Dr. Sione Vailala Matoto has been reappointed as the new Chief Executive Officer for the Ministry of Fisheries (MOF).

He signed the CEO’s 4 years contract, yesterday, with Lord Fohe, and Commissioners of the Public Service Commission.

Dr. Matoto's Public Service career spans 17 years, where he began in 1993, as an Assistant Teacher at the Ministry of Education.

The Public Service Commission stated that he transferred to the Ministry of Fisheries in 1994, and achieved promotions to various senior positions within the Ministry of Fisheries from 1994 to 2007.

He was Secretary for Fisheries from 2005 - 2007, Head of Fisheries, and Deputy CEO for the joint Ministry of Agriculture Food & Forestry, and the Ministry of Fisheries (MAFFF) from 2008 to 2010.

In November 2010, Dr. Matoto was appointed as CEO for MAFFF, until 2013.

After public service, Dr. Matoto engaged in various consultancy work under the Climate Resilient Sector Project for the fisheries sectors of Tonga with donor organization such as ADB, WB, FAO, SPC.

Dr. Matoto holds a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) and a Master of Science (MSc) (2001) both in the field of Aquatic  Biosciences from the Tokyo University of Fisheries, a Master of Applied Science in Aquaculture (1994) from the University of Tasmania, and a Bachelor of Applied Science in Fisheries Technology (1991) from the Australian Maritime College.