Results for fisheries

The Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) today, 21 March, launched a major upgrade and development to their monitoring and surveillance efforts, with two new systems built for vessel registrations and Port State Measures. The e-PSM system is a critical tool in the fight against Ilegal Unreported and Unregulated fishing (IUU) in the Western and Central Pacific. Tonga is the first country to implement the e-PSM which allows efficient data exchange.

The Royal Agricultural, Fisheries, Tourism and Trade Show for Ha'apai showcased a fine display of women's weaving, and an abundant supply of food and fish on 13 July. King Tupou VI accompanied by Queen Nanasipau’u officiated the event.

Tongatapu's Royal Agriculture, Fisheries, Tourism and Trade Show enjoyed sunshine, on Saturday June 10, after a few days of rain had muddied the Manamo’ui Showgrounds. King Tupou VI presented the awards for the best in each category.

A regional dialogue on human rights, gender equality and social inclusion in tuna fisheries was held from 6-8 February in Nadi, Fiji. It aimed to increase the better understanding and see how the fisheries sector can better address these issues.

Aquaculture equipment from Japan, including diving computers, underwater cameras and tally counters, was handed over to the Ministry of Fisheries to assist the fisheries sector in its recovery, after the natural disasters in Tonga on 15 January.

For years, WTO members have failed to forge an agreement to limit fishing subsidies, thereby allowing the continuation of ecologically devastating fishing operations that would otherwise be economically unviable. Now an agreement is within reach – if the political will is there to deliver it. The comprehensive draft now on the table combines measures to curb harmful subsidies with specific exceptions for developing countries. Governments have given their word that they will curb destructive fisheries subsidies. This week’s 12th Ministerial Conference in Geneva (30 Nov.-3 Dec.) will test the credibility of that pledge. By Helen Clark, et al.

King Tupou VI opened the Ha'apai Royal Agriculture, Fisheries, Tourism and Trade Show 2019 at Lea’aetohi grounds in Pangai, where an abundance of the island group’s seafood was displayed on July 16.

The New Zealand Defence Force has taken part in a multi-national fisheries patrol that covered an area 22 times the size of New Zealand. The operation, from 19-31 May involved seven members of the Forum Fisheries Agency, including Tonga. Some 57 vessels were boarded by authorities during the operation in the exclusive economic zones.

Pacific tuna is under threat from the world’s largest fishing nations including China, Japan and South Korea, warned Fiji’s Fisheries Minister, at the 14th Tuna Commission Meeting in Manila, which began on December 3.