Fisheries

The Minister’s delegation, which comprises his wife, Director of the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD) Antoine Ravo, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Vanuatu Agriculture College (VAC) Peter Napwatt, First Secretary of the Embassy of Vanuatu in Beijing Osborne Taseru, First Political Advisor (PA) David Gibson, and Minister’s Private Secretary Vincent Kapalu arrived in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, on Tuesday.

The Director of Fisheries did not join the delegation due to in-country duties.

Prime Minister, Bob Loughman handed over credentials to Frank Seirongi and Sura Mabarao at the Aniwa Area Council headquarters.

The presentation took place when Loughman visited Aniwa aboard RVS Takuare Thursday.

Loughman congratulated the officers and reminded the communities to respect the two officers as they carry out their duties around the island.

“Bear in mind, just recently on Malekula, Police detained some individuals who were trying to fool around with the laws and regulation of this country,” he said.

The workshop was aimed at training the Authorizing Officers to ensure there is sustainable fisheries for the future generation of Vanuatu.

The twenty-five participants representing various provinces were among a few experienced fisheries officers in this workshop, which was conducted by South Pacific Commission’s (SPC) Specialist in Coastal Fisheries, Aquaculture, Monitoring and Surveillance, Ian Freeman at the Moorings in Port Vila.

The warning appeal came from the Principal Monitoring control and Surveillance (MCS) Officer, Yakar Silas following a workshop on MCS on Coastal Fisheries.

Mr Silas appealed to all fishermen around the country to call into the Fisheries Department to sort out any outstanding dues they may have in paying or renewing their licenses to the Vanuatu Government. “Failure to comply with this notice,” he said will result in penalty fines.

The training was done through the assistance of the Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) and conducted by the FFA VMS Manager, Ramesh Chand and the FFA VMS Technical Personnel, Daniel Koroi.

The VMS is a cost effective satellite-based tool for the successful monitoring, control and surveillance (MCS) of Fisheries activities.

It provides the Fisheries Department with accurate and timely information about the location and activity of all regulated fishing vessels.

Instead, the final Call to Action adopted by leaders the first UN Oceans conference in June ‘continues to perpetuate the myth that we are weak and small and need to be treated differently’.
 
Dr Aqorau, who is a former CEO of the Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA), said Pacific and other Small Island Developing States (PSIDS) need to change this mindset because the current myth of smallness and we need special help is ‘undermining’ the value of their natural capital.
 

The project, which runs from June 2017 to May 2020, is being led by the FAO, with a total budget of US$508,336.

The FAO is also providing in-kind support to the project alongside the government and the Pacific Horticultural and Agricultural Market Access Program (PHAMA), backed by Australia and New Zealand.

Support will help the National Public Health Laboratory to achieve ISO 17025 certification, which is required for fish exports to access the EU market.

Speaking on behalf of Vanuatu Fisheries Minister Matai Seremaiah Nawalu at the FFC meeting, Vanuatu’s High Commissioner to Australia, Kalfau Kaloris said last year was a challenging one but there were some highlights.

The minister acknowledged that Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) continues to improve its performances and is better responding to the needs of its members in all aspects of fisheries management and developments.

The recommitment of FFA Leaders to fisheries and the successful negotiations on the continuance of the US Treaty is another achievement.

The deals were signed in Wellington as part of the Chinese Premier Li Keqiang's visit to New Zealand.

New Zealand Foreign Minister, Murray McCully, said these arrangements would strengthen and expand the co-operation with China even further.

He said New Zealand and China were committed to protecting sustainable fish stocks in the Pacific, and both support efforts to combat illegal fishing.

He has been leading a delegation to the French territory this week.

Views were exchanged on industrial fisheries and fish farming, with a focus on the cultivation of grouper and mackerel.

Mr Jones spoke of his desire for a partnership in the fisheries sector and in maritime training in which he says New Zealand has long-standing know-how.

Photo: supplied  Shane Jones led NZ delegation in French Polynesia