This is the second Quarterly Report from the PNA Office highlighting the activities of the PNA office during the quarter. The key features of the quarter were the trading of days between the Parties, progress on the establishment of the VDS Monitoring and Information Systems, development of the Business Plan, conclusion of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the establishment of a minimum bench mark fee, consultations on the scoping of the PNA Observer Agency, and establishment of the PNA Crewing Agency (Coordination Unit). In terms of administrative and institutional issues, the quarter also features the finalization of the Terms of Reference for positions in the PNA Office with advertisements placed for positions in the PNA office.

The recent Pacific Tuna Forum was hosted by Palau, while Papua New Guinea was notable as the key financial backer of the Forum and officiated at key functions. PNG also brought a sizeable delegation of government, industry and media to Palau for the event, while the PNA office was also prominent with the Commercial Manager giving the keynote speech and myself providing a speech. All this contributed to the Pacific flavour of the Forum and to raising the global profile of the PNA as a key industry player.

The message to global industry attendees from the PNA was a simple one, encapsulated in the quote: “shape up or ship out”!! Simply put, industry cannot afford any longer to resist PNA’s determination to take conservation and management measures for their tuna and to facilitate domestic development of fishing in their countries. Only those who work with the PNA countries will remain in this fishery.

Science released in August on the status of tuna stocks revealed that the skipjack catch in the Western and Central Pacific declined by 6% last year. PNA sees these declines as an early sign of the effectiveness of PNA limits on fishing - including the PNA Vessel Day Scheme, where fishing days are limited in number and traded for profit, the high seas closures and the restrictions on Fish Aggregating Devices (FADS, which often result in high catches of young tuna).

However, the foreign fishing nations (such as US, Japan, Korea, EU and others) have not taken action to restrict their fishing, particularly for overfishing of bigeye tuna in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean. PNA will be asking the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission this year to formally request all its members to take voluntary measures to cut overfishing of bigeye tuna and report back on their progress. PNA will also be asking the Commission to call on processors and other major buyers to take business measures to mitigate bycatch of other species and report back on the measures they have taken.

Meanwhile, although a substantial proportion of tuna catch is being taken outside the region for processing, PNA domestic tuna industries continue to grow, and interest in ventures integrated with domestic processing plants in the region are being pursued. It is in the PNA’s interest to have fish caught in their waters, processed in plants in their region or at operations in which they have equity. Taking the fish outside the PNA region to their competitors only leads to depressed fish prices, and reduces the competitiveness and profitably of their investments, whether these be in plants, joint ventures, or charters.

This year, skipjack prices have been high between US$1,700-US$2,050 a metric tonne. Keeping prices high ensures PNA industries are competitive, and the returns to the PNA from access fees are also high relative to the fish prices. PNA can and should control where the fish caught in their waters ends up, by regulating their supply of tuna. That means landing and processing fish caught in PNA waters in the region or in plants in which the PNA has equity.

State of Global Tuna Industry

Global skipjack tuna catches are largely static overall, at about 2.5 million mt, with the WCPFC/PNA share at 50% and still growing sustainably.

The large global fleets continue to grow, in numbers, size and efficiency, backed by their industrialized nations to extract raw materials from the oceans of the world, protect their investments, profits and increase their government's geopolitical influence. Today, the large global fleets opportunistically roam from region to region, chasing the fish throughout their range. Globally, many stocks are now facing overfishing, or deemed overfished and now 5 tuna species are listed by IUCN are claimed as threatened with extinction.  We must not become part of the same problem, although clearly the Western and Central Pacific is the next frontier, in fact we are their "last frontier". 

Industrialized fleets can move on to other areas or be compensated, but small island nations cannot move, it is not the least developed nations, that are funding or even benefiting from this demise. The Pacific is predominantly an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), not high seas fishery, and most critically, the PNA nations do make hard decisions about conservation and management, even where they carry a disproportionate share of the burden of such actions.

