There is only one local businessman with fishing boats in Tonga mainly due to high cost of operations.
That challenge, as well as the lack of proper educated fishing crews, the limited amount of tuna stock as an impact of Climate Change and other related issues was raised by Chief Executive Officer of Tonga’s Ministry of Fisheries Dr Tu’ikolongahau Halafihi during an interview with Radio Tonga at the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission’s 15th (WCPFC) Convention in Honolulu this week.
‘The albacore fishery is a lifeline for our people,’ Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) Director General Dr. Manumatavai Tupou-Roosen told Pacific Editors in Honolulu.
The adoption of Target Reference Point (TRP) – an ideal catch-level from which all rules in the fishery flow – is critical as a starting point to address issues such as those raised by Tu’ikolongahau, Manumatavai said.
The TRP is a first step on a long journey for FFA members including Tonga as they work to develop a harvest strategy for the albacore tuna fishery with fishing partners Manumatavai said.
The FFA is hoping the adoption of the Target Reference Point for albacore will lead to a harvest strategy and harvest rules which would make the industry in Tonga and other small island states economically viable, despite the high operating costs or the low fish prices.
The FFA Director General explained that even in those low troughs, or low peaks, the local industry must still we are able to make profit. That is why a Target Reference Point is a high priority when going to the Commission meeting.
Manumatavai emphasized that the number of foreign vessels coming into our waters is part of a partnership with those who fish in our waters. Countries exercise their sovereignty to decide the number of foreign vessels it would be possible for them to allow and at the same time balance that with protecting and building of our domestic fleets.
Other key priorities for FFA at the Tuna Commission include a commitment for to adoption a new measure on the Compliance Monitoring Scheme.
Manumatavai said her key concern with this measure is to ensure that it is efficient, effective and delivering on its purpose and that it produces fair outcomes and helps to improve compliance. She wants a Compliance monitoring Scheme that unites us rather than divides us.
High Cost of Tuna does not support health promotion
The high cost of tuna for people shopping at local markets is also a key concern for the FFA.
Director General said it is FFA’s strategic plan as in its two goals. It is not just the maximization of economic benefits but also how to maximize on social benefits and food security which is top on its list. She said FFA is doing what it can do to ensure that they can address the issue.
Manumatavai praised Tonga’s initiatives to ensure that a certain percentage fish caught by locally-based foreign vessels is landed in Tonga and sold at the local market with a reasonable price.
She said it does not make sense to any of the FFA members that its fresh fish from its own waters is more expensive then imported fish from abroad.