The Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) concluded its 28th Monitoring, Control and Surveillance Working Group (MCSWG28) meeting at its headquarters in Honiara on 4th April.
The weeklong meeting, from 31 March – 4 April, brought together over 115 representatives to Honiara from all 17 FFA Members and international observers.
This including the Pacific Community (SPC), Western & Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC), Pacific QUAD, PEW, World Wide Fund (WWF) Pacific, IMCS Network, Global Fishing Watch and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
The theme of the meeting was Monitoring and Improving Compliance with Fisheries Management Frameworks in the Pacific Islands Region.
The meeting was chaired by the Nauru Fisheries and Marine Resources Authority (NFMRA) Oceanic Fisheries Manager, Mr Malgram Dowabobo.
A standout outcome was the positive progress made in the first year of implementing the Regional Monitoring Control and Surveillance Strategy (RMCSS) 2024 – 2029, and the agreement to develop an online monitoring and reporting tool that will support annual reporting of the implementation of the RMCSS.
FFA Director of Fisheries Operations Allan Rahari said the MCSWG28 outcomes reflect the Pacific’s shared commitment to protect the region’s tuna resources.
“The monitoring, control and surveillance work at the FFA is a key part of our work and goes toward addressing the issue of illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and contributing to sustainable fisheries management in the region,” Mr Rahari said. “This work also ensures the long-term sustainability of our fisheries.”