On the other side of the globe, whether EU, USA or North Asia, the market is becoming more aware of sustainability, often led by MSC setting the highest recognized global bench mark for sustainability certification, and NGOs championing less destructive practices in the field and sustainable consumption in the market place. The retailers are increasingly aware and bowing to this pressure, and even looking to opportunities for sustainability "insurance"! These days sustainable tuna does not just get a premium it is a pre requisite to trade. A good example is UK demand for pole and line skipjack, and growing demand for free school skipjack as the sustainable alternative. 

There are clear trends; home brands in Europe are growing market share over larger traditional brands, and an increasing group of consumers, want and demand sustainability, including MSC certification.

Meanwhile, the global dependence on PNA tuna resources are reflected in product flows:

*American Samoan processors need fish from PNA to process and supply domestically in USA mainland.

*Thailand sources about 90% of its tuna from this region, yet has no resources itself.  *Philippines increasingly sources supply from PNA waters following the closure of access to the Indonesia EEZ.

*Spanish investments in Latin America need more ROO fish from the Eastern Pacific Ocean and PNA waters, About 100,000 mt a year from PNA to process and supply loins duty free to Spanish canners [over 50% EU supply] and to USA. 

A relatively small amount of tuna stays in the PNA region for processing. Developing PNA processing and fishing sectors is ambitious, but progressing well, with a generally favorable investment environment.  Today, PNA supplies an insignificant 4% of the canned tuna to the EU, a figure projected to double but still unlikely to impact traditional suppliers of volume to the EU, further with MSC this could be more top end niche markets, and private labels.

However, this growth in the PNA processing sector and the trade agreement known as the IEPA, has been strongly opposed by those who have invested elsewhere but expect tuna supply from this region. The Spanish and French industries openly lobby over sustaining their commercial interests in the other regions. Their claims of child labour in PNA factories, Asian workforces, and non-compliant labour practices are repeatedly proven to be totally unfounded, as are suggestions that the IEPA will cause thousands of job losses globally in ACP countries.

Within PNA, our workers are found to be productive, conscientious workers in the factories, proven capable and reliable at technical and managerial levels and PNA national are actively working both onshore and at sea as officers, crew, and observers.  We pride our factories using our own people.

What is clear is that onshore investment in a vibrant domestic processing sector sees at least 3-5x the multiplier effect to the economy, not just direct jobs, but in associated employment in common facilities including can making, carton making, label making, shipyards, cold stores, ice works, net repair facilities, wharfs, etc.  Additionally direct and indirect taxes, food security, foreign exchange and import substitutions are often overlooked.  Previously with just selling access, none of these benefits existed.

Further as custodians of the resources, supply is guaranteed and where domestic based boats are linked to processing, there are freight savings and clearly at higher prices the overall unit is more profitable. But a significant impediment to all PNA processors remains ocean freight, between PNA countries and to international destinations.

PNA Purse Seine Vessel Day Scheme

The current daily average of days counted under the VDS is 105 fishing days per day and at this rate it is projected that the adjusted Total Allowable Effort (TAE) hard limit of 28,469 days will be reached or exceeded by 30 November 2011. However, as some Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) and some vessels / fleets will still have days, a reduced level of effort is likely till the end of the year.

The hard limit of 3,907 days was reached and exceeded on 21 August 2011 without taking into account any claims for non fishing days.  The PNA countries agreed to apply 25% of the total days counted for FSMA as at 21 August 2011 to be credited back as non-fishing days, which has resulted in the projected date for when the hard limit would be reached being extended to 4 November 2011 at the current daily average usage of 16 fishing days per day. Some vessels are managing these days into the last quarter, while other PNA countries examine bilateral and domestic access agreements to accommodate this. The number of purse seine vessels monitored under the VDS increased from 233 to 238 vessels (excluding the 37 vessels under the UST), an increase of 5 vessels (2 PNG, 2 Philippines and 1 Kiribati).

