PNA Ministers Gather for Key Annual Meeting
The 20th Annual Ministerial meeting of the Parties to the Nauru Agreement was held in Tarawa, Kiribati from 3 to 4 June 2025. The Honourable Ministers from the Federated States of Micronesia, Marshall Islands, Kiribati, Nauru, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Palau, and Tokelau attended. Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu were represented by their key senior officials: PNG’s Deputy Managing Director for the National Fisheries Authority and Vanuatu’s Deputy Director for the Ministry of Ocean, Fisheries, and Maritime Affairs. The Ministers and Heads of Delegations were accompanied by their officials and legal teams.
Ministerial Meeting Handover of Chairpersonship and National Statements
The Ministers’ meeting commenced with the 19th PNA Ministerial Chair from FSM, Honourable Elina Akinaga, handing over the chairpersonship to Kiribati’s Minister, Honourable Ribanataake Tiwau. The handover was followed by Ministers’ statements, commending on PNA’s success in managing sustainable fisheries, and the need to now move beyond the VDS into maximizing economic returns from the shared tuna resources. This was Vanuatu’s second time to attend and participate in the PNA Ministerial Meeting since they joined the PNA Longline VDS in 2024.
Streamlining Success: Key Outcomes of Effective Office Management
The PNA Office reported on another successful year to the Ministers, the highlights of which included the completion of four external financials audits, the new Strategic Plan for 2026-2030, and the newly incepted Capacity Development Program into the PNAO operations. The Ministers were also informed of the PNA Purse Seine Fishery being recertified under the MSC for a further 5 years with the scope extended to cover FAD sets.
PNA Fisheries at a Glance
The PNA Office provided an overview to the Ministers of the status of tuna stocks in the WCPFC Statistical Area as well as on the PNA Fishery which highlighted strong purse seine performance but declining longline activity. Kiribati Fisheries Limited’s Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Riakaina Teiwaki, also delivered an outline of the challenges, opportunities, and forward-looking strategies from an industry perspective.
Signing of the Communique
The 20TH Annual PNA Ministerial Meeting concluded with a closing ceremony where Ministers signed the PNAMIN20 Communique.