The Prince of Wales, Prince Charles visited the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency on his first trip to Honiara, Solomon Islands on November 25.

He toured the Regional Fisheries Surveillance Centre before meeting FFA staff and talked with them on aspects of their work.

FFA Director General, Dr Manu Tupou-Roosen said they shared details about their work in the area of sustainable fisheries management.

The Prince was also briefed on regional efforts to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and minimize the impacts of climate change, she said.

They emphasised the importance of cooperation in using fisheries resources sustainably because of its critical importance to the economic, cultural and social fabric of our Pacific people and consistent with the long track record and commitment of HRH Prince Charles to sustainable management of the world’s oceans.

“It was a great honour for our staff to meet the Prince of Wales and we were pleased to have an opportunity to present him with a gift as a token of our appreciation.”

Prince Charles is in the Solomon Islands as part of a wider visit to the region that is focussed on climate change, regional ocean policies, and sustainability.

FFA assists its 17-member countries to sustainably manage fishery resources that fall within their 200-mile Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs). FFA provides expertise, technical assistance and other support to its members who make decisions about their tuna resources and participate in regional decision making on tuna management.