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Republished from Department of Forestry and Fisheries, Australian Government, 28 June 2019
A new five year strategic plan has been endorsed by fisheries ministers from across the Pacific region that will prove critical to protecting Australia’s interests and directly support profitable tuna fisheries in our waters.
Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries, Senator Jonathon Duniam, said the strategic plan will help guide the actions of the Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA).
“The new plan sets out the priorities for action across the seventeen member countries of the FFA,” Minister Duniam said.
“As a region, we will be implementing harvest strategies, improving working conditions for crew of fishing vessels in the region and reforming management of longline fisheries.
“Australia can take a leadership role in many of these areas, which are vital to the success of Pacific fisheries and our regional prosperity.
“This agreement follows forty years of cooperative management of tuna fisheries—an outstanding achievement that continues to drive strong management of sustainable tuna fisheries across the region.”
Ministers also convened the first Special Regional Fisheries Ministers Meeting which gave delegates the opportunity to discuss broader regional fisheries issues.
“The challenges that regional fisheries face—particularly supporting sustainable coastal fisheries and addressing marine pollution—will benefit from having a strong ministerial body to guide action,” said Minister Duniam.
“I look forward to continuing to work with my Pacific colleagues to achieve positive outcomes for the region.”
A full communique is available on the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) website.