Coral Triangle Fisher Forum II

Breakout Group Notes, Session 3 (Day 2)

19 June 2012

  • Requirement from the importing countries for exporters (industry )to meet
  • Each market has different requirements
  • Global Safety Initiative - umbrella food safety standard
  • Communications (common language)need to be made as there’s a lot out there – standard messaging
  • PNG – EU standards – only 1 company , but now there’s a standard set up from lessons learned
  • Dissemination and timeliness of process, generating documents and the availability of information – paper or e-records

(a)Large scale export fisheries

Implementation of Traceability – Issues

  • Example of a Jakarta business, did not have a HACCP plan that was exporting to US, sourcing from Singapore that have HACCP plan (change countries) – use of shell company
  • competent authority to exercise the legal framework (integrity of competent authority)
  • Willingness of government to enforce regulation
  • Compliance with existing legal framework and those that will address this
  • Having a one stop shop – Processors to supply correct and same info to regulators and departments
  • Transparency of application
  • Incentive for fishermen to implement traceability processes
  • Education on impact and benefits of IUU, traceability
  • Involve other government departments (example in Solomon Islands – violations of IUU and others) to achieve same results.
  • Reliance on regional organisations to build capacity (reduce gaps – such as monitoring)
  • Coordination - sharing of information and data (eg; Te Vaka Moana and PNA)
  • Promotion of sub regional cooperation, the capacity may be there, but under utilized

Promotion of Adoption of traceability Systems

  • People to be aware of the process – awareness programs - better utilization of existing mechanisms through awareness programs
  • Regional standards/ authority instead of individual activities.
  • What the motivation is for traceability; 1. Satisfy Govt regulation, 2. Maximise profits, 3. Fish with a story and is story verifiable – retailer’s demands
  • Improve technology uptake through innovations

(b) Small scale Fisheries servicing local markets

  • It comes from the demand issue – the retailer needs to be aware (corporate image to get premium) – educate local markets on benefits of traceability.
  • Protection of global brand names in local markets
  • No difference except for border issues.
  • Fishing Co-ops may provide solutions – example from Guam – fishers pressured markets to not buy small mahimahi or tuna that is not caught by a co-op boat.
  • Looking at organizing and formalizing the markets or groups, example fish improvement schemes that can be tied to traceability – monitored at community levels
  • Fisheries survey to know the status and intentions and issues
  • Community monitoring: Non-dollar markets – Fiji for example have established turtle monitors and fish wardens to address the harvest of endangered species.
  • Community fisheries management - using locals as wardens