Trading has taken place since July following the closure by Solomon Islands of its EEZ in June. Table 1 shows the traded days between the Parties as at 30 September 2011.

Table 1: Traded Days

From:          To:          Type          Effective Date          Days

Marshall Islands          Nauru          Transfer          09 Sep 2011          50.00

Marshall Islands          Nauru          Transfer          15 Sep 2011          30.00

           NR                     Total          80.00

                                       

FSM          PNG          Transfer          14 Jul 2011          500.00

Marshall Islands                     Transfer          14 Jul 2011          500.00

Palau                     Transfer          27 Jan 2011          500.00

           PG                     Total          1,500.00

                                       

Marshall Islands          Solomon Islands          Transfer          14 Jul 2011          1,000.00

           SB                     Total          1,000.00

                                       

           TOTAL                                2,580.00

Figure 1 attached below gives an indication of the utilization of days before trading at 25 September 2011, while Figure 2 attached below gives an indication of the utilization of days after trading. 

Trading has had a positive effect on the VDS both on the value of a day to the Parties and to balancing the overall utilisation of the days between those that have used up their days quickly, and need days and those in whose waters effort has been low and have days available to trade.

PNA Longline Vessel Day Scheme

The PNA Longline VDS is undergoing a 2-year trial operation since 1 January 2011.    Longline VDS Reports for each Party are being emailed daily to VDS contacts in each Party.  To date a total of 4 attachments at the PNA Office have been undertaken by nationals from Palau (Kathleen Sisior), Kiribati (Tiare Kataatia), Nauru (Murin Jeremiah) and FSM (Justino Helgen), the latest attachment being from FSM from 13-23 September 2011).  The attachment work involves familiarization with the Longline VDS Management Scheme and Functional Specifications texts, the daily reports and work on reconciling longline VDS Vessel Monitoring System reports with longline logsheets for each Party.

Development of the PNA VDS Monitoring and Information Systems

PNA is taking control of its fisheries data and monitoring and integrating this in an online fisheries information management system (including log sheets, observer reports, surveillance reports, licence information, Vessel Day Scheme data and more).

Quick Access of Brisbane, Australia, was contracted to develop the PNA Vessel Day Scheme Monitoring and Information Systems which will give Parties access to the raw data from vessels that fish in their waters. In July, Vessel Monitoring System Officers from the Parties were consulted on the business rules and access provisions. Officers from Kiribati, Solomon Islands and Nauru were met in Nadi, while VMS Officers from Marshall Islands, Palau and Federated States of Micronesia met with the consultants in Majuro. Unfortunately, due to transportation problems it was not possible for the VMS Officer from Tuvalu to be interviewed.

The Database is being housed in Madang, Papau New Guinea. Throughout August, work focused on the establishment of the Madang Database Centre. Preparation of the Database were ongoing in August including test links carried out to ensure that there are no issues with the connections from vessels to the database. In the meantime, during the construction of the Madang Centre, documentation was being done through the Brisbane data centre which has been completed and submitted. This data centre is able to be established much faster than the Madang site and will be used as the primary site until the Madang site is finalised.   The completion of the Brisbane data centre setup will enable data replication with the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) for the Vessel Register

The PNA vessel register has been delivered from FFA to PNA at the end of September. Work is now being conducted to align it within the Fisheries Information Management System (FIMS) system and loaded into the Data Centre for PNA access. At present, positional data is being delivered for purse seine vessels from FFA.  FFA is expected shortly to provide all historical data from 1 January 2011 for purse seiners and will begin providing longline positional data in preparation for 1 January 2012. Every effort is being made to have all in place by 1st October.

