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Highlights

New strategic directions for Pacific fisheries and ports approved

35th meeting of the Committee of Representatives of Governments and Administrations (CRGA) (Koror, Palau, 14–17 November 2005)

Wednesday, 16 November, 2005 – The central place of the sea in the lives of Pacific Islanders goes without saying. Pacific Island representatives acknowledged this importance when they approved new strategic plans for SPC's Marine Resources Division after assessing its work programme.

The renewed programme of work includes continuing research for oceanic and coastal fisheries, and advice and training on maritime legal issues and port management. The new strategic plans accord with the principles of the Pacific Islands Regional Ocean Policy and are designed to help the region apply components of the policy, particularly those relating to shipping, and conservation and management of fishery ecosystems.

Status of tuna stocks

Planned work will include improving the assessment of the status of tuna stocks in the Pacific.

Pacific Island representatives also expressed strong support for a new large-scale programme for tagging tuna in the region, and particularly welcomed the initiative by Papua New Guinea to start the ball rolling with a contribution of USD 100,000.

Palau's representative, Mr Theofanes Isamu, said that Palau was particularly in favour of this initiative, which provided a way of assessing the Pacific's most valuable natural resource - its oceanic fish stocks - without having to depend on reports made by fishing vessels themselves. He said Palau felt that this kind of cross-check was essential if Pacific countries were to stand a chance of protecting their fisheries from over-exploitation.

Ecosystem approach to managing coastal fisheries

In approving the strategic plan for SPC's coastal fisheries programme, Pacific Island representatives welcomed plans to assist them in applying an ecosystem approach to managing their coastal fisheries. This approach is rapidly becoming accepted as "best practice" for fisheries management, and the nations of the world, including SPC members, set a voluntary deadline of 2010 for its application at the World Summit on Sustainable Development in 2002. Although time is running out, the Pacific Islands region intends to achieve this deadline.

Meeting international port security standards

Pacific Island representatives particularly appreciated the assistance provided by SPC's Maritime Programme in their struggle to bring the region up to ever-increasing international safety and security standards for shipping. Captain John Hogan, SPC's Maritime Programme Coordinator, said that the port security audits promoted by SPC were on a par with the best international standards, and that SPC was now being approached by countries outside the Pacific Islands region for advice. "While these approaches are evidence of the standard of work," he said, "SPC is an organisation set up by the Pacific Islands and works in the best interests of this region only."

Research and management advice

Pacific Community representatives also heard from the Deputy Director-General of the Forum Fisheries Agency, Mr Steve Dunn. He described the reforms that were taking place within the Agency, which has just received a massive vote of confidence from its membership, including a major increase in member's financial contributions. SPC and FFA have 17 member countries and territories in common. They work closely together to advise members on conservation and management of highly migratory fisheries, particularly tuna, with SPC contributing scientific advice through its Oceanic Fisheries Programme and FFA contributing advice on management and development.

The two organisations also work together to support member countries and territories with their participation in the work of the new Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission. The Commission provides a forum for Pacific Island countries to meet with countries fishing in their region to reach agreement on measures for conserving and managing regional stocks of highly migratory fish.

This week, SPC and FFA will renew their Memorandum of Understanding, which describes how they collaborate in developing, conserving and managing regional oceanic fisheries.

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