NEARSHORE FISHERIES DEVELOPMENT SECTION 2012 HIGHLIGHTS & PLANS FOR 2013

1. NEARSHORE FISHERIES DEVELOPMENT SECTION2012 HIGHLIGHTS & PLANS FOR 2013

2. 2010-2013 OBJECTIVE: To develop sustainable nearshore fisheries in PICTs to provide food security, livelihoods (and), economic growth and climate change adaptation

3. THE SECTION: • 5 professional staff, 1 project assistant • 2012 budget > USD 500,000 • NFDS provides assistance in: • - fishing technology including FADs, sport fishing, fisheries diversification • - seafood export facilitation • - fishermen’s associations • - fisheries economics

4. ONGOING PARTNERSHIPS WITH: • IFREMER (FADs, fish waste utilization) • FAO (International Guidelines for SSF) • FFA and EU (DevFish-2 project) • AusAID (seafood exports – Fish for Food Security project) • NZAID (5-year Pacific Fisheries Training Programme) • JICA (FAD training) • GIZ (CC adaptation and FAD projects) • SPTO (sport fishing development) • SPC/OFP (artisanal tuna fisheries data) • SPC/CFP (economic assessments, fisheries diversification)

5. Fishing technology: 2012 highlight • Exploratory fishing for diamond-back squid in New Caledonia • Project received support from Okinawa & New Caledonia Fisheries Department • Untapped commercial resource found – 2 species • Potential for coastal fisheries diversification with local marketing

6. Fishing technology : 2012 key inputs • FAD work in Kosrea (FSM), Cook Islands, American Samoa, Vanuatu and Kiribati • Training of sport fishing guides in Niue and New Caledonia • Pilot fisheries diversification project (small pelagics) in Marshall Isds • FAO/SPC regional workshop on SSF • Regional workshop on fish waste utilization

7. Fishing technology : 2013 plans • Nearshore FAD projects with data collection in American Samoa, Palau, Yap (FSM) • Fisheries diversification project (bagan) in Kavieng (PNG) • Sport-fishing tourism development (Palau? Yap?) • DVD on fish handling in sport fishing (catch-and-release) • Training in sashimi-grade tuna handling in Tarawa (Kiribati) • SFO course in Christmas Island (Kiribati) • Fisheries education project in Cook Islands

8. Seafood export facilitation: 2012 highlight • Evaluation of Competent Authorities in Fiji and Solomon Isds • Done in collaboration with FFA (DevFish-2) • To ensure compliance with EU importing requirements • Shortcomings found, ongoing work by SPC/FFA to rectify those

9. Seafood export facilitation : 2012 key inputs • Regional Fish Inspectors training course (4 weeks, NZ) • HACCP courses for CA and private sector in Fiji and Solomon Islands • Technical assistance and training to private sector: • Tripacific in Fiji – tuna pouch exports to AUS and NZ (Canada, EU) • International Food Corporation in PNG – tuna cans to EU • South Seas Investments in SOL – sashimi tuna to Japan • Regional workshop on EU’s TRACES system

10. Seafood export facilitation : 2013 plans • Regional thermal process training – 3 phases – for CAs and private sector (with FFA) • Onsite thermal process assistance to companies and CAs in Fiji, Solomon Islands, PNG, Marshall Islands • Pre-EU audit of the PNG CA (with FFA) • 2nd Regional Fish Inspectors course for CAs and private sector • 2 more HACCP courses

11. Fishermen’s associations: 2012 highlight • Small Fishing Operations (SFO) course for Tarawa associations • Training conducted in collaboration with Kiribati Fisheries and PNG’s National Fisheries College • Course covered safe vessel operations, fishing techniques and fish handling • Provides Tarawa fishers with access to export markets via KFL

12. Fishermen’s associations : 2012 key inputs • Study of sustainability options for fishermen’s associations, results discussed at regional workshop (Auckland, November) • Follow-up support to PITIA and national associations based on study’s recommendations • Inputs into PNA’s purse-seine crewing strategy

13. Fishermen’s associations : 2013 plans • Strengthening of Palau Fishing Association (PFA) – sustainability options and startegic plan • Testing mobile phone technology for small boat safety • Feasibility study of alternative power sources for fisheries centers in atoll countries • FAD training in Timor Leste

14. Fisheries economics: 2012 highlight • “Financial management training for fisheries officers” • Vessel economics, aquaculture economics, project management, business management & marketing • National courses in Fiji and Solomon Islands • Regional courses in New Zealand and Vanuatu Fiji course participants at local tilapia and carp farm Solomon Islands course participants

15. Fisheries economics: 2012 key inputs • Economic inputs in sub-regional study on management of sea cucumber fisheries and bêche-de-mer trade • Data collection systems developed for cost-benefit analysis of FAD programmes and sport fishing tourism • Economic analysis of development proposals for Tokelau’s nearshore fisheries and Samoa’s aquarium trade

16. Fisheries economics: 2013 plans • FAD monitoring programs established in American Samoa, Palau and FSM (Yap) • Tourist surveys implemented in Niue and Cook Islands • Financial management training in Tuvalu, Fiji (phase 2) and 2 regional courses • Economic inputs into Aquaculture Section’s project ‘Improving Community-based Aquaculture in Fiji, Kiribati, Samoa and Vanuatu’ • Collaboration with PNG National Fisheries College on economic aspects of Kavieng processing facility and cobia aquaculture

17. Publications