Australia, Kiribati, the Marshall Islands, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga and Tuvalu were represented at ministerial level. FSM and three other members were represented by senior officials, at the meeting.
The ministers discussed progress to create sustainable fisheries management and development.
They approved an FFA/Secretariat of the Pacific Community report, “The Future of Pacific Island Fisheries,” for presentation to the next Pacific Islands Forum meeting which outlines some of the key challenges faced by Pacific Island leaders as custodians of fisheries over the next few decades.
The meeting saw the adoption of the “Regional Monitoring, Control and Surveillance Strategy,” which outlines strategies and actions for regional cooperation to control illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing in the Pacific Islands.
The ministers also endorsed the implementation of the “Regional Economic Integration in Pacific Tuna Fisheries Program” as a tool to assist FFA members gain additional economic returns from their fishery resources.
