Pacific Ocean Fora
Forum Fisheries Agency and the Forum Fisheries Committee
The Mission of the 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.
Under the 1979 FFA Convention the FFA consists of 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 Convention places the seat of the Agency at Honiara, and an Agreement between the Agency and the Government of Solomon Islands defines the diplomatic status of FFA.
The FFC (the caucusing body of the Forum Fisheries Agency) meets annually at Ministerial level (and on a needs basis) to discuss policy that promotes 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 fish species. To that end a significant focus of the work performed by the FFC is formulation of regional strategies with regard to fisheries management and fisheries development.
Effective management of and adequate returns from regional fisheries to Pacific island countries are important elements of regional stability and economic development. Fisheries represent both the major resource and the major development prospect for several island countries. 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.
Australia strongly supports the FFA (and its governing council, FFC) 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. The Treaty gives limited access to US vessels to be licensed and to fish in the EEZs of the 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).
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 1993) 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. Until parties have ratified the extended treaty (including Australia), access fees will be capped at the first extension level of US$18 million per year.
As the US purse seine fleet does not fish in the Australian EEZ, the value to Australia in being a party to the US Treaty is not related to the payments it may receive for being a party, but the engagement it allows Australia to have in the region. The Treaty provides a valuable forum for Australia to advance its strong interests in the proper management of the fisheries resources of the Pacific and contribute to the economic well-being and stability of the Pacific region.
South Pacific Community
The South Pacific Community, established in 1947, is one of the oldest regional organisations in the world. The SPC is a non-political, technical assistance and research body, and provides a consultative and advisory role. SPC works in partnership with its members, other organisations and donors to deliver priority work programs to member countries and territories. Its work programs aim to develop the technical, professional, scientific, research, planning and management capability of Pacific Island people and directly provide information and advice, to enable them to make informed decisions about their future development and well-being.
The 27 members of the Pacific Community include the island countries and territories of American Samoa, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), Fiji Islands, French Polynesia, Guam, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Caledonia, Niue, Northern Mariana Islands, Palau, Papua New Guinea (PNG), 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.