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Tokelau
to embark on inshore fisheries management
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With
the assistance of SPC coastal fisheries management section and
the Samoa government, Tokelau has embarked on a programme to
develop village fisheries management plans for the three
atolls, Nukunonu, Atafu and Fakaofo, and to draw up a National
Inshore Fisheries Management Plan. The programme started last
month in Apia with a week’s training of community
representatives, facilitated by SPC and the Samoa Fisheries
Department.
Tokelau
is still organised traditionally, with each island being
governed by the Taupulega or council of elders. The three
atolls of Tokelau maintain their own autonomy, with
traditional regulations and by-laws relating to resource use
and management being decided by the Taupulega in consultation
with the communities. As in other Pacific islands, Tokelau has
in place the "lafu system", which ensures a
sustainable harvest and the preservation of coastal marine
species for future generations.
The
participatory approach to management that has been favoured
for the programme rests on the involvement and support of the
communities and owners of the resources at the planning,
development, monitoring and evaluation stages of projects.
Scientific methods contributed in villages to maximise the
existing traditional institutions, the knowledge and the
regulatory mechanisms.
The
involvement and support of the communities and owners of the
resources at the planning, development, monitoring and
evaluation stages of projects is a key aspect of the programme
- the participatory approach to management. Scientific methods
will complement the existing traditional institutions,
knowledge and regulatory mechanisms.
Tanielu Sua, the Samoa
Director of Fisheries, visited Tokelau as SPC consultant to
study the fisheries management practices in Tokelau. The Samoa
government released three of its senior fisheries officers to
work with the Tokelau representatives and SPC on each of three
islands in developing their management plans. Through thorough
consultations, meetings, trainings, interviews and field work,
Tanielu and SPC expert Aliti Vunisea concluded that efforts at
fisheries development and management have been hindered by the
lack of fisheries technical staff and the lack of a support
structure to facilitate the implementation of projects. As
well, awareness training and skills training were needed to
allow people to fully undertake management work.
The
introduction of village based fisheries management in Tokelau
is nothing new. In reality, this programme involved the
implementation of a more organised and planned version of the
traditional resource use mechanism that people are familiar
with and have used for generations. The management plan
is therefore a process that will fit into everyday work
rhythms.
After
three weeks of work in Tokelau, the management plans were
finalised in the Tokelaun language. Immediate plans are for
them to be translated into English, which will involve further
work between the Tokelau and Samoa governments.
Further
information: Aliti
Vunisea,
Coastal Fisheries Management Officer, Tel: +687 260257
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Maritime lawyers simulation training
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A
simulation to place Pacific Islands lawyers in a real case
study related to collisions, foundering and pollution took
place in Suva, Fiji Islands (19-23 April, 2004)
SPC's
Regional Maritime programme gathered State solicitors from
Pacific Island countries to study collisions, foundering and
pollution.
Through
a case study of a collision in Auckland harbour involving
three ships, the participants were put in the best condition
to analyse the legal implications. Senior students from the
Fiji School of Maritime Studies took the role of sailors
involved in the collision and acted out the case study on a
portable bridge simulator. The lawyers - at SPC's Nabua office
- were assigned "clients" and asked to prepare
individual cases of action or defence on behalf of their
clients.
The
"lawyers", who did not see the simulation, interviewed
the "sailors" during the week to determine the facts
and the evidence. They researched the appropriate law, prepared
the court documents and then presented their oral arguments
before a judge in a mock trial. On the last day of the seminar
the simulation was re-ran for a de-briefing discussion.
"This
case has no 'right answer' but raises several legal issues for
the lawyers to get their teeth into," says Captain Dr.
Peter Heathcote, SPC regional maritime legal adviser. "The
students acting as the sailors will gain an insight into the
manner in which the law operates when a collision and
stranding occur at sea. The simulation will provide a valuable
lesson in the pitfalls of sloppy seamanship and navigation
they must continually guard against," he adds.
"It
is the first time that such an ambitious undertaking has been
envisaged. My intention when I designed this seminar was to
stress how important it is for both parties, lawyers and
sailors, to understand each other when contentious situations
occur on the sea", says Captain Heathcote.
Further
information: Dr
Peter Heathcote,
Maritime Legal Adviser,
Tel: +679 3370 232 or check
the maritime
website
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Sea
safety in small safety fishing vessels
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A
regional expert consultation on Sea Safety in Small Fishing
Vessels was jointly organised by FAO and SPC in Suva, Fiji,
last February.
Fishing at
sea is probably the most dangerous occupation. Sea
safety and related issues are crucially important in Pacific
Island fisheries. In some countries the accident rate
for fishers is among the highest in the world. Over the
last four decades, various UN agencies, regional
organisations, donor agencies and others have made efforts to
address the situation.
Safety
at sea a crucial issue for artisanal fishers
In
1991 FAO undertook a regional survey on sea safety issues in
16 countries in the Pacific region. It concluded that
“education through publicity campaigns, repeated and
reinforced over a long period of time, backed up by a good
supply of equipment and spare parts, and training seems to
offer the best chance for improving safety at sea for
artisanal fishers”.
In
early 2003 FAO undertook another survey on fisheries-related
sea safety in the Pacific Islands region. It aimed at
consolidating the experience gained by selected countries in
safety at sea with the view of improving ongoing and future
activities in the region.
A
major conclusion of that survey was that the majority of
casualties in Pacific Islands is associated with small fishing
boats, which have received the least attention in terms of
legislation, construction standards, enforcement strategies,
regional discussions, training on proper use, and other
schemes to improve safety.
The
report of the survey also indicated that many of these issues
have facets that involve law, naval architecture, search and
rescue, community awareness, maritime administration,
fisheries and other fields. FAO and SPC agreed that a meeting
attended by motivated people having expertise in these
disciplines could have a very positive effect on regional and
national sea safety programmes. The FAO/SPC Regional Expert
Consultation on Sea Safety in Small Fishing Vessels held in
Suva, Fiji, from 9 to 13 February 2004 was intended to produce
this outcome.
An
open forum for discussions, which assisted the development of
coordinated national strategies
Participants
included artisanal fishers, legal specialists, boat-builders,
and personnel from government fisheries and maritime agencies.
The findings of discussions were compiled into a set of
recommendations, which aimed at developing and implementing
coordinated national sea safety strategies.
A
dialogue on future safety programmes between more
institutional-oriented participants were also organised. The
endorsed recommendations were considered in details and, for
each one, some ideas came up about how it might be achieved,
by whom and what resources might be required. [To
learn more about the recommendations, click
here]
Future
perspectives
At
the next APIMTIMA meeting in May, delegates from national
maritime authorities and training institutions will be further
discussing these issues and reflect on how they plan to
develop and implement their national strategy.
Later
in September, the Head of Fisheries meeting will also consider
the Consultation outcomes and possibly formulate a request to
the donor community for supporting national sea safety
initiatives.
It
is also expected that sea safety will be on the
agenda at the next SPC governing bodies meeting -
Committee of Representatives and Governments Administration -
in November.
The
first steps have been taken, and now it is up to all of us to
generate the necessary interest, awareness, community support
and political awareness to make it happen.
Further
information: Michel
Blanc,
Fisheries
Education and Training Adviser,
Tel: +687 260276
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