The Pacific is the only region in the world where the major tuna stocks are biologically healthy.
Basing her findings on science, Dr Manu Tupou-Roosen the director-general of the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency said from a national, subregional, regional and global perspective, the stakes were always high.
“So, this underscores our significant work to sustainably manage and develop our tuna resources,” Dr Tupou said at the recent Regional Ocean Policy and Governance Dialogue in Nadi.
“It also underscores our work to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing.
“To this end, for over more than 40 years, our members have developed a world-class integrated monitoring, control, and surveillance system.”
Dr Tupou said the 17 forum members in the region were collectively responsible for around 30 million square kilometres of ocean and over 20 per cent of the world’s Exclusive Economic Zones.
She said the “large ocean island states”, the region was home to the largest tuna stocks in the world.
“Each year our members receive over $US450 million ($1,020,442,500) in government revenue from access fees and export around USD900 million worth of tuna.
“But it is never just about the money — it is always about our people — our fisheries revenues providing vital infrastructure like schools, hospitals, roads – food security, employment, protecting fisheries observers and addressing work conditions for vessel crew.”
Dr Tupou said the leaders’ decision to appoint a new Pacific Ocean commissioner, with a stand-alone office, provided an opportunity to
embrace new levels of cooperation to continue protecting our oceans.