PNA Meetings

The PNA Ministerial 5th Special Meeting was held in the margins of the Forum Fisheries Committee Ministerial Meeting in Apia, Samoa, in July 2011.  The outcomes of the meeting include the signing and adoption of the Resolution on the Amendments to the 3rd Implementing Arrangement on Extended FAD Closure and Minimum Mesh Size Regulation as well as the signing of the MOU on the Minimum Bench Mark Fee Level for the value of a fishing day under the purse seine VDS at $ 5000/day.

The next PNA Ministerial Special Meeting (PNAMIN SM6) is planned to be held in the margins of the annual meeting of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission in November/December 2011.

The PNA Officials 32nd Special Meeting is scheduled to be held in the margins of the Technical and Compliance Committee meeting in Pohnpei, FSM, on 1 October 2011.

PNA Crewing Agency

The Parties have agreed to implement a mandatory requirement of 10% PNA crewing of all purse seine vessels fishing in PNA waters commencing in January, 2012 and to be gradually increased to 20% over a period of 2-5 years.

The PNA Office and the Government of Kiribati has sought the assistance of the EU funded Development of Sustainable Tuna Fisheries in Pacific ACP Countries - Phase II (DevFish2) project to assist facilitate the transitional period in 2011 towards the implementation of the program to commence in January 1st ,2012. 

Key Elements the PNA Crewing Programme would be as follows:

  • Initial Implementation

As at 1st January, 2012, all purse seine vessels licensed in PNA waters will be required to have a minimum of at least 10% of PNA nationals as crew when fishing in waters of the Parties. This requirement will be validated off crew manifests on commencement and completion of trips and also through monitoring of crew lists as collected by Observers.

While the parties have adopted a program in support of minimum crew training, it is anticipated that in the initial stages of program implementation, crew will be sourced from the existing pool of certified or experienced PNA crew. Fleet and vessel operators will be expected to utilise the services of Pacific Island crewing agents in sourcing suitably qualified and experience crew.

The Parties will monitor the implementation of this Programme in association with immigration and customs officials.

  • Crew Training

The Parties have agreed that the mandatory crewing program should be supported by a program of mandatory minimum training and certification for all PNA crew on Purse Seine vessels (except for PNA crew with two years of documented employment on purse seine vessels).

This minimum standard training will be available through PNA training institutions but may also be adopted by fleets or boat owners who opt to develop a program to train their own crews. The minimum standard training will include the following topics : Pre-sea, Basic seamanship, Tuna purse seine fishing, Life on board, (including customs, both general and specific to purse seine vessels of Taiwan, Japan, Korea, USA, China, Philippines and others) and Language (names of the parts of the vessel and gear, common phrases used aboard purse seine vessels of Taiwan, Japan, Korea, USA, China, Philippines and others).

  • Managing non-compliance

Vessels who are unable to comply with the minimum levels of PNA crewing will need to apply to PNA for a Crewing Waiver which will be granted on receipt of a fee of US$ 50,000. The cost of the Crewing Waiver will rise at 20% per annum. Vessels who do not comply will also be asked to justify their non-compliance and produce a plan under which they will meet the minimum standard.

The Crewing Waiver will be administered by the PNA Office in Majuro. Fisheries Administrations reporting non-compliance will advise the PNA Office and the vessel concerned will be advised in correspondence of the Waiver conditions.  

Crewing Waiver funds collected by the PNAO will be retained for distribution to PNA crew training institutions to support the ongoing training of PNA crew.

  • Employment contract arrangements and terms and conditions

Adequate contractual arrangements and employment provisions should be in place from the onset of the program. PNA is also concerned to ensure that PNA national crew are fairly treated and live and work in clean and sanitary conditions with suitable levels of sustenance so as to ensure good health and productivity and fair and reasonable conditions of work.

In early program implementation, this will be taken as a matter of good faith and the extent to which this matter requires intervention will be considered in the context of program implementation and development review.

PNA will prepare a standard employment contract agreement.

  • The role of crewing agents

There are a number of existing and established crew agencies in PNA ports and both vessel operators and agencies are encouraged to be proactive in the utilisation of agency services.

