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Statement by FFA Director- General Su'a N.F. Tanielu to mark World Tuna Day, May 2

On the occasion of the inaugural May 2 World Tuna Day, the FFA secretariat headquarters joins the Pacific and global support to this important date, and congratulates the Pacific governments who announced in July 2011 that the world needed a global day to celebrate Tuna. This is indicative of the innovative approach of Pacific leaders in a resourceful, collaborative approach to raising awareness on the global stage of the urgent measures aimed at ensuring the Ocean food stores of Tuna are not under threat of extinction. Despite the challenges that they face as small administrations with some of the lowest government budgets in the world, FFA members have built a reputation for driving regional fisheries management, both through the WCPFC and through measures that they develop and agree in their own right. FFA members work together in regional and global fisheries meetings to maintain and protect their rights under international law, and their development opportunities related to the fishery and associated industries. In order to achieve this feat FFA members have continuously developed and evolved their national legislation and policy frameworks to position themselves to implement some of the most robust contemporary fisheries management approaches in the world. At the same time, the challenges of converting their hard won development opportunities into tangible investments and outcomes are significant, and while there is a long way to go, FFA members have successfully achieved a diverse range of positive outcomes. Those outcomes now see an ever growing number of vessels operating in their domestic fleets and an associated reduction in the reliance on foreign vessels. The number of Pacific islanders working as crew or scientific observers on fishing boats is also at its highest ever levels and growing. There is also a burgeoning investment in onshore processing throughout the region, and successful trade negotiations to ensure market for the product. The success of the Pacific Islands does not stop there. Regional partners such as Australia, New Zealand (who are also members of the FFA), France and the US have added valuable support to the efforts of FFA members to develop the most comprehensive Monitoring Control and Surveillance (MCS) network in the world. The joint MCS package includes a centralised Vessel Monitoring System that tracks each vessel via satellite and produces vessel compliance indices based on the risk that a vessel is fishing illegally. A cutting-edge data collection program and more than 500 at-sea observers who undertake science and compliance activities complement this. In the spirit of Pacific cooperation, FFA members share data, intelligence and information amongst themselves and via the Secretariat. This helps them achieve better coverage of the huge spans of ocean between them. While these MCS activities are undertaken all year round, perhaps the most visible display of FFA members’ cooperation is the regional surveillance operations, often involving patrol vessels and aircraft from up to 10 members and other regional surveillance partners. To assist them to achieve these types of outcomes the regions leaders established FFA as a technical secretariat to provide expert advice and assistance to the members. The Secretariat, established some 33 years ago, has grown in size and operation and now runs programmes that assist members with the three technical areas of work being fisheries management, fisheries development and MCS activities. It plays an important role in providing this assistance direct to the members both individually and collectively. This is a challenging undertaking and like all work of this nature, delivers its own rewards for the secretariat and my staff. As we celebrate a World day for Tuna, it is important to recognise the milestones marking a journey of more than three decades of progress toward sustainable and well-managed oceans in our Pacific world. -- Further information contact Tevita Tupou, FFA Executive Officer on This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Last Updated on Tuesday, 15 May 2012 08:38

Pacific vows to continue lead in world tuna conservation

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Wed May 2, FFA HQ, Honiara - As the world celebrates the inaugural World Tuna Day this May 2, the work of keeping stocks of Pacific tuna at sustainable levels will continue the leadership of this region in global tuna conservation efforts, says the region's key Fisheries agency, FFA. Based in Honiara, Solomon Islands, FFA's 17 Pacific Island members 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. Lauding the achievements of the FFA members Director-General Su'a Tanielu noted that progress over the last 20 years given the small budgets of Island nation members has been "stunning". "That a group of the smallest and least developed countries in the world can get together and successfully negotiate opportunities to develop on the world stage, and then take the difficult step of making those opportunities happen is a credit to the hard working people of the Pacific" he says. However, he says, this does not mean the job is done. He sees the Pacific-led introduction of the World Tuna Day, marked for the first time in 2012 this May 2 as a chance to celebrate successes while appraising remaining and emerging challenges. The FFA will continue working with our members to maintain the Pacific's leadership of managing Tuna resources for the future." "The aspect of food security also underlines the potential of economic security. As such, the importance of fisheries to these small developing States means that failure is simple not an option," says Su'a. In a formal statement issued to mark World Tuna Day May 2 he detailed some of the key successes achieved by Pacific Forum Fisheries members in the agency's 33 year history towards the current focus on sustainable ocean resource management that sees more of the economic benefits remaining in the Islands. "Overall FFA Members' achievements speak for themselves. There is undoubtedly more to be done and having World Tuna day provides a great Pacific lead in helping to shape the global conservation on Tuna as an important part of the diet, the labour force and fisheries sector, and the economy." The inception of the World Tuna Day, and its inaugural celebrations this year, are an opportunity to raise awareness of the great work done so far by our Pacific governments as custodians of the half the world's tuna stocks. We commend the range of national, regional and global actions happening to add impetus and energy to the global conservation on Tuna, and recognise the the Pacific leadership of that action," Further information contact: Tevita Tupou, FFA Executive Officer on This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Last Updated on Tuesday, 15 May 2012 09:16

