A US$107 million grant from the Green Climate Fund (GCF) will support 14 Pacific Island countries including Tonga, in safeguarding their tuna industries against climate change impacts.

Announced at the Honiara Summit 2025, in the Solomon Islands last week, this historic Green Climate Fund (GCF) grant is one of the largest ever awarded to the Pacific region and has attracted an additional US$49.3 million in co-financing, bringing the total program value to US$156.8 million.

The grant was secured by the Conservation International and the Pacific Community (SPC).

The funding will support adaptation measures to protect tuna stocks, vital to Pacific economies and food security, against the impacts of ocean warming.

Tonga, Cook Islands, Fiji, the Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu manage one-third of the global tuna catch.

Tuna is critical for both food and economic security in these Small Island Developing States, supporting tens of thousands of jobs and providing a significant portion of government revenue for many.

The GCF-funded program will equip Pacific Island nations with the tools to adapt and maintain the economic benefits of tuna, drawing on over 50 years of science, research, and evidence-based decision-making led by these countries and territories.

Over the coming months, Pacific Island governments will finalise implementation plans for each activity supported by the GCF grant, activities designed to sustain tuna stocks and secure coastal livelihoods as the climate continues to change.

The Ministry of Fisheries CEO, Dr. Vailala Matoto represented Tonga to the summit.