities and improved food security.

The meeting will also consider the future of the Fisheries Treaty with the United States, a partnership that has supported sustainable fisheries management and delivered economic benefits to Pacific Island countries for more than three decades.

Mr Pakop said Pacific tuna resources remain among the healthiest and most valuable in the world because of the collective stewardship and leadership demonstrated by FFA Members.

“Our challenge is not only to sustain healthy fisheries, but to ensure they continue to create jobs, strengthen domestic industries, improve food security and deliver lasting prosperity for Pacific communities,” he said.

Another major focus of the meeting is the new FFA Strategic Plan, which will guide regional fisheries cooperation over the coming years. Ministers will also consider ongoing Secretariat reforms aimed at strengthening institutional effectiveness, ensuring sustainable funding and enhancing the Secretariat’s ability to respond to Members’ priorities.

Recognising the importance of regional collaboration, Mr Pakop welcomed Pacific Community (SPC) Director-General Dr Paula Vivili and Deputy Director-General Andrew Jones to their first FFC Ministerial Meeting, noting that strong partnerships between regional organisations will be critical as fisheries governance continues to evolve.

He also acknowledged the continued support of FFA’s development partners, whose longstanding partnerships help strengthen regional capacity and enable Members to deliver lasting benefits to Pacific communities.

“The decisions taken during this meeting will help shape the future management of our fisheries, maximise the value of our ocean resources for Pacific people and strengthen the regional institutions that support our Members for generations to come,” Mr Pakop said.

New Zealand also reaffirmed its longstanding commitment to Pacific fisheries through a significant package of support announced during the welcome ceremony at the Beehive at the Parliament House on Monday evening.

Speaking as Chair of the 25th Forum Fisheries Committee Ministerial Meeting, New Zealand’s Minister for Oceans and Fisheries, Honourable Shane Jones, announced increased funding for the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) to strengthen regional efforts to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, build fisheries capacity across FFA Members and support the long-term sustainability of the region’s fisheries resources.

The funding will also support the Pacific Islands Tuna Ventures Programme (PITVP), an initiative aimed at helping Pacific Island countries capture greater value from their tuna resources through innovation and product diversification.

New Zealand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Honourable Winston Peters, said the Pacific supplies more than half of the world’s traded tuna, yet Pacific nations do not always receive a fair return from this globally important resource. 

He said New Zealand’s investment reflects its commitment to helping Pacific countries strengthen domestic fisheries industries, create jobs and increase economic returns for coastal communities. 

As host of this year’s meeting, the first time in 18 years New Zealand has welcomed Pacific Fisheries Ministers for the Forum Fisheries Committee Ministerial – New Zealand’s support underscores the importance of regional cooperation in ensuring Pacific fisheries continue to deliver sustainable economic and food security benefits for generations to come.

The annual Forum Fisheries Committee Ministerial Meeting is the Pacific’s highest-level fisheries meeting, bringing together Fisheries Ministers from FFA Members to provide strategic direction on the conservation, sustainable management and development of the region’s fisheries resources.

WELLINGTON, 30 June 2026

Media Contacts: Emily V. Moli FFA Communications Manager e: [email protected] Ernest Ta'asi FFA Communications Officer e: ernest.ta’[email protected] Priscilla Ragu FFA Communications Officer e: [email protected]

About Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) FFA assists its 17 Members to sustainably manage fishery resources that fall within their 200-mile Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs). FFA provides expertise, technical assistance and other support to its members who make decisions about their tuna resources and participate in regional decision making on tuna management. Find out more here: www.ffa.int