Ministry of Fisheries

The boat engines are worth about $900,000 Tongan Paanga in total.

 Statement said the engines were presented to a number of people, churches, organizations and communities.”

“This will facilitate Tonga’s development in improving people’s livelihoods and enable achieving Government Priority Goals. This will also further enhance the relationship between the Tonga and China.”

The ministry is focused on mapping out plans for a way forward as the project will end in June.

The first meeting for the NIWA project for 2021 was held virtually on 9 February 2021 at the Ministry of Fisheries.

The NIWA Project is funded by the New Zealand Government, aiming for the management and development of the Deepwater snapper fisheries.

The CEO for Fisheries, Dr. Tu’ikolongahau Halafihi highlighted the importance to implement all planned activities before the end of this project.

The results have been confirmed by the Special Management Area Report 2020 that was compiled by Ministry of Fisheries in partnership with Australia’s James Cook University.

The research was conducted over four years.

The report looked at the effectiveness of Special Management Areas (SMAs) programmes managed by communities, which aims to revive the health and status of coastal fisheries resources in Tonga.

Reefs were surveyed at over 350 sites throughout 49 SMAs across Tongatapu, Ha’apai, and Vava’u, from 2016 to 2019.