Context

Combating Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated Fishing (IUU) fishing can be a daunting challenge for Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs), especially for those with limited administrative capacities. This difficulty is compounded by the fact that many legal practitioners handling fisheries cases within national judicial systems may not be well-versed in fisheries management…

Context: 

The Global Seafood Expo (GSE) started in 1993 in Europe and has since become the world’s largest seafood event where industry professionals from around the world come together to provide seafood buyers and suppliers the opportunity to market their products and create new business partnerships for worldwide network of seafood supply chain. The Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) Investment Facilitation (IFU) and Pacific…

Context 

The Western and Central Pacific Ocean (WCPO) sustains some of the most productive tropical tuna fisheries globally, an economic and nutritional lifeline for Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs). Key species like skipjack, yellowfin, albacore and bigeye tuna are not only central to regional economies and food systems but also occupy critical positions in the pelagic food web. Their survival and foraging success…

Context

Offshore fishing in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (WCPO) predominantly targets high-value tuna species such as albacore, bigeye, and yellowfin. These fisheries operate under established management frameworks, seeking to optimise yield while maintaining sustainability. However, this fishing activity often results in the incidental capture of non-target species, commonly referred to as bycatch, which includes finfish, billfish, sharks…

Background:

Between October and December 2023, the Kiribati Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resource Development (MFMRD) – in partnership with the Pacific Community (SPC) through the Pacific European Union Marine Partnership (PEUMP) programme1 and with support from the University of Wollongong ANCORS Pathways Project – conducted a gender analysis of the fisheries and aquaculture sector covering 10 communities on the atolls of…

Context

Monitoring in oceanic fisheries is essential for effective fisheries management, and Electronic Monitoring (EM) has become a vital tool for this purpose, particularly in Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs). Integrating EM into fisheries monitoring systems is crucial; however, implementing it presents various challenges.

The Pacific-European…

Context:  

In August and November 2021, PEUMP through the Pacific Community (SPC) supported the Solomon Islands Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources (MFMR) – by conducting two capacity building trainings to better mainstream Gender Equality and Social Inclusion/Human Rights Based Approaches (GESI/HRBA) in their daily work. The training aimed to strengthen the skills and capacities of MFMR staff including extension officers…

Context

In many Pacific Island communities, coastal fisheries are not only a vital source of food security and income but also central to cultural identity and tradition. However, the complexity and diversity of coastal fisheries including a wide range of species and varied points of sale or exchange pose challenges for accurate and timely data collection, which is essential for sustainable management.

Recognizing…

Andrew Morris, the East Efate Area Administrator under the Shefa Provincial Council, is charting a new course for his community’s development—one rooted in the ocean’s resources. As part of Vanuatu’s first cohort to graduate from the micro-qualification trainings on Establishing and Operating a Small Seafood Business and Maintaining Seafood Safety and Quality, Andrew is putting his learning into action by revitalizing the fisheries sector in East Efate. The…

Suva, Fiji – [10 May, 2024]: The Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs) are heavily dependent on the marine resources for food security, employment, government revenue and economic development, hence the concern and challenge regarding the protection of these marine resources against pollutants.

A recent publication titled Knowledge gaps in ecotoxicology studies of marine environments in Pacific Island Countries and…