PEIN Marine Digest November 2010

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Thursday, 02 December 2010 03:41

Australia moves to protect southern bluefin tuna
PacNews - 25 November 2010
The Australian government has announced it will formally protect the southern bluefin tuna by listing it as a threatened species. The species has been categorised as "conservation dependent", which means it can still be fished. But the Government and fisherman will have to establish a plan of management to stop its decline and support its long-term recovery... more

Palau hosts meeting to protect marine resources: 6 countries meet to strengthen maritime surveillance
Pacific Islands Report - 17 November 2010
Six countries, including Palau, and two Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) met yesterday at the Ngarachamayong Cultural Center to discuss measures to strengthen the maritime surveillance capacity in the Micronesia Region. The meeting, co-organized by the Sasakawa Peace Foundation and the Nippon Foundation, aims to develop a maritime perspective and promote international cooperation and partnership for the preservation and security of the Pacific seas... more

Pacific turtle dies after 2,000 kilometer journey: Hawksbill last seen in Vanuatu
Pacific Islands Report - 17 November 2010
A Hawksbill turtle has covered over 2,000 kilometers in a journey from Vanuatu to Australia's east coast. Andrew Lugg, from Australia's National Parks and Wildlife Service, says the turtle was last seen nesting on a beach in Vanuatu more than a year ago. He says the internet was used to track it. "We used the power of Google, and just did a Google search, and then straight away came to the site that is managing this program and let them know via the internet that we'd found this turtle with the tag and they gave us a response with all the details of the turtle straight away," he said...more

Environment: are coral reefs a good investment?
Islands Business - 15 November 2010
Kiribati, Vanuatu, New Caledonia show the way. As of August 1, 2010, Kiribati's Phoenix Islands Protected Area has been added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. This sanctuary, the largest marine protected area in the world, encompasses 410,500 sq km of virtually untouched coral reef ecosystems.
The UNESCO designation is a source of great satisfaction for the Coral Reef Initiatives for the Pacific (CRISP) programme of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), which partnered with the Government of Kiribati, Conservation International and the New England Aquarium in supporting the creation of this protected area. It is a victory for conservationists, ushering in a new era of large-scale ocean protection. It is also a victory for the people of the remote archipelago, who, it is hoped, will be preserved from the devastation of large-scale fishing and will be able to enjoy the fruits of the ocean for a long time...more

Coral Reef Conservation Fund Announces Request for Proposals.
NFWF - 12 November 2010
Administered by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation in partnership with the NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program, the Coral Reef Conservation Fund provides grants to public-private partnerships working to reduce and prevent degradation of coral reefs and associated reef habitats (e.g., seagrass beds, mangroves, etc). Funding is available for conservation projects in Florida, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, Hawaii, American Samoa, Guam, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. Projects must implement watershed management plans and local action strategies designed to improve water quality, enhance coral reef ecosystem resilience, and improve the management of protected marine areas that harbor key coral reef ecosystem components and functions...apply

New Pacific tuna regulations to protect resource: Greater revenues, smaller catch envisioned
Pacific Islands Report - 9 November 2010
A new licensing system for long line fishing vessels in the Pacific will go into effect on January 1 the latest in a series of measures from the Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA) to generate more revenue for the islands while cutting catch levels...more

