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Ladies and gentlemen, esteemed colleagues, and valued community members,
Welcome to our important gathering today, where we focus on the critical role of Community-Based Fisheries Management (CBFM) in sustaining the vibrant coastal fisheries that are a cornerstone of our regional identity and economy.
Representatives from five Pacific island countries have been in Nadi this week to begin the development of regional and national plans to implement the European Union (EU) funded Pacific-European Union Marine Partnership (PEUMP) programme By-catch and Integrated Ecosystem Management (BIEM) component, to ensure that it contributes to achieving national and regional objectives and meets the needs of national governments and coastal communities.
Senior representatives from eight Government Departments met in Port Vila yesterday for the first meeting of the Pacific-European Union Marine Partnership (PEUMP) programme-funded By-catch and Integrated Ecosystem Management (BIEM) Initiative Steering Committee.