The Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources (MFMR) has received new digital equipment to strengthen its National Fisheries Observer Program.
This was made possible thanks to the support of Pacific-European Union Marine Partnership (PEUMP) Program through the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA), as well as FFA’s ICT Division.
The handover held Monday at the MFMR headquarter, included 10 tablets and two Starlink units provided under the PEUMP Program, and three personal computer (PC) units donated by FFA’s ICT team.
Together, these tools will enhance the Ministry’s on-going Monitoring, Control and Surveillance (MCS) efforts, particularly in improving real-time reporting for longline fisheries.
Speaking at the ceremony, FFA PEUMP Leader and Activities Coordinator Ms. Luisa Tagicakibau-Moce said, the support reflects FFA’s commitment to strengthening national fisheries management.
“We recognise the importance of the work that fisheries observers do, which is why we continue to respond to priority requests from member countries.
“This support not only aligns with FFA’s strategic and business plans but also with our partnership agreements with member countries,” Ms Tagicakibau-Moce said.
She added that the ICT equipment will allow Solomon Islands to trial real-time reporting technology on longline vessels, improving data collection and connectivity for fisheries monitoring.
Ms. Tagicakibau-Moce also acknowledged the efforts of former FFA staff member Mr. Feral Lasi, who spearheaded work in identifying reporting gaps within the longline fishery and laid the groundwork for this initiative.
In response, Permanent Secretary (supervising) of MFMR, Ms. Lisa Sugumanu, thanked FFA, the PEUMP Program, and the ICT Division for their ongoing partnership and support.
“Receiving this equipment is an honour for the Ministry. It demonstrates the strong partnership between the Solomon Islands Government and the FFA Secretariat,” Ms Sugumanu said.
“These tools will greatly assist our observers, and I urge them to use the equipment with care and diligence. The Ministry could not afford such technology on its own, and we are very fortunate to have the support of our partners to strengthen our work.”
She added lessons learned from trialling the equipment on longline vessels will help improve fisheries monitoring and guide future collaboration with FFA.
The handover also marks the conclusion of PEUMP program funding, which has played a vital role in supporting fisheries management and capacity building across the Pacific. The PEUMP Program is funded by the European Union and the Government of Sweden.
– Francis Pituvaka
Communications Officer
