KOROR, PALAU, TUESDAY 6 SEPTEMBER 2011: Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA) members opened the Pacific Tuna Forum 2011, a major gathering of government, industry and other stakeholders interested in Pacific tuna, with calls for greater participation of Pacific Islanders in the tuna industry.

The two-day forum involves around 200 representatives from Pacific Island countries, major tuna companies, industry organizations and regional organizations. Any participant can ask questions of the presenters and the Forum is known for its frank debate and dialogue around the key challenges facing the tuna industry and Pacific Island countries.

PNA member Palau, the world’s first shark sanctuary, is hosting the Pacific Tuna Forum for the first time. Palau’s Vice-President in his opening address said: “Palau is honored to host this important forum where we have an eminent group of people who are involved in the tuna fishery – from fish managers of the Pacific to those in the fishing industry, to traders and processors and to those representing major tuna markets in Asia, Europe and the United States.”

“We have worked together to manage the tuna fisheries in the Pacific, which is by far the best managed tuna fisheries in the world. We have unfortunately not derived an equitable level of benefits from the harvesting of these resources. Pacific Island countries earned around 100 million US dollars as resource rent or access fees from fishing fleets that operated within their respective zones. That is almost 5 % of the value of the catch. Here in Palau, we are exploring strategies and approaches to establish sustainable, locally-based fishing and onshore processing operations. We also want to explore avenues that could increase the participation of our people in fishing activities.”

Papua New Guinea, the major financial supporter of the Forum, has collaborated with Palau to enable the PNA to host the key event. Welcoming participants to the Forum, PNG’s Minister for Fisheries, Hon. Jacob Pomat MP, echoed Palau’s call for industry to involve Pacific Islanders in economic development. He said: “Since coming into Office as Minister responsible for Fisheries in PNG, I am mindful of the need to support our local people to actively participate in the harvesting of the tuna resources. I therefore call upon all participants to the 3rd Pacific Tuna Forum, that as you continue to discuss issues that affect the management and development of the Pacific tuna industry, be mindful of the importance of the tuna resource to families throughout the Pacific and explore avenues with a view to promoting the type of development that would ultimately improve the livelihoods of our people and also empower them to become active participants in this great industry.”

With the Pacific supplying over 50% of the world’s tuna supply, the Forum has become a key event for the global tuna industry. At the first Pacific Tuna Forum in 2007, Papua New Guinea saw the benefits of an event for networking between government, industry and other stakeholders, after discussions at the Forum led to a new $20 million tuna industry project in Papua New Guinea.

Topics for discussion at the Pacific Tuna Forum include: the global and regional situation of tuna stocks and tuna fishing, tuna industry and investment in Pacific Island countries, the state of tuna trade and markets, ecolabelling, fishing and processing technology. More information about the PNA’s Keynote address to the Pacific Tuna Forum will be released tomorrow.

Contact: Anouk Ride, PNA, email anouk.ride.com@gmail.com or telephone +680 779 5196