Sustainable Coastal Fisheries and Aquaculture for Pacific Livelihoods, Food and Economic Security (SCoFA)

Strengthening the sustainability of coastal fisheries and aquaculture resources in the Pacific islands region to improve food security, livelihoods and economic and environmental resilience

The Sustainable Coastal Fisheries and Aquaculture for Pacific Livelihoods, Food and Economic Security (SCoFA) activity will strengthen the sustainability of coastal fisheries and aquaculture resources in the Pacific Islands region to improve food security, livelihoods and economic and environmental resilience. With New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade funding, supplemented by Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade aid, SCoFA will strengthen legal and policy frameworks for sustainable management, support improved monitoring, control and surveillance practices, and support enhanced aquatic biosecurity, technical and business acumen for more improved and diversified aquaculture initiatives in the Pacific. The SCoFA activity was launched in August 2021 and will run for just over six years, until November 2027, and support all 22 Pacific Island countries and territories. It focuses on five key outputs:

1. development and promotion of aquatic biosecurity practices;
2. business training and technical support provided to aquaculture enterprises and government;
3. coastal Fisheries and aquaculture management enabled through development of legal frameworks, training, and implementation support;
4. coastal Fisheries and aquaculture management practices implemented through community engagement, MCS and compliance; and
5. regional coordination supporting and promoting the scaling of community-based fisheries in Pacific Island countries and territories.

These outputs will lead to a range of expected outcomes, including, in part: national and community coastal fisheries and aquaculture more effectively and sustainably managed, monitored and enforced; legislation and policies enabling clearer and more transparent decision making and planning for coastal fisheries and aquaculture; aquaculture that is more productive, diverse, socially inclusive, and economically and environmentally sustainable; and, aquaculture and coastal fisheries being protected from aquatic biosecurity threats.