THERE is currently no one within the Pacific region that has qualifications to become a fish stock assessment specialist.
This was revealed by Dr Transform Aqorau during a panel discussion on Startups for Resilience: Towards a People Centered, Entrepreneurship-Powered Pacific during the Pacific Skills Summit held at the University of the South Pacific yesterday.
He said the fisheries sector was one area that greatly supported the economic activity of the region.
“So something is wrong with the way we are developing our capacity to support and to help us in the fisheries sector,” he said.
He said this was a highly specialised field and it was in demand.
“We do need to skills set to be able to manage the stocks, to negotiate and administer agreements that regulate our stocks, the fishing industry needs to be managed and fishing access as well,” he said.
Dr Aqorau said we needed to aspire to develop and enhance the skills set within the region.