PNA moves to protect threatened whale sharks
FFA - 8 November 2010
The Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA) advanced their record of innovative conservation and management measures last week by advancing a proposal to protect whale sharks. Up to 12 metres long, whale sharks are the largest living fish species in the world admired for their distinctive spotted markings and gentleness towards divers. Being a long-lived species (70 years), and subject to fishing, their status has been classified by the IUCN as vulnerable. The PNA brings together eight Pacific Island countries to sustainably manage tuna. PNA members are Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Tuvalu. These countries own waters which supply 25% of the world's tuna, an estimated $2 billion worth of fish every year. On Friday last week, the PNA secured support of all the 17 members of the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency for their proposed conservation and management measure on whale sharks. The Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Committee meeting agreed to support the PNA whale sharks proposal at this year's annual session of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC), a body that sets legally-binding rules for fishing across the Western and Central Pacific Ocean. The PNA-proposed whale sharks measure bans purse seine fishing vessels in the region from setting nets around whale sharks (both alive and dead as some often bask motionlessly at the surface of the water). The measure also says if any whale sharks are caught in nets, fishing vessel owners must stop the net-haul and free the whale sharks.

Japan 'ignoring laws' as it starts whale hunt
PacNews - 5 November 2010
Conservation groups have accused the Japanese whaling fleet of ignoring international law as the fleet prepares to head off on its annual whale hunt. Every November the Japanese whaling fleet heads to the Southern Ocean for its so-called scientific research program. This year the quota includes 935 minke whales and 50 fin whales. Three years ago, 50 humpbacks were added to that quota but are yet to be included in the cull. International Fund for Animal Welfare spokesman Patrick Ramage says humpbacks could be the target this year...more

Climate change bleaching Pacific coral, say scientists
PacNews - 5 November 2010
Marine scientists are linking human-induced global warming to widespread coral bleaching across Asia and parts of the Pacific this year. Beginning in May, extreme water temperatures caused what scientists say were the worst coral bleachings since 1998. The bleaching hit the Coral Triangle, an important ecosystem that includes Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands. The scientists say the dead coral will have a flow-on effect for reef fish and eventually the fisheries and tourism industries of local communities...more

Fiji samaritan saves sea turtle from stew pot: A black market delicacy in face of hunting ban
Pacific Islands Report - 1 November 2010
In Fiji, a sub-adult green turtle which could have become someone's meal was mercifully released into the ocean by a good Samaritan on Saturday. Jordan Mar, 23, said he bought the turtle from fishermen at the Suva market on Saturday. He said the turtle was hidden elsewhere and only shown to him after he agreed to buy it ...more

Marshalls seek funds for Majuro seawall: Low-lying atoll faces rising sea
Pacific Islands Report - 1 November 2010
A Pacific atoll that rises barely one meter above sea level is seeking $20 million in international donor funding to launch construction of three miles of seawalls to protect its most vulnerable shoreline from sea level rise and flooding. "We want to prevent erosion and stop flooding," said Marshall Islands United Nations Ambassador Phillip Muller who was in Majuro last week to move climate change funding plans forward. This nation of 29 coral atolls and five single islands stretches across about 800,000 square kilometers (500,000 square miles) of Pacific ocean but has only about 116 sq. kilometers (72 square miles) of dry land. And virtually all of that is not more than a meter above the high tide mark. Muller said the government is asking donors to put up climate change mitigation funding to help his country forestall floods like the one that hit the eastern shore of Majuro Atoll, the capital, in December 2008, causing several million dollars in damage and forcing dozens of islanders into temporary shelters...more

New resources of interest

Web resource: Pacific Ocean 2020 Challenge website
The Pacific Ocean 2020 Challenge aims to forge partnerships with sectors of ocean users who have not previously been fully engaged in ocean governance initiatives, and spanning geographic areas beyond the traditional 'Pacific region'. Working with Pacific Ocean-wide coalitions for action will enable the Challenge to complement and enhance stakeholder-engaging activities already established by CROP agencies and NGOs around the PIRCTs region, thus avoiding duplication of activities. In doing so, it is envisioned that a holistic and practical approach to ocean governance in the region will become a reality, and that the PIRCTs region will have a sustainable and healthy Pacific Ocean by 2020... http://www.pacificocean2020.org/

Web resource: film - 'Oceanic Guardians'
FFA - 5 November 2010
A new film titled 'Oceanic Guardians' (http://www.youtube.com/pacificislandfish ) was launched today by the UNDP-GEF funded Pacific Islands Oceanic Fisheries Management Project (OFMP) at the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Committee meeting in Honiara, Solomon Islands. Celebrating the success of Pacific Islands' negotiations to establish a tuna commission to set and enforce rules on tuna fishing, 'Oceanic Guardians' is shot in high definition video featuring the world's first underwater footage of longline fishing in the Pacific Islands, traditional canoe racing in the Solomon Islands and Tongan-owned and crewed patrol boats and fishing vessels.

