BY LORETTA BRIGIDIA MANELE
MINISTRY of Fisheries and Marine Resources (MFMR) will actively focus on five strategic areas in quest to successfully communicate their mission statements, services, activities and achievements to it’s array of audiences.
This was expressed in the ministry’s Communication Strategy (2018-2020) which was recently launched and is linked to the current MFMR (2017-2019) strategy.
The ministry will work on fisheries policies, fisheries management, operational plans and functional services, staff, development programmes and projects and partnerships.
Under the fisheries policies, MFMR expressed that they will continue to develop, review and update policies for the orderly management and development of fishery operations including offshore, inshore, provincial and aquaculture.
In relation, based on these policies, the policy, planning and legal division along with MFMR’s communication officer will identify key policy messages to use in communications.
Moreover, in fisheries management, operational plans and functional services, the ministry said its tactic would be updating commercial operators about existing requirements and changes through paper and electronic means and during the application for new and renewed fishing licenses.
In terms of staff, MFMR highlights that they are the best and cost-effective means of communicating information given their consistent contact with customers, stakeholders and partners thus staff who are well informed and trained to deal with the media will help project the vision of MFMR.
Henceforth, the ministry expressed that it will organise and deliver a number of media and public relation trainings for all MFMR staff.
On grounds of development programmes and projects, MFMR has been working with key stakeholders, partners and various communities throughout the country to promote and deliver programmes and projects to enhance community fisheries livelihoods.
Additionally, in the scope of its development programmes and projects, the ministry stated that their role in all these projects and any progress made will be clearly communicated so their partners, donors, the national government and people of Solomon Islands are regularly and well informed.
Furthermore, the Fisheries and Marine Resources ministry voiced that it values its partnerships with national, regional and international bodies to date and the potential they bring for the future thus seek to communicate its services and the support it can provide to sustainable development of the country’s fisheries sector through established national, regional and international forums that include the Fisheries Advisory Council, the Chamber of Commerce and the Seafood Industry Working Group established by PHAMA.
