Tonga prepares to combat illegal fishing [1]
Tuesday, March 3, 2015 - 18:34. Updated on Tuesday, March 3, 2015 - 18:43.
A Forum Fisheries Agency Awareness Workshop on Port State Measures to combat illegal fishing is being held for local authorities in Nuku’alofa on March 3-5.
The workshop is a build up for Tonga as it prepares to consider signing the 2009 Global Agreement led by the UN-Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) on Port State Measures to prevent, deter and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.
Hon Semisi Fakahau the Minister for Agriculture, Food, Forests and Fisheries in his opening address today said illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU) is a global threat to sustainable fisheries.
“We are here to share views and knowledge and skills through enhanced collaboration...to combat IUU.”
He said in 2009, it was estimated that about $10-26 billion dollars worth of fish harvested was related to illegal unregulated and unreported fishing.
"The port state measures are set to ultimately prevent, deter and eliminate IUU fishing through the implementation of robust port state measuring system. If the measures set out will be implemented effectively to inspect foreign vessels when entering to port it will allow regional and international cooperation to block the flow of IUU caught fish to the market."
Dr. Mathew Camilleri of FAO said they understand in the region there are a lot of initiatives to combat IUU fishing. The issue was discussed at the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) meeting, however there was not a general agreement on how to move ahead. “We believe that Tonga is very courageous to move ahead,” he said.
Agreement
The workshop was supported by the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA).
Port state measures are requirements that are set by the port state, which foreign fishing vessels must comply with or are subjected to as a condition for using ports.
Participants are officials from fisheries, customs, defence, Ministry of Justice, tuna industry assosciation and local fishermen.