New reports of interest:

10th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity
SPREP - 30 November 2010
A report prepared by the Secretariat outlining key outcomes achieved at the 10th Conference of the parties (COP10) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) held in Nagoya, Japan 18-29 October, 2010. The report also contains suggestions on possible actions for the Pacific to take to implement the COP10 outcomes and decisions. The report also outlines some key lessons learnt for the Pacific to strengthen engagement and participation in future COP meetings...download the report - http://www.sprep.org/att/irc/ecopies/pacific_region/676.pdf

Pacific food security toolkit: building resilience to climate change: root crop and fishery production
SPREP - 30 November 2010
The toolkit is divided into a series of modules, so as to accommodate future changes or additions. It includes an introductory module that looks at climate change in the Pacific, a module on key Pacific food production systems and two applied modules on Pacific root crops and Pacific fisheries. The toolkit also contains 55 "adaptation steps" that are designed to provide ideas and, in some cases, practical measures that can be used and, with time, adapted to help maintain and strengthen food security in the face of climate change. Importantly, the toolkit provides its readers a list of existing tools and resources that present more detailed information on climate change adaptation measures, food security and related issues... download the toolkit - http://www.sprep.org/att/irc/ecopies/pacific_region/677.pdf

Outlook Report on the State of the Marine Biodiversity in the Pacific Islands Region
SPREP - 26 November 2010
A Report prepared for the United Nations Environment Program's Regional Seas Program Nairobi, Kenya and the United Nations Environment Program's World Conservation Monitoring Centre's Marine Assessment and Decision Support Program Cambridge United Kingdom by the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Progam, Apia ,Samoa . August 2010. Major marine environmental issues have been identified in the Pacific Islands region, and these include potential (and perceived) impacts from environmental change (including climate variability and climate change), habitat loss and the effects of coastal modification, the introduction of invasive species, fishing pressure (including destructive practices), increased sedimentation and nutrient loading from land-use practices (including coastal mining), solid waste and liquid effluents, and other sources of land and marine pollution.This report provides a summary of current information regarding pressure, state and responses to these threats for the Pacific Islands region, as well the responses by PICTs in addressing, alleviating and/or mitigating these threats... download a copy of the report - http://www.sprep.org/att/publication/000890_Kinchetal_2010_MarineBiodiversityOutlookReport_SPREP_UNEP_WCMC.pdf

Articles of note - a selection of recent academic literature

Improving social acceptability of marine protected area networks: A method for estimating opportunity costs to multiple gear types in both fished and currently unfished areas / Adams, V.M., Mills, M., Jupiter, S.D., Pressey, R.L. 2010 Biological Conservation ( Article in Press )*

Southernmost distribution of common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in the eastern South Pacific / Olavarría, C., Acevedo, J., Vester, H.I., Zamorano-Abramson, J., Viddi, F.A., Gibbons, J., Newcombe, E., (...), Torres-Flórez, J.P. 2010. Aquatic Mammals 36 (3), pp. 288-293*

Using local ecological knowledge to identify shark river habitats in Fiji (South Pacific) / Rasalato, E., Maginnity, V., Brunnschweiler, J.M. . 2010 Environmental Conservation 37 (1), pp. 90-97*

Crustose coralline algal diseases in the U.S.-Affiliated Pacific Islands / Vargas-Ángel, Bernardo. Coral Reefs, Dec2010, Vol. 29 Issue 4, p943-956, 14p; DOI: 10.1007/s00338-010-0646-x; (AN 54864387)*

Compiled by Peter Murgatroyd . Articles marked with an * are available from the This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or via OARE [Online Access to Research in the Environment].

PNA LAUNCHES WEBSITE – NUMBER ONE SOURCE ON SUSTAINABLE TUNA IN PACIFIC ISLANDS

( 1 Vote )

Friday, 26 November 2010 20:47

MAJURO, MARSHALL ISLANDS, FRIDAY 28 NOVEMBER 2010: The Ministerial Meeting of the Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA) which includes leaders from Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Tuvalu, today launched the PNA website - www.pnatuna.com

With several unique features - market intelligence from Atuna, an online system to trade fishing days under the PNA Vessel Day scheme, photo essays about where PNA tuna comes from, news and other information about the PNA's tradition of innovation in conservation and management measures - the PNA website is set to become the number one source of information on sustainable tuna in the Pacific Islands.

