Background

The Pacific Fisheries for Food Security Program is being funded from the Australian aid program in recognition of the importance of fisheries to food security and rural development in the Pacific.

A range of activities in support of food security are already in progress by SPC’s Division of Fisheries Aquaculture and Marine Ecosystems (FAME). This Pacific Fisheries for Food Security Program (the Program) however, addresses a number of gaps and priorities, aligned to the Division’s approved Strategic Plan and identified in consultation with member countries and territories and the Australian aid program. The Program has been developed in the context of recent regional commitments, studies and lessons learnt in Pacific fisheries and food security – including the recent FFA/SPC Report on “The Future of Pacific Fisheries” (April 2010) and the Draft “Towards a Food Secure Pacific: Framework for Action on Food Security 2011-2015".

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Objective

The objective of this program is to improve food security in the Pacific region by lifting fisheries productivity, improving rural livelihoods and building community resilience from the sustainable management of fisheries.

Australia’s support of this program aligns to SPC’s and the Australian aid program’s broader goals for fisheries related assistance in the Pacific region:

 

• FAME’s goal: “in line with the priorities of member countries and territories: the fisheries resources of the Pacific Islands region are sustainably managed for economic growth, food security and environmental conservation.” (Division’s Strategic Plan, 2013-16).
• The Australian aid program’s aim: “To assist Pacific Island countries to increase the contribution of fisheries to reducing poverty and achieving sustainable development.” (Valuing Pacific Fish: A Framework for Fisheries Related Development Assistance in the Pacific, 2007).
• Contribute to sustainable economic development in the Pacific, which includes improving food security; improving incomes, employment and enterprise opportunities; and reducing the negative impacts of climate change and other environmental factors.
• Contribute to increased productivity for poor households from sustainable fisheries; increased food produced from sustainable fisheries; increase in net income of poor women and men from sustainable fisheries; creation of jobs for poor women and men from sustainable fisheries.

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Tasks

Part 1 of the Program includes the following four components:

1. Scientific advice for the development of Oceanic Fishery Management Measures;
2. Management and development of export fisheries for aquarium fish;
3. Development of mariculture (saltwater aquaculture) opportunities; and
4. Assistance to meet export requirements for marine products.

Part 2 of the Program includes the following three components:

1. Enhance national tuna fishery monitoring and data management with emphasis on artisanal and subsistence fisheries;
2. Support the development of inland aquaculture, particularly in Melanesia; and
3. Improve the management of deepwater snapper resources in Pacific island countries.

SPC shall keep SPC member countries and territories and the Australian aid program informed of the proposed countries of focus for the above Components of the Program, including through annual reporting to SPC’s management and through SPC’s Joint Country Strategies.

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