The European Union (EU) has reaffirmed its commitment to collaborate with the Pacific Community (SPC), the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA), and the University of the South Pacific (USP) in a bid to enhance ocean health, fisheries sustainability, and community resilience across the Pacific region. Implementation of this initiative is set to begin this year, with a series of activities planned through to 2030.
This renewed partnership is an extension of the Pacific – EU Marine Partnership (PEUMP) program, which has been actively engaged with regional partners since its inception in 2018. The second phase of PEUMP comes with a funding allocation of EUR 20 million (approximately FJD$52 million) to address significant challenges related to ocean management in Pacific Island countries and Timor-Leste through a focus on education, research, and technical support.
The program aims to prioritize several key areas, including bolstering ocean governance, managing coastal and oceanic fisheries sustainably, improving value chains and access to markets, and confronting Illegal, Unregulated, and Unreported (IUU) fishing practices in the region. PEUMP Phase 2 is designed to align closely with both national and regional priorities for ocean governance, including the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent.
At the signing ceremony, EU Ambassador to the Pacific, Barbara Plinkert, emphasized that this agreement signifies a strong, long-term commitment from both regions to the protection and sustainable management of their oceans. With the two regions representing nearly 40 countries, she underscored their united vision and shared responsibility towards their maritime environments.
The FFA’s Director General, Noan David Pakop, expressed confidence that the second phase of the program would translate their vision of a sustainable and economically robust Pacific tuna fishery into real, beneficial outcomes for the member countries, focusing on strengthening value chains and advancing innovative monitoring and compliance strategies. He highlighted that the partnership aligns with building climate resilience, ensuring that the advantages of ocean resources are equitably shared among Pacific communities, both now and in the future.
SPC Deputy Director for the Educational Quality and Assessment Programme, Seci Waqabaca, addressed the complexities of ocean governance, noting that while challenges exist, they present opportunities for growth and resilience. The USP, through its multiple campuses, plays a crucial role in promoting ocean education and capacity building.
USP Pro-Chancellor, Siosiua Tuitalukua Tupou Utoikamanu, welcomed the renewed commitment, viewing it as a strategic investment in the sustainable future of the region. He pointed to the importance of integrating indigenous knowledge with scientific approaches to support biodiversity and climate resilience, asserting that healthy oceans fundamentally underpin regional livelihoods, cultural identity, and food security.
This initiative reflects the EU’s broader engagement strategy in the Pacific and supports international efforts outlined in the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and other global biodiversity and ocean conservation frameworks. The renewed partnership not only fosters environment-friendly practices but also paves the way for sustainable economic growth in the Pacific, reinforcing hope for a more resilient future for its communities.
Leave a comment