Fisheries ministers from across the Pacific have gathered in New Zealand for the 25th Annual Forum Fisheries Committee (FFC) Ministerial Meeting, where leaders will discuss key policies aimed at strengthening fisheries management, boosting economic returns and enhancing regional cooperation.
Hosted by the New Zealand government, the meeting opened with a traditional Māori pōwhiri at Te Papa Tongarewa in Wellington, welcoming ministers, senior officials, development partners and observers.
Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) Director-General Noan David Pakop said the ceremony reflected the shared commitment of Pacific nations to protecting the region's ocean resources.
"We are honoured by this expression of manaakitanga, which reminds us that our work is grounded in friendship, mutual respect and our shared commitment to the peoples of the Blue Pacific," Pakop said.
He also congratulated New Zealand's Minister for Oceans and Fisheries, Shane Jones, on assuming the chairmanship of the FFC Ministerial, saying the work of senior fisheries officials had laid the foundation for ministerial decisions.
Among the major agenda items is the proposed South Pacific Albacore Allocation Arrangement, which seeks to provide long-term certainty for one of the region's most valuable tuna fisheries while reinforcing the leadership of Pacific coastal states in managing the resource.
Ministers will also discuss the East New Britain Initiative, which aims to increase domestic participation in the tuna industry, create jobs, strengthen local economies and improve food security across the Pacific.
The future of the fisheries treaty with the United States is also expected to be reviewed during the meeting. The treaty has supported sustainable fisheries management and generated economic benefits for Pacific Island countries for more than three decades.
Pakop said the region's tuna resources remain among the healthiest and most valuable globally because of the collective stewardship of FFA members.
"Our challenge is not only to sustain healthy fisheries, but to ensure they continue to create jobs, strengthen domestic industries, improve food security and deliver lasting prosperity for Pacific communities," he said.
Ministers are also considering a new FFA Strategic Plan and ongoing reforms aimed at strengthening the organisation's institutional capacity, financial sustainability and responsiveness to members' priorities.
During the opening events, New Zealand reaffirmed its support for Pacific fisheries by announcing additional funding for the FFA to strengthen efforts against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, build fisheries capacity across member countries and support the long-term sustainability of regional fisheries.
The funding will also support the Pacific Islands Tuna Ventures Programme, which aims to help Pacific Island countries capture greater value from their tuna resources through innovation and product diversification.
New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister Winston Peters said the Pacific supplies more than half of the world's traded tuna but Pacific nations do not always receive a fair share of its economic value.
He said the investment reflects New Zealand's commitment to helping Pacific countries strengthen domestic fisheries industries, create jobs and increase returns for coastal communities.
The annual Forum Fisheries Committee Ministerial Meeting is the Pacific's highest-level fisheries forum, bringing together ministers from FFA member countries to provide strategic direction on the conservation, sustainable management and development of the region's fisheries resources.
