Vanuatu’s Prime Minister says Forum island leaders will need to make a stronger commitment to improve the management responsibility if Pacific islands Forum Fisheries Agency members are to continue to enjoy the benefits of their valuable tuna resource.
Prime Minister Charlot Salwai Tabimasmas made the comment at the opening of the 13th Ministerial Meeting of the FFA in Port Vila last night.
He said the Pacific Ocean has and will continue to play an important role in the future state of play and of international negotiations, particularly for its fish and more specifically, albeit highly migratory, last-remaining healthy tuna stocks.
Mr. Salwai said tuna and tuna fisheries continue to play an important role in the economy of FFA member countries.
“Revenue received from tuna fisheries contribute significantly to the national budget of our Governments; provide employment opportunities and food security for our growing populations”.
“Our ocean region as you all know is home to the world’s richest tuna resource but we are not getting maximum return from our resource. We must continue to work hard and find innovative ways to ensure we derive maximum economic benefit in the long term in a manner that is economically sound and environmentally sustainable. This is because tuna is an important part of the marine environment”, he said.
Like some of the FFA members, the prime minister said Vanuatu is working to revive its domestic fish processing industry to maximize economic return from this resource.
He told visiting fisheries ministers that their responsibility in managing fisheries resources and its developments in a vast Pacific ocean is a challenging one.
The Vanuatu Government leader said continued discussions on the management and development of the Southern Albacore fishery is an important fishery issue and that while there are differences he hoped the discussions will come up with a model that satisfies all members under the Tokelau Arrangement.
On the issue of high unemployment rate faced by most FFA countries, Mr. Salwai said the fishing industry offers an opportunity to develop job opportunities.
“I encourage you to continue to discuss and come up with innovative ways to develop capacity of our people to benefit from job opportunities in the fishing industry in our Islands and elsewhere”, he said.
“Fishing in a large Pacific Ocean comes with its many challenges. It is impossible to see, or know what is happening in this vast ocean but we are proud of the work of FFA to support member country governments in the fight against IUU fishing in our region”.
“Compared to other regions of the world, we have done well to reduce illegal fishing activities as reported in an independent IUU fishing review report. But it is not over yet; we must continue to work hard to ensure that fishing vessels that we allow to fish in our waters must fully comply with existing management regulations”, said the prime minister.
Mr. Salwai called on the FFA Ministers to maintain the spirit of regional solidarity through FFA.
At the same time, he said they should be mindful of the development aspirations of each individual members and recognize their desire to work with other development partners, distance waters fishing nations and the Western Central Pacific Fisheries Commission for the management of tuna resources in the region.
This 13th FFC Ministerial meeting will be primarily about reaffirmation: reaffirmation of the FFA core strengths and on-going programs; reaffirmation of its strategic plans and priorities as set out in the revised FFA Strategic Plan and the Roadmap for sustainable Pacific fisheries; and reaffirmation of the fundamental value and necessity of regional solidarity and cooperation that underpins the many achievements that this region has wrought with regard to the sustainable management of our oceanic resources and the enhancement of the economic benefits from this vast natural resource.