Tonga Fisheries

Japan's commitment to Tongan fisheries sector

Japanese Ambassador Kensaku Munenaga and Prime Minister Hu'akavameiliku Siaosi Sovaleni signed a contract last week.

The Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai Disaster Recovery and Resilience Building Plan 2022-2025, announced by the Prime Minister on March 8, stated that the fisheries industry is suffering from considerable damages by the tsunami.

Sovaleni said many fishing boats were destroyed and lost in the January volcanic eruption and tsunami, as was relating equipment and facilities, costing millions.

SMA program shows positive results in Tonga

 Latu ‘Aisea says, the SMA area in ‘O’ua, Ha’apai, shows healthier reefs, marine and sea organisms when compared to the past. 

The aim of the program is to stop illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and to help raise local income.

 The town officers and locals are in charge of looking after their SMA.

 More than 10 villages are involved in the program and are benefiting from it.

Renewed focus on Tonga’s fisheries

The aim of the changes was to create a renewed focus on fisheries, to increase exports, to help combat the problems in Tonga of non-communicable diseases like diabetes.

The focus was also to promote more fish in diets, and to increase the benefits from fisheries management to all Tongans.

Ministry's new CEO Dr Tuikolongahau Halafihi says the renewed focus on fisheries resources as a national priority has already started to see rewards from this new focus.