Final report prepared for the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP)
AP_2/39 Assessment of by-catch of threatened marine species by small scale fishers and mitigation options in the Kikori River Delta, Papua New Guinea
PEUMP
PEUMP
Search
The half-day consultation on gender-based violence in fisheries concluded yesterday afternoon with fruitful discussions. Representatives from various GBV networks, national fisheries and women's affairs agencies, regional organisations, environmental and civil society organizations, and the fishing industry participated.
In the Pacific, there are communities and people deeply connected to the sea, where stories of resilience and adventure fill every wave. Among them is Mr. Francisco Blaha, who started his journey on fishing vessels at just 18 years old and has since become a seasoned advocate for fishermen's rights.
Venturing into the Pacific as a migrant fisherman in 1991, Mr. Blaha spent four years navigating different vessels without formal contracts or immigration ties, a practice he found unsettling.
Healthy coastal ecosystems, particularly coral reefs, mangroves and seagrass habitats, are critical in underpinning coastal fisheries, food security and vital ecosystem services that provide significant additional benefits to Pacific coastal communities and economies. These ecosystem services include shoreline protection, maintenance of water quality, support for reef and nearshore tourism activities, and resilience to the impacts of climate change.
In Vanuatu the SPREP-led BIEM Initiative (KRA5 of PEUMP) is supporting Biodiversity Rapid Assessments (BIORAP) in the provinces of Malekula and Pentecost. Photographs and video are essential not only to record the work being done, but to document community views and share stories further afield.