Agencies will be encouraged to establish registers of available crew and to work closely with training institutions in ensuring that there are well trained and qualified personnel available for purse seine employment.

  • PNA crew aspirations

Employment in more senior positions on board purse seine vessels requires proven performance and experience and on the job training. The Parties expect advancement for PNA crew over time and this will be taken into account in future arrangements for the Programme.

Currently, the PNA Office, DevFish2 and Kiribati are drawing up a terms of reference for the PNA Crewing Liaison Coordinator who would be recruited to take on the work as a short term consultancy to support the early stages of crewing liaison.

Establishment of PNA Observer Agency

Work on the establishment of the PNA Observer Agency has progressed with the engagement of MRAG (Asia/Pacific) to undertake a scoping study on the PNA Observer Agency.

The consultant has held discussions with the FFA and other stakeholders in the fishery, namely operators of vessels fishing under the FSM Arrangement. At the time this Report was put together, the consultant had already begun putting together the report based on the list of issues outlined in the Terms of References (e.g. objectives, scope of services, administration of finances, staffing, location, ensuring benefits are shared amongst parties, etc), plus a number of others that have emerged (e.g. insurance, observer payment arrangements, supply of observer equipment, etc).  Some of the issues to be canvassed include the objectives which are to be drawn from the Observer MOU agreed by the Parties. While the current objective is quite high level, Parties may agree to specific sub-objectives to make clear which outcomes the POA is expected to achieve (e.g. meet scientific/compliance needs of parties, cost effective delivery, share benefits amongst parties, etc) and the scope of services. There are also issues pertaining to the divide between the ‘operational’ aspects of the POA (e.g. observer placement, arranging airfares, visas, payments etc) and the more ‘strategic’ aspects that could be left with FFA/SPC (e.g. capacity building, standards development, and training.      

Additional services which the POA could offer also include coordination between national observer programme and MSC Chain of Custody (CoC) management. Given the importance of observers to the CoC scheme and the fact that the same database will be used for observers as well as CoC there may be some efficiencies to be gained by having this done by the same entity/in the same place.  The scope of services will influence the staffing requirements and budget. Longer-term funding options could be drawn from the FSMA and therefore it would be recommended that the PNA office collect funds (as FSMA administrator) and enter into a contractual arrangement with the POA for the delivery of services.

The Report is likely to be available in the fourth quarter of the year.

PNA Communications

PNA made headlines on several topics in the last few months, including its international relations (meetings with Chinese industry and the tour of PNA ministers of American Samoa), its bid to attain Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification of its free school skipjack tuna, decisions of Ministers to charge a minimum price for a fishing day ($5000 USD) and others.

Most prominent in raising PNA profile was the key role PNA played in the Pacific Tuna Forum, as speakers, sponsors, chairs and the many PNA companies and countries that also attended and participated. The news was widely reported in PNG in particular, thanks to the National Fisheries Authority (NFA) which supported travel and briefings of PNG media. Across the region, the message towards industry that it must “shape up or ship out” proved remarkable to journalists and editors as a strong message from the Pacific and prompted several interviews to discuss more how PNA would enact such a call.

The PNA Observer Demonstration Video, an educational resource featuring the 5 key rules of the PNA, easily explained and demonstrated, which was produced by the PNA, was launched on 4 August 2011. So far, it has received positive feedback from industry, media and observers and over 1000 YouTube views. People can watch the video on the PNA site www.pnatuna.com or YouTube www.youtube.com/pnatuna and many are also recommending the video via social media sites such as Facebook.

Finally, in a prelude to this year’s annual session of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC), statements from the PNA Ministers, PNA Director and PNA Commercial Manager over the past few months reinforced the message that foreign fishing nations must take voluntary actions to stop overfishing of bigeye and conserve tuna stock, that it was time for them to stop shifting the conservation burden to the PNA. Such a message will be reinforced as the PNA prepares for media around the WCPFC meetings.