The site also features valuable background about the PNA such as key founding documents, a news archive and other information about its achievements since the formation of the PNA in 1982.

The PNA are global leaders in conservation and fisheries management.

Fish has always been vital for Pacific Island life and PNA currently controls 25% of the world's supply of tuna.

Many PNA conservation measures are world firsts - such as high seas closures, controls on Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs) and the 100% coverage of purse seine fishing vessels with observers. The PNA has no dolphin bycatch and measures to limit the impact of tuna fishing on sharks and turtles.

The focus of PNA efforts to sustainably manage tuna is the Vessel Day Scheme. PNA members agree on a limited number of fishing days for the year, based on scientific advice about the status of the tuna stocks.

In the future, fishing companies will bid for fishing days and these are sold to the highest bidder. In this way, Pacific Islanders reap economic benefits from their sustainable management of tuna.

www.pnatuna.com promises to add value to the PNA and its strategy of being independent instead running an office on a commercial basis (through fees from fishing). The website will inform PNA members, industry and the general public and increase the global profile of the PNA.

www.pnatuna.com was developed locally in the PNA countries by grafixfarm, a Solomon Islands based IT company.

New film 'Oceanic gardens' launched

( 0 Votes )

Friday, 05 November 2010 23:22

A new film titled 'Oceanic Guardians'

(www.youtube.com/pacificislandfish) was launched today by the UNDP-GEF funded Pacific Islands Oceanic Fisheries Management Project (OFMP) at the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Committee meeting in Honiara, Solomon Islands.

Celebrating the success of Pacific Islands' negotiations to establish a tuna commission to set and enforce rules on tuna fishing, 'Oceanic Guardians' is shot in high definition video featuring the world's first underwater footage of longline fishing in the Pacific Islands, traditional canoe racing in the Solomon Islands and Tongan-owned and crewed patrol boats and fishing vessels.

These dramatic images are accompanied by interviews with real-life 'Oceanic Guardians' from the Pacific Islands region who have been at the forefront of negotiations with foreign fishing nations to establish the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) and use it to control illegal fishing and introduce other world-first conservation and management measures. These measures include the responses to bigeye tuna overfishing, introduction of fisheries observers on fishing vessels to monitor compliance, closing of high seas pockets to fishing and introduction of measures to limit bycatch of sharks, seabirds and turtles. As an example of the Pacific Islands many successes, 'Oceanic Guardians' features a special look at Tonga's use of the WCPFC to take action against an illegal fishing vessel in 2008.

'Oceanic Guardians' is produced in the Pacific Islands by the OFMP, which provides resources from the Global Environment Facility (GEF), through the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), to Pacific Islands 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 and delivered by regional organisations Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA), the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC), International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), World Wildlife Fund for Nature (WWF) and the Pacific Islands Tuna Industry Association (PITIA).

GEF Secretariat in Washington DC, US, Senior Advisor, International Waters, Alfred Duda said: "I have followed the progress of your 14 countries since the first GEF project was requested back in 1998. We were proud that the Pacific Island Countries collaborated on the negotiations of the treaty with GEF/UNDP assistance and that they followed up with a request for another project to help the WCPFC become functional. 'Oceanic Guardians' clearly illustrates successful operations of the Commission in advancing sustainable management of your shared tuna resource. More importantly, the changes needed in the laws of individual island countries are still progressing under the GEF/UNDP project. When completed, Pacific Islanders will have all the tools needed to benefit economically from your tuna stocks while sustaining them for your children through modern ecosystem-based approaches to management."

Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency Director General N.F. Tanielu Su'a said: "As the coordinating agency of the Pacific Islands Oceanic Fisheries Management Project, we are proud to launch this film today and profile our real-life Oceanic Guardians who have protected the world's last remaining healthy tuna stocks and been leaders in sustainable fisheries management. As small island developing states, with limited resources, the Pacific Islands may not have had these successes without the funding support of the Global Environmental Facility and others. We are pleased to share these success stories with the global community through the launch of this film today."

Special thanks for the production of this film: One News Limited, Solomon Islands, the Department of Fisheries, Tonga, and the Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA) Secretariat.

More information: Anouk Ride This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it Tel: 74 94548

WATCH THE FILM ON www.youtube.com/pacificislandfish

Anouk Ride

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Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency

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