Partnership, consultation and support between the Japan Fisheries agency and the FFA continue to set a positive example to other distant water fishing nations that have vessels licensed to fish in Pacific waters.
A just-ended Japan Fisheries-FFA consultation at the FFA’s Honiara-based headquarters provided room for open sharing on key issues and helped clarify new developments around vessel registration, licensing and monitoring in the Western and Central Pacific Fishery, which includes the EEZs of FFA members.
“The Forum Fisheries Agency enjoys a close relationship with Japan on fisheries matters going back many years. Our members continue to see the support of Japan when it comes to compliance with standards set by the Pacific for fisheries management and vessel monitoring,” says FFA Deputy Director-General Wez Norris.
Welcoming the Special Advisor to Japan’s Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Katsuma Hanafusa, Norris also pointed to the leading role Japan as a distant water fishing nation has played in recent years to help develop conservation and management measures reflecting the realities of Pacific member nations of the Western Central Pacific Fisheries Commission, WCPFC.
“As conservation and management measures from the WCPFC become increasingly important for Pacific countries on how distant water nations’ fish in their waters, the leadership Japan provides in matters of mutual interest provides a clear example that inclusive partnership, open dialogue, and support for regional approaches can benefit all involved,” he says.
FFA Fisheries Operations Director, Noan Parkop and team were key hosts of the Japan-FFA consultation, which ended Friday 25th July. New developments in vessel registration, monitoring, and reporting standards were covered. Discussions covered revised standards and procedures for ensuring timely data helps FFA track and verify vessels licensed to fish in the EEZs of its member countries.
Japan is also a donor partner to the FFA, with cooperative funding support and two advisers on industry, marketing and investment with Japan based at the agency. The consultations are a regular feature of the relationship with the agency and provide a space for discussion of issues affecting Japan’s fishing industry.–ENDS
FFA HQ, Honiara