PNA Headlines

HEADLINE 1: CONSUMER PRESSURE FOR SUSTAINABLE FISHING SUPPORTS PNA

THE ECOLOGIST

Experts hail world's first sustainable industrial fishery for tuna

http://www.theecologist.org/News/news_analysis/978279/experts_hail_worlds_first_sustainable_industrial_fishery_for_tuna.html 

ISLANDS BUSINESS

Our tuna have many friends

http://www.islandsbusiness.com/islands_business/index_dynamic/containerNameToReplace=MiddleMiddle/focusModuleID=19797/overideSkinName=issueArticle-full.tpl

GRIST

Four dirty secrets hiding in your tuna can

http://www.grist.org/sustainable-farming/2011-08-19-four-dirty-secrets-hiding-in-your-tuna-can

 

AUSTRALIA NETWORK

FEATURE: New interest for old-fashioned fishing

http://abcasiapacificnews.com/stories/201108/3282661.htm

 

HEADLINE 2: PNA MINISTERS MAKE KEY DECISIONS 

RADIO NEW ZEALAND INTERNATIONAL

Parties to Nauru Agreement pay tribute to Tuvalu minister who passed away

http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=62080

 

RADIO NEW ZEALAND INTERNATIONAL

PNA countries say US has to pay more to fish for tuna in the Pacific

http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=62083

 

AMERICAN ALBACORE

PNA sets higher minimum price levels for tuna fishing days

http://www.americanalbacore.com/pna-sets-higher-minimum-price-levels-for-tuna-fishing-days

 

RADIO NEW ZEALAND INTERNATIONAL

PNA says trading of fishing days shows tuna catch restrictions are working

http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=62140

 

RADIO NEW ZEALAND INTERNATIONAL

Micronesia benefits from PNA

http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=62275

 

HEADLINE 3: PNA GIVES STRONG MESSAGE FOR INDUSTRY AT PACIFIC TUNA FORUM

 

PAC NEWS

Shape up or ship out, PNA warns industry

http://www.pina.com.fj/index.php?p=pacnews&m=read&o=8382187154e6858f4c5cabc9c720c5

 

FOOD NEWS

PNA lays down the law on fishing

http://www.agra-net.com/portal2/home.jsp?template=newsarticle&artid=20017902378&pubid=ag005

 

SOLOMON TIMES

Shape up or ship out PNA tells industry

http://solomontimes.com/news.aspx?nwID=6429

 

RADIO NEW ZEALAND INTERNATIONAL

Shape up or ship out - PNA boss

http://www.rnzi.com/pages/news.php?op=read&id=62981

 

ISLANDS BUSINESS

Pacific Islanders must get a fair share from tuna

http://www.islandsbusiness.com/news/index_dynamic/containerNameToReplace=MiddleMiddle/focusModuleID=130/focusContentID=25456/tableName=mediaRelease/overideSkinName=newsArticle-full.tpl

 

RADIO AUSTRALIA

PNA warns outside fishing nations to comply

http://www.radioaustralia.net.au/pacbeat/stories/201109/s3316420.htm

 

ISLANDS ASIA BUSINESS

Pacific needs recognition for improved tuna management

http://islandsasiabusiness.wordpress.com/2011/09/07/pacific-needs-recognition-for-improved-tuna-management/ 

PNA Commercial Activities

This quarter has seen ongoing work and the various aspects coming together.

This year's Fish Aggregating Device (FAD) closure has seen unseasonal, reduced catches and strong currents reported through the eastern areas of PNA, with some boats opting not to use their VDS days, instead staying in port to conserve days.  With growing scarcity of VDS days, VDS day values are steadily increasing. In July, PNA Ministers endorsed the  $5,000/day bench mark for foreign access for 2012 which is actually lower than today’s typical reference for trading scarce days which is $6,000/day and daily rates are expected to rise further. Clearly, VDS is working to deliver greater economic benefits to the PNA countries. This time last year $3,000/day was considered very high. 

