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MADANG, PAPUA NEW GUINEA, 7-8 JULY 2010: The Sixth Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Committee Ministerial Meeting agreed on several strategic priorities for management and control of fishing. Australia, Republic of Kiribati, Republic of Marshall Islands, New Zealand, Niue, Republic of Palau, Independent State of Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Kingdom of Tonga and Tuvalu were represented at Ministerial level and four other members were represented by Senior Officials at the meeting.
Ministers discussed progress to create sustainable fisheries management and development. They approves an FFA/SPC report The Future of Pacific Island Fisheries for presentation to the next Pacific Islands Forum meeting which outlines some of the key challenges for leaders as custodians of fisheries over the next few decades.
Ministers also adopted the Regional Monitoring, Control and Surveillance Strategy, which outlines strategies and actions for regional cooperation to control illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing in the Pacific Islands. Ministers also endorsed the implementation of the Regional Economic Integration in Pacific Tuna Fisheries program as a tool to assist FFA members gain additional economic returns from their fishery resources.
Ministers noted the importance of the Ministerial meeting of fisheries and law enforcement to be held in Canberra on 12 and 13 July 2010 and the work of the Niue Treaty meetings agreed that these outcomes would be taken forward and progressed at the meeting in Canberra.
Ministers appointed Mr James Movick (Federated States of Micronesia) to the position of Deputy Director-General of the Forum Fisheries Agency.
Ministers noted the sad passing of colleague the late Mr Bernard Thoulag, Managing Director of the FSM National Oceanic Resource Management Authority. Ministers noted that Bernard was one of the true statesmen in Pacific fisheries whose loss will be sorely felt.
Ministers expressed their sincere condolences to Bernard's family.
CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA, 12-13 JULY 2010: As FFA members fisheries and law enforcement Ministers met this week to discuss priorities for monitoring, control and surveillance of fishing in the region, the FFA Secretariat expressed its appreciation for the commitment of the Australian Government to supporting regional efforts to control fishing.
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