BY JOHN HOUANIHAU
Government revenues from licensing and access fees remain strong at around US$500 million annually funding vital services such as education and health.
Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) Director General Noan Pakop stressed this during a 54th PIF dialogue on Tuesday, September 9, 2025 in Honiara.
He shared a video showcasing the tangible economic and social impacts of tuna fisheries.
Pakop said that Member fleets now capture 61 percent of the catch value within Pacific waters, compared with 38 percent a decade ago.
He mentioned that regional tuna processing has nearly doubled since 2015, reaching 286,000 metric tonnes.
“More than 26,000 Pacific Islanders are employed in the region’s tuna industries, a 19 percent increase since 2015, while government revenues from licensing and access fees remain strong at around US$500 million annually – funding vital services such as education and health,” he said.
Pakop highlighted several key developments that reflect the strength of Pacific-driven solutions which includes:
- The endorsement of the East New Britain Initiative (ENBi), opening new opportunities for investment and value-adding in the tuna sector.
- Agreement on a proportional allocation framework for South Pacific albacore, a milestone reached after nearly two decades of discussions, setting the stage for a unified regional position at the upcoming Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) meeting.
- Continued progress under the US Treaty on Fisheries. The new arrangement secures US$60 million annually for 10 years, nearly tripling the previous level of economic assistance. He confirmed that the delayed 2024 payment has now been received by the FFA Secretariat and distributed, paving the way for the 2025 contribution.
- The adoption of the Ocean Literacy Initiative by Fisheries Ministers at the 24th Forum Fisheries Committee ministerial meeting in Niue in July, integrates Pacific traditional knowledge into national education systems, to strengthen cultural and environmental understanding for future generations.
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