Domestic Federated States of Micronesia Arrangement (FSMA) boats were credited  non fishing days per vessel in August and will now compete for additional bilateral days or fishing at home if allocated days are too few for the remaining months.

Today, skipjack 4 pounds and above are trading at a new record of $2,050/mt landed Bangkok, and prices are likely to be sustained until towards the end of the year, where traditionally prices dip. (See Figure 3 attached below).

MSC assessment for free school skipjack tuna, has been completed.  Objections to the report were considered, and the amended draft report was submitted by Moody Marine to MSC. This was accepted and the draft published by MSC.

ISSF and EU commercial interests (OPAGAC and EUROTHON) have continued to oppose the certification and it now looks that the matter will go for full adjudication. The I-NGO community especially WWF, Greenpeace, PEW have  been very supportive, in fact there has been no objections from the NGO community, only support .  SPC, FFA,  PNA, WCPFC Secretariat, plus many industry groups (many of whom are  ISSF members) have continued to support the PNA/MSC initiative. 

Mr. Mike Lodge has been appointed Adjudicator, and it is understood  the required fees of GBP 5,000 has been paid  to have their objections formally heard.  It is disappointing that commercial interests of a few can be allowed to act this way to try to discredit regional institutions and governance in order to defer MSC certification, driven by their commercial interests in our tuna.

Meanwhile, PNA has massive global support from traders. The Europe and Australia/NZ Pacifical marketing trips are completed, about 85,000mt of commitments to order MSC tunas, under Pacifical co-branding in place and in some instances, other negotiations are ongoing. European companies have requested trade samples and all have all been provided and accepted by the customers, so Pacifical is now pending MSC certification to supply.

This is all new trade for PNA processors, not all needs to be EU eligible product, so can be sourced from PNA regions vessels and facilities without EU accreditation, and this includes also new product forms; can sizes, food service packs, and pouches, as well as sauce packed products, for various market segments. Some of these products are currently unavailable in existing PNA processing plants so may need to be initially supplied from associated plants. 

PNA can also benefit from growing demand for free school [non MSC] skipjack and yellowfin besides MSC certified chain of custody [COC] products.  The key COC work for MSC free school tunas is ongoing, the draft study is complete, manuals are developed, data base provisions are in place and the first batch of 16 observers are trained. Commercial trials will be starting in early October. This will provide the only certified traceability of tuna from net to processor in anticipation of MSC certification.

Media and NGO community have continued to strongly support PNA and these initiatives.

In support of Pacifical /MSC branded products, the Pacifical web site  www.pacifical.com  has been launched with links to www.pnatuna.com  and pages such as  PNA news, About Pacifical, The right  tuna, Peoples, Contacts and more.  The site also offers 2 monthly newsletters published with a registered circulation of over 700.

The site includes Facebook and YouTube linkages, and includes 4 supporting Pacifical video clips and interviews filmed earlier in the year in the PNA countries.

Commercially, the PNA PACIFICAL in house trading data base for tracing orders, samples and commercial documentation is up and running.

In Samoa in July , PNA Ministers also launched WORLD TUNA DAY to be celebrated 2nd May each year.

The previous quarter started with PNA/China investment mission lead by Sylvester Pokajam, PNA Chairman, which visited Dalian, Zhoushang, Ningbo, and Shanghai, with extensive consultations with Chinese industry in each port and round table meetings with Industry and government officials.

In September, Palau hosted the 3rd INFO-PACIFIC TUNA 2 day conference, with support from PNG’s NFA which hosted the 1st and 2nd conferences.  The successful forum had about 200 participants from Pacific and Asian industry and the region. The PNA commercial manager gave the keynote address, with presentations also given by the PNA Director and PNG’s National Fisheries Authority. The 2013 conference is proposed to be held in Honiara, Solomon Islands.