ALL ABOUT FFA
HUNGRY?
The world is hungry for PacificIsland tuna. PacificIslands have 30 million square kilometres of ocean – the richest and last remaining healthy tuna stocks in the world (worth $4 billion a year). More and more nations want to fish in the Pacific (particularly new is the increase in number of Latin American countries wanting access to Pacific waters). Meanwhile, more and more people eating fish (sashimi and canned) than before.
PacificIslands need to balance the demand for their tuna with their own needs. The Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) strengthens national capacity and regional solidarity so its 17 members can manage, control and develop their tuna fisheries now and in the future.
Based in Honiara, Solomon Islands, FFA's 17 PacificIslandmembers are Australia, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.
FFA was established to help countries sustainably manage their fishery resources that fall within their 200 mile Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs). FFA is an advisory body providing expertise, technical assistance and other support to its members who make sovereign decisions about their tuna resources and participate in regional decision making on tuna management through agencies such as the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC).
Since 1979, FFA has facilitated regional cooperation so that all Pacific countries benefit from the sustainable use of tuna – worth over $3 billion a year and important for many people’s livelihoods in the Pacific.
The founding document of the Agency is the South Pacific Forum Fisheries Agency Convention. The Forum Fisheries Committee meets annually to consider regional policies and the budget and work programme of FFA.
WHAT FFA DOES?
On the national level, FFA provides support and services for PacificIsland countries and territories regarding:
1)FISHERIES DEVELOPMENT – advice and technical input to maximise value of tuna and domestic development
2)FISHERIES MANAGEMENT – sustainability, tuna management plans, bycatch (sharks, turtles etc), vessel day scheme (to limit then trade fishing days), laws and regulations
3)FISHERIES OPERATIONS – control of illegal fishing (vessel monitoring system, observer training, treaties & legal advice, regional surveillance coordination)
FFA has two large projects using FFA expertise:
1) Oceanic Fisheries Management Project (UNDP GEF-funded, working with SPC, IUCN, PacificIsland countries)
The Oceanic Fisheries Management Project provides resources from the Global Environment Facility (GEF), through the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), to governments in the PacificIslands to strengthen management of their oceanic fisheries.
Pacific Islands receive assistance such as training, technical support, fisheries management, legal, compliance and scientific advice and assistance, coordinated by regional organisations Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) in conjunction with the Pacific Community Oceanic Fisheries Programme (SPC) and the World Conservation Union (IUCN).
2) DEVFISH(EU-funded, working with SPC, Industry, national governments for development)
PacificIsland countries need policy change to increase local industry development to create economic growth. Currently local fishing industry has low numbers of jobs, poor earnings from employment and a low impact on poverty alleviation and food security. For example, PacificIslands countries catch just $200 million worth of tuna from its fisheries while foreign nations fishing in the same waters catch over $1 billion.
The Development of Tuna Fisheries in the Pacific ACP Countries Project (DEVFISH) is a European Union funded regional project, which encourages governments to make policy changes that can make it easier for local Pacific fishing industries to grow and profit.
Activities to achieve this goal include analysis, consultation and training at the regional level on shared and common aspects of tuna development. On the national level, DEVFISH supports a range of activities such as strengthening fish producers' associations and improving consultation between private sector and Government, helping with seafood safety requirements for access to European markets and creating national plans for development.
On the regional level, FFA facilitates decision making by coordinating PacificIsland involvement in:
1) Forum Fisheries Committee (17 members, with Fisheries officials and Ministers participating the FFC directs the work and priorities of FFA)
2) Subregional groups – Parties to Nauru Agreement (commonly known as the PNA, has 8 members, cooperate to manage and trade fishing access in the region)
3) Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (known as WCPFC, has as its members Pacific countries + EU, US, Asian nations which decide on the rules for fishing in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean)
4) Groups of experts (eg Monitoring Control and Surveillance experts are brought together by FFA to identify problems and solutions to illegal fishing)
WHERE DO I FIND OUT MORE INFORMATION?
Join the free email news list: email
BrowsethePacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) website for moreinformation
Contact Anouk Ride, Communications, FFA: +677 94548
PACIFIC ISLANDS FORUM FISHERIES AGENCY P.O Box 629 Honiara, Solomon Islands Tel: (677) 21124 Fax: (677) 23995