Provision of scientific analyses, assessments and advice, and data management services, to the WCPFC membership

The specific work of SPC-OFP under the agreement with WCFPC as its Scientific and Data Management Services Provider is agreed annually, based on ongoing needs and specific requests from WCPFC meetings. Work includes: the curation and appropriate dissemination of WCPFC data, evaluation of data gaps, support to the regional VMS and observer programmes, provision of specified stock assessments of tuna and tuna-like species, ecosystem analyses, scientific evaluation and advice to support management options and harvest strategy development, as well as assistance to members to enhance participation at Commission meetings. 

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.

Supporting Pacific island countries and communities in addressing illegal, unreported and unregulated coastal fishing

The purpose of the Pacific Coastal Fisheries Management and Compliance (PaFMaC) activity is to ensure that sustainable coastal fisheries co-management in the 12 targeted Pacific island countries* has appropriate, effective and collaborative monitoring, control and surveillance as integral components addressing illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) coastal fishing. The activity will help contribute to sustainable, well-managed coastal fisheries that provide food security, and long-term economic, social and ecological benefits to current and future generations of Pacific Island countries. With the support of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), this five-year activity, which commenced in October 2021, is working towards four key outcomes:

1. Fisheries agencies having appropriate monitoring, control and surveillance programmes with the capacity, training and systems to support sustainable coastal fisheries co-management at all appropriate levels
2. The enabling environment strengthened to enhance compliance with coastal fisheries laws and policies at all appropriate levels
3. National fisheries agencies have effective and appropriate mechanisms operating to facilitate and coordinate with civil society in support of local level coastal fisheries co-management
4. Monitoring, control and surveillance programme frameworks, best practice guidelines, operating procedures and training and outreach materials are developed for the Pacific islands’ context.

* Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu

The New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affair and Trade (MFAT) programme is a flexible funding that supports all ranges of priorities identified in the FAME Business Plan. MFAT is also one of the long-term partners in delivering the fisheries and aquaculture science to the 22 member countries and territories.

The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) programme is a flexible funding that supports all ranges of priorities identified in the FAME Business Plan. DFAT has been a long-term partner in delivering the fisheries and aquaculture science to the 22 member countries and territories. 

Supporting FFA’s NZ MFAT funded project to implement the Regional Longline Strategy.

SPC works with the FFA Secretariat with the aim of delivering improved management of the southern longline fishery, focused on South Pacific albacore tuna. SPC provides scientific information and advice to inform management options, and works at regional, sub-regional and national levels to provide support for technical approaches to underpin appropriate management mechanisms.

SPC works with the Fisheries Forum Agency (FFA) Secretariat to support and maintain effective observer and debriefer training and assurance of the Pacific Islands Regional Fisheries Observers (PIRFO) standards. This work includes the implementation and integration of new data collection technologies and necessary protocols, and support for the ongoing improvement of regional data collection standards.

PEUMP is a regional initiative to support the sustainable management and development of fisheries in the Pacific

The Pacific-European Union Marine Partnership (PEUMP) programme supports sound ocean and coastal governance with a focus on biodiversity protection and the sustainable use of fisheries and other marine resources. With European Union and Swedish funding, the PEUMP programme was launched in October 2017 and focuses on gaps in fisheries science; fisheries development; coastal resources and livelihoods; illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing; ecosystem-based management; biodiversity conservation; and capacity building at national and community levels.