Media-Releases

FFA TRADE AND INDUSTRY NEWS Volume 10: Issue 4 July - August 2017

FFA TRADE AND INDUSTRY NEWS Volume 10: Issue 4July - August 2017

By Liam Campling, Elizabeth Havice, Mike McCoy[1]

CONTENTS

Preferential & Fisheries Trade

Special Feature: Possible impacts of post-Brexit UK trade policy on the canned tuna trade

Update on fisheries subsidies debates in the lead up to the 11th WTO Ministerial

Fisheries Regulation

Legal challenge to new US Seafood Import Monitoring Program unsuccessful

News@FFA: FFA mourns passing of former Director Talobak Victorio Uherbelau

FFA HQ, Honiara, SOLOMON ISLANDS-- The Forum Fisheries Agency mourns the sad passing of its former FFA Director, Talobak Victorio Uherbelau on Sunday, August 27, 2017. He was 78.

At the forefront of Palau’s emergence into nationhood, Uherbelau, who held the chiefly title Talobak, served as his country’s first Attorney General and went on to become the first of his country to lead a regional agency. The post title was changed to Director-General in 2005.

News@FFA: Pacific news hub delivers tuna tales of sustainability

FFA HQ, Honiara, SOLOMON ISLANDS 16th August 2017--Pacific journalists are now reporting about how their nations are working together to manage their shared Oceanic resource- tuna- at a handy news hub, www.tunapacific.org.

The site provides news, commentary and content about the actions being taken by Pacific Small island Developing States (P-SIDS) to protect and sustain the Pacific tuna fisheries.

News@FFA: IUU cases open up in wake of regional 'Island Chief' Fisheries Operation

August 15th 2017, FFA HQ, Honiara SOLOMON ISLANDS—Investigations into four serious breaches of vessel fishing licenses have opened up after another regional fisheries surveillance sweep in the Pacific tuna fishery.

2017 Pacific Fisheries Ministerial Communique: 14th FFCMIN Outcomes, Australia takes Chair.

Statement of Outcomes from the Fourteenth Annual Session of Pacific Fisheries Ministers

1. Ministers representing Australia, Fiji, Kiribati, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Solomon Islands, Tokelau and Tuvalu met in Mooloolaba, Australia on 5 and 6 July 2017 as the fourteenth annual meeting of the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Committee (FFC) Ministers.

2. Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu were represented by diplomats and senior officials.

FFCMIN14: "Fiji is committed" to finalising Tokelau Arrangement- calls for consensus, solidarity on issues that matter (STATEMENT)

Fiiji's Country statement at FFCMIN Opening Plenary delivered by Hon. Semi Koroilavesau

(SALUTATIONS)-- Chair, I would like to congratulate you for your Chairmanship and thank the Australian government and its people for hosting the 102nd Forum Fisheries

FFCMIN14: 'Tuna is everything' to Pacific nations, says value-adding champion. (PNG statement)

FFCMIN14 Country Statement delivered by Deputy MD for PNG National Fisheries Authority, Philip Polon.

(SALUTATIONS)

FFCMIN14: Marshall Islands raises disproportionate burden on SIDS at WCPFC, wants new Marine Pollution measure (Statement)

RMI country statement to FFCMIN plenary delivered by Hon. Alfred Alfred, Jr.

(SALUTATIONS)

--On behalf of Her Excellency Madam President Dr. Hilda C. Heine, the Government and the People of the Republic of the Marshall Islands, I extend to you all warm and heartfelt greetings of “Yokwe!”

FFCMIN14: Vanuatu's handover advice to new FFC Chair-- uphold Strength through regionalism, unity. (STATEMENT)

delivered as part of the opening formalities by H.E. Mr Kalfau Kaloris Vanuatu High Commissioner to Australia, for the Outgoing Chair of the Forum Fisheries Ministers Committee, Hon. Matai Seremaiah Nawalu, and welcoming of new Chair, Australia.

(Salutations)

FFCMIN14: Sustainability of South Pacific Albacore, WCPFC 2017, and FFA leadership change on the priority list-- new Chair (STATEMENT)

--(Salutations) Delivered by Australia's Assistant Minister for Agriculture and Water, Senator Ann Ruston, as FFCMIN Chair.

I would like to thank previous meeting chair, Vanuatu, and acknowledge their great work in steering the FFA through a challenging 2016. I would also like to thank Mr Kerry Jones for welcoming us to Country.

Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA)

Strengthening national capacity and regional solidarity for sustainable tuna fisheries