PNA Set to Open New HQ in Majuro
The capital of the Marshall Islands, Majuro, will host the first in-person annual meeting of the Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA) since 2019 when the powerful fisheries organisation convenes on Monday.
To coincide with the gathering, PNA will officially open its four-storey headquarters building in Majuro on February 13.
The PNA controls waters where half of the world’s skipjack tuna is caught. It held a “soft” opening for the headquarters building soon contractor Pacific International completed construction in mid-2021 so PNA staff could begin making use of the facility. Continue reading here (Source: Islands Business).
F/V Yap Seagull Sinks Off the Coast of Majuro
Twenty-two fishermen and a fisheries observer escaped with only the clothes they were wearing when a purse seine vessel sank off the Marshall Islands.
American Captain Jim Santos said the over 60-metre long fishing vessel Yap Seagull began taking on water as it neared the capital Majuro in the early morning hours of Friday.
The crew discovered the hull was cracked after more than a week of battering waves on the high seas heading into Majuro where the crew planned to transfer their catch for shipment to an offshore tuna cannery. Continue reading here (Source: Radio New Zealand).
2022 Was a Big Year for Harvest Strategies, and 2023 Could be Even Bigger
Global consensus is building around the viability of harvest strategies for fisheries management, according to The Ocean Foundation International Fisheries Conservation Project Director Shana Miller.
Harvest strategies, also known as management procedures, are pre-agreed frameworks for making fisheries management decisions based on a proactive approach designed to achieve long-term sustainability for the fishery. According to an Ocean Foundation primer, harvest strategies include management objectives that set a vision for each fishery; a monitoring program to collect data; indicators of the fishery’s status and population health; a method to assess those indicators; and harvest control rules (HCRs) that set fishing opportunities, which could include catch limits and size limits. Continue reading here (Source: SeafoodSource).
Many ‘Challenges’ in Fishing Industry
The fishing industry in the Pacific is faced with numerous challenges, says Minister for Fisheries and Forests Kalaveti Ravu.
While opening the Regional Dialogue on the Human Dimensions of Pacific Tuna Fisheries in Nadi this week, Mr Ravu highlighted the importance of cooperation between national and regional industry stakeholders.
“In Fiji and many other Pacific island countries, the fishing industry is a source of livelihood and cultural identity for many communities,” he said. Continue reading here (Source: The Fiji Times).
FAD Ban Could Jeopardise Thousands of Jobs
The continued existence of the purse seine fleet in the Indian Ocean is at stake following the decision on Fish Aggregating Devices that was taken following a vote among Indian Ocean Tuna Commission members – potentially putting thousands of jobs at risk.
The decision to phase out the use of drifting FADs in the tuna fishery is seen as a strategy to exclude European operators from Indian Ocean waters, rather than being connected to any particular concerns for stocks, and Europêche warns that canneries in the Seychelles and Mauritius may not survive, as these businesses depend on the purse seine fleet for their supply of raw material.
The Mauritian delegate in the meeting said that, ‘Mauritius is not a big fishing nation yet. It is a processing nation. For that Mauritius needs raw material. The purse seine fishery contributes 20,000 jobs and guarantees the access to the EU market, which brings good opportunities to Mauritius, to enhance its economy.’ Continue reading here (Source: FiskerForum).
Pacific Fisheries Officials Discuss Labour Standards on Fishing Vessels
Fiji’s Fisheries and Forestry Minister Kalaveti Vodo Ravu Tuesday opened a two-day workshop on ‘Labour Standards on Fishing Vessels’ for over 50 representatives from the Pacific.
The New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade-funded programme will be jointly implemented by Forum Fisheries Agency(FFA), International Labour Organisation (ILO), International Organisation for Migration(IOM) and United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
Minister Ravu told participants in Nadi that their presence is an encouragement towards building a solid foundation to enhance the welfare of our people working on fishing vessels and towards addressing the challenges in the Pacific. Continue reading here (Source: Pacific News Service).
Thai Union Getting Positive Feedback on Seafood Alternatives Sold Under OMG Meat Brand
As demand for plant-based food increases, plant-based seafood analogs have also grown in popularity across the globe. SeafoodSource is closely following the plant- and cell-based seafood alternatives by compiling a weekly roundup of updates from the industry. Continue reading here (Source: SeafoodSource).
Fisheries In Pacific a Source of Identity
In Pacific Island countries, the fishing industry is a source of livelihood and cultural identity for many communities.
During Regional Dialogue hosted by Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) Nadi, Fiji, Fiji Minister of Fisheries, Kalaveti Ravu said the fishing industry is a source of livelihood for Pacific Islanders and as a member of the Pacific community – the custodian of the Pacific Ocean they recognise and are committed to ensuring that the resources of the Pacific Ocean are protected, well managed and sustainable for all Pacific people. Continue reading here(Source: Post-Courier).
