Tonga at regional tuna fishing meeting [1]
Wednesday, November 30, 2022 - 20:53. Updated on Thursday, December 1, 2022 - 21:13.
Tonga is among 26 delegations attending the 19th Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC), session in Da Nang, Vietnam, from 28 November to 3 December, where they will review its activities, and put forward policies and measures to manage tuna fishing in the region.
The 26 member nations of the Commission, include Tonga, participating territories and cooperating non-member (CNM) countries.
Dr Tu'ikolongahau Halafihi, CEO for the Ministry of Fisheries, attending the WCPFC with Tongan delegates, said that the issues of climate change are important to be considered in the work of the Commission for the development of our Fisheries.
This is the first physical meeting of the Commission for the last three years, following the impacts of Covid-19 on international travel.
The WCPFC, is a regional fisheries management organization, which is the regional body in-charge of setting the rules for fishing in the Western and central Pacific Ocean. These waters are home to the world’s largest tuna fishery, with commercially valuable fish populations, worth billions of dollars each year.
Dr Halafihi said that this year’s meeting provides more opportunities for engagements with the others, compared to the zoom meetings.
“it’s important to have the meeting in person because we have more opportunity to discuss, and to share what we know and collect more information from others, regarding to the management of our tuna resources”.
He said that the WCPFC meeting, is a platform for the approval and endorsement of observation management measures, for the management of Tuna resources.
“Therefore, the objective of the convention is to ensure through effective management of the long-term conservation and sustainable use, of highly migratory fish stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean. These stocks sustain livelihoods across the Pacific and beyond, and are vital to the health and balance of the ocean’s ecosystem.”
He said, “it’s very important for us to attend this meeting, so that we can share our priorities for smaller developing nations like Tonga”.
“We have to learn to work together with other members and other organizations, because there must be a collective effort in order for us to manage the resources”.