Pacific Ocean Fora

Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency

The mission of the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) is to enable Member countries to manage, conserve and use the tuna resources in their Exclusive Economic Zones and beyond, through enhancing national capacity and strengthening regional solidarity. It was established in 1979 in response to the member countries' desire to promote regional cooperation and coordination in respect of fisheries issues and their concern to secure maximum benefits from the living marine resources of the region, in particular the highly migratory species. The FFA Secretariat has approximately 50 positions, including both professional and support staff based in Honiara, Solomon Islands.

FFA comprises the Forum Fisheries Committee (FFC), which is the governing body, and a Secretariat. The FFA presently has seventeen members - Australia, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Marshall Islands, Kiribati, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu, each of which is represented on the FFC.

The FFC meets annually at Officials and Ministerial level to discuss policies focused on promoting regional cooperation in respect to fisheries and their concern to secure maximum benefits from the living marine resources of the region. The FFC holds additional special meetings at other times of the year, as required. A significant focus of the work performed by FFC is developing regional strategies with regard to fisheries management and fisheries development.

Effective management of, and adequate returns from, regional fisheries to Pacific Island Countries (PICs) are important for regional stability and economic development. Fisheries represent both the major resource and the major development prospect for several PICs. Sustainable development of regional fisheries and better capture of economic returns could substantially improve these countries' economic self-reliance. Therefore, where appropriate, Australia promotes and supports regional policies or practices that may be strategic in the context of economic and social development of PICs.

Australia strongly supports the FFA as the institution responsible for implementation of regional fisheries programs and for coordination of regional approaches to multilateral engagement on fisheries.

Treaty on Fisheries between the Governments of certain Pacific Island States and the Government of the United States of America (US Treaty)

The US Treaty was negotiated following an incident in 1982 where the US imposed trade sanctions under the Magnusson Act when two Pacific Island countries (PICs) apprehended US tuna vessels fishing within their Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs). The US did not accept that any country had the right to exclude its vessels from fishing in an EEZ for highly migratory species on the basis that such species did not belong to any country and had to be managed cooperatively. Under the terms of the Treaty, US flagged purse sein vessels enjoy secure, long term access to the EEZs of 16 FFA member countries (Australia, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Marshall Islands, Kiribati, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu) excluding Tokelau.

The US Treaty came into force on 15 June 1988 for five years (expiring 14 June 1993) with annual access fees being paid to the Pacific parties of US$14 million. Parties to the treaty agreed to extend the arrangement for a further 10 years (expiring on 15 June 2003) and access payments were increased to US$18 million per year under this first extension. In 2002 parties met again to consider the future of the treaty and once again decided that the treaty be extended for a further 10 years (expiring on 14 June 2013). Access fees under the second extension were increased to US$21 million per year.

The Treaty provides a valuable forum for Australia to advance its strong interests in the proper management of the fisheries resources in the Pacific region and contribute to the economic well-being and stability of the Pacific region.

Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC)

The Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) was established in 1947 and is one of the oldest regional organisations in the world. The SPC provides technical assistance, policy advice, training and research services to PICs and territories in various areas such as health, human development, agriculture, forestry and fisheries. When FFA was established there was some initial confusion between the roles of FFA and SPC on fisheries matters. Since that time the delineation between each agency's functions has been agreed. SPC concentrates on the management of the Regional Tuna Fisheries Database and the provision of stock assessment and scientific advice, and has the lead role on coastal or inshore fisheries. FFA's role is to provide economic policy advice, coordinate and harmonise fisheries policies, and lead on tuna and other oceanic fisheries.  Notwithstanding, both agencies are interdependent in several critical areas, such as tuna fisheries monitoring and development. FFA is entirely dependent on the SPC for scientific advice and stock assessments, while the SPC is dependent on FFA for fisheries legislative and economics expertise. It is therefore critical that FFA and the SPC maintain a close working relationship.

The 27 members of the SPC include the island countries and territories of American Samoa, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji Islands, French Polynesia, Guam, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Caledonia, Niue, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Pitcairn Islands, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, and Wallis and Futuna, plus the five remaining founding countries: 

• Australia,
• France,
• New Zealand,
• the United Kingdom, and
• the United States of America.