Pacific Leaders taking steps in addressing Climate change and food security

The Pacific Regional Fisheries Ministers are taking steps in addressing regional priorities for coastal fisheries, aquaculture, and marine sectors.

       Malaita Outer Islands| Photo SIBC News

This came after last week’s virtual meeting where the Ministers endorsed the Pacific Framework for Action on Scaling-up Community-Based Fisheries Management (CBFM). 

During the meeting, the Ministers identified Food security, climate financing, and community-based fisheries as key concerns for the Pacific region.

The Ministers also tasked fisheries officials to work with national climate change focal points to have greater access to climate financing and to increase advocacy on fisheries as a key issue to be considered in the climate change and oceans Pacific priority area.

The Ministers encouraged the Pacific Islands Forum to closely consult fisheries ministries and related regional agencies as work on the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent is progressing.

“Today is a call for concerted action, particularly on some issues that have historically been addressed in isolation,” Fiji Minister for Fisheries, Semi Koroilavesau observed as he addressed the Pacific Regional Fisheries Ministers Meeting (RFMM) as its new chair.

“I am hopeful that we can bridge the gaps and ensure that our decisions are holistic in nature, and are beneficial to our people. Cooperation and a coordinated approach are important. Our people expect us to make traction with some of these key issues because they affect livelihoods, economies, and the sustainability of our resources.

“We are stronger together, and as a nation, we can overcome all obstacles if we keep harnessing our collective strengths.” 

Meanwhile, the New Zealand government announced its support of a five-year, 14-million New Zealand dollars funding package to support Pacific Community (SPC) programs for improving food security, livelihoods, economic and environmental resilience in the Pacific.

The New Zealand Minister for Pacific Peoples and Minister for Courts, Aupito William Sio said, the coastal fisheries resources have been under increasing pressure as a result of climate change, pollution.

“We note that the coastal fisheries resources have been under increasing pressure as a result of climate change, pollution, and, as noted at last year’s Regional Fisheries Ministers Meeting, the impacts of COVID-19. The new project will build on the significant progress made over the last five years in developing and implementing relevant legal and policy frameworks, setting biosecurity standards, and providing business and technical training for aquaculture enterprises,” Mr. Sio said. 

The 19 members of the RFMM are Australia, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu.

The Fisheries Ministers report to Forum Leaders under the Standing Item on Fisheries including on progress against the Regional Roadmap for Sustainable Fisheries and providing advice and recommendations on fisheries issues requiring Leaders’ attention. 

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