BY JOHN HOUANIHAU
There are significant challenges remains, particularly on high seas management.
Allen Rahari the Director for Fisheries Operations at the Forum Fisheries Agency said when he presented the FFA operations, including the collaborations with the members.
Speaking at the side event at Honiara Summit this year Raharin said that monitoring, control, and surveillance is a key component of sustainable fisheries.
He said that the scale of the Blue Pacific Continent is extensive, which includes the Exclusive Economic Zones and the high seas.
“Our Pacific region, FFA members’ Exclusive Economic Zone areas make up approximately 30.5 million square kilometers, and that accounts for over 20 percent of the world’s Exclusive Economic Zone. So, that in itself, is a massive area when it comes to monitoring compliance and surveillance.
“It is also important to note that fisheries management frameworks within our Pacific Island region operate under two legal frameworks,’’ he said.
Rahari said these are the Exclusive Economic Zones, which are subject to national laws, and the high seas fisheries, which is regulated through the Western Central Pacific Fisheries Commission, which is the regional fisheries management organization for the Western Central Pacific region.
He said that both frameworks are interconnected due to the migratory nature of the offshore resources.
“As you would imagine, there are significant challenges remains, particularly on high seas management. In particular, addressing the less stringent monitoring on the high seas through some of the work that our members are doing. We are driving changes, particularly in strengthening monitoring of high seas fisheries activities.
“Our blue Pacific continent is vast and extensive, and so a key challenge for the region is to effectively monitor this area with the limited MCS resources available to Pacific Island states. This is where regional cooperation and partnership is critical,’’ said Rahari.
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