The Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) is actively working to safeguard the Pacific’s tuna resources as part of its mission to enhance governance and improve service delivery in the region. FFA Director-General Noan David Pakop highlighted the agency’s commitment to implementing recommendations from a recent independent performance review aimed at ensuring sustainable management of the region’s invaluable tuna fisheries.
Tuna continues to be the most significant natural resource in the Pacific, playing a crucial role in national budgets, development initiatives, and public services across many member countries. The FFA emphasizes that effective stewardship of this vital resource is essential for the economic resilience and long-term security of the Blue Pacific region.
In a statement, Pakop noted, “The Secretariat is currently undertaking comprehensive reforms. We are also preparing a new strategic plan to be presented to ministers in June. This is a moment of renewal, ensuring that the FFA Secretariat remains fit for purpose, responsive to members, and well positioned to lead in a rapidly changing environment.” Nearly half a century after its establishment by Pacific leaders, the FFA is adapting to numerous challenges, such as climate change, shifting tuna stocks, evolving regulations, technological advances, and increasing global interest in Pacific waters.
Minister for Fisheries Alitia Bainivalu emphasized the importance of strengthening partnerships and leveraging technology to meet global demands for transparency while ensuring the protection of the tuna industry. She stated, “Sovereign management is about enhancing our ability to oversee and protect our exclusive economic zones through regional cooperation and collective security. It is also about strengthening industrial infrastructure by improving logistics, supply chains, and export systems to bridge the gap between high-level dialogue and actionable frameworks.”
Bainivalu underscored that efforts are focused on advancing technology, fostering stronger regional cooperation, and enhancing logistics to safeguard tuna stocks. These initiatives aim to align support from partner nations with the FFA’s strategic plan, thereby minimizing duplication and achieving sustainable results.
This ongoing commitment to stewardship and sustainability signals a hopeful future for the Pacific’s tuna fisheries while fostering collaboration among member countries to navigate the complexities of the current global landscape.
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