VANUATU FISHERIES DEVELOPMENT

ISSUES

Historically, in PacificIslands like Vanuatu, the main source of economic gains from tuna was to licence foreign fishing nations to fish in their waters, however recent innovations and strategic thinking has encouraged many PacificIsland nations to look at increasing domestic development through encouraging local investment and more local jobs.

Economic returns to Vanuatu from foreign fishing licences have historically been low – for example government revenue from fishing licences was just 0.3% of the total value of the catch. A recent study by the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) found if 25% of Vanuatu’s catch was brought ashore for processing and shipping then the country could create local business of US$2.5 million a year, 1500 new jobs and contribute around US$1.5 million to government revenue.

Vanuatu has one company exporting sashimi tuna to Japan (The Tuna Fishing Company) and one new company which hopes to launch a processing plant in mid 2009 (Black Sands Fishing Company). One of the obstacles to increasing the capacity of these two ventures is that they cannot export to a number of overseas countries including the European Union (EU) due to the lack of what is defined by the EU as a Competent Authority – an independent body responsible for setting and implementing standards for seafood exports and certifying seafood products that are exported. This Competent Authority would also be responsible for ensuring exporting companies operated under an Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) system that meets international standards.

FFA ASSISTANCE

Following an assessment of these obstacles to fisheries development in Vanuatu, commissioned by FFA, the Vanuatu Government decided to review its legislation and operation to enable Vanuatu to fulfil the requirements to export tuna to the EU and the USA.

A consultant has been employed to assist in the formation and implementation of an effective Competent Authority using newly drafted legislation to meet international requirements. Part of this assistance will also extend to industry training in the new system.

The Vanuatu Government and FFA, working together, recruited an Industry Liaison Officer to identify ways to overcome obstacles to increasing local fisheries development. FFA will provide US $150,000 in assistance to provide expertise and capacity to the Vanuatu government to increase domestic development. This includes technical advice, legal assistance and other support to set up necessary laws and procedures to create a Competent Authority which would then make ensure tuna exported overseas met the export criteria of importing countries.

With these new markets opened up in future, it is hoped that this will increase investment in Vanuatu fisheries processing and packing facilities, local employment, local business opportunities and government revenue.

WHERE DO I FIND OUT MORE INFORMATION?

FFA

Refer to the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) website for more information about the development assistance FFA provides to countries program on

VANUATU

In Vanuatu contact XX or refer to the website XX

VANUATU FISHERIES DEVELOPMENT

EMPLOYMENT

There are 175 people employed officially in fisheries in Vanuatu, all with foreign vessels, the 6th highest number of people employed in fisheries (with Papua New Guinea having the highest employment rate in the Pacific Islands region).

CATCH

In 2007, tuna catch in Vanuatu was 75,582 tonnes.

NUMBER OF VESSELS

There are XX domestic fishing vessels and XX foreign fishing vessels operating in Vanuatu’s waters.

ACCESS FEES

In 2008, USD $1.36 million was earned in government revenue from fishing vessel licences.

PACIFIC ISLANDS FORUM FISHERIES AGENCY P.O Box 629 Honiara, Solomon Islands Tel: (677) 21124 Fax: (677) 23995