Tuna on display in Nuku'alofa Photo: RNZ Pacific / Lydia Lewis
The Pacific Islands face significant challenges in ensuring the sustainability of their fisheries, the head of the region's premier political organisation says.
Regional leaders and fisheries stakeholders are in the Solomon Islands this week for the Honiara Summit to discuss how the region can better manage its marine resources, including tuna, which plays a crucial part in island economies.
Pacific Islands Forum secretary-general Baron Waqa said the region's dependence on fisheries is not just economic, but deeply cultural and existential.
"Our Pacific SIDS [small island states] are surrounded by vast oceanic resources, with fisheries playing a pivotal role in our economies and livelihoods," he said on Thursday.
"Over 80 percent of government revenue in some of our states is derived from tuna fisheries. In 2022, the fisheries sector contributed approximately US$3.2 billion to the GDP of Pacific Island countries."
Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General, Baron Divavesi Waqa, at the Honiara Summit on Pacific Islands Response to SDG14.4 Photo: Pacific Islands Forum
Waqa said this dependence underscores the importance of regionally agreed-upon sustainable management practices to ensure the sustainability of these resources for future generations.
"Regional solidarity and cooperation are the cornerstones of our success."
However, he said there are emerging challenges that now require collaboration more than ever before.
"Despite our achievements, we face significant challenges in ensuring the sustainability of our fisheries.
"Climate change is altering the distribution and migratory patterns of tuna stocks, threatening the economic stability of our SIDS.
"Overfishing, driven by illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU) fishing operators, continues to pose serious threats to the sustainability of our marine ecosystems."
Waqa said addressing these challenges requires innovative solutions and unwavering commitment from all stakeholders.
"The scourge of IUU fishing on the marine ecosystem, our economies, and on the livelihoods of our coastal communities must be curtailed," he said.
"Studies have shown that US$35.4 billion was provided as subsidies to private fishing enterprises for capacity-enhancing.
"We have a golden opportunity to address and curb harmful fisheries subsidies by supporting the work of the World Trade Organisation."
He urged Forum members, distant water fishing nations, and international and regional institutions, to reaffirm their commitment to regional cooperation and sustainable fisheries management within the region.
The 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific is the blueprint for sustainable development of the region.
Under the strategy, Pacific Island leaders have committed to deepening collective responsibility and stewardship of the Blue Pacific Continent, protecting their sovereignty and jurisdiction over our maritime zones and resources, including in response to climate change-induced sea level rise, and strengtheningn their ownership and management of our resources.
