Civil Society Organisations (CSO) Roundtable on Pacific Tuna Fisheries

A Civil Society Organisations (CSO) roundtable on Pacific tuna fisheries was convened in Suva from 29^th to 30^th November. The forum, co- hosted by World Wildlife Fund Pacific and Pacific Island Association for NGOs met to discuss issues relevant to the management of Pacific tuna resources by the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC). Representatives from government agencies, regional organisations, the private sector, faith-based organisations, and the diplomatic corps also participated.

The workshop aimed to improve levels of awareness and understanding by Pacific CSOs on the current environmental, economic, and social issues related to policy and institutional arrangements for managing Pacific tuna fisheries; provide opportunities for open dialogue and share experiences on social, economic and environmental issues associated with tuna fisheries at national level; and identify challenges that CSOs face in engaging with the tuna fisheries sector.

Pacific tuna stocks represent a critical global protein and food security resource and a substantial contributor to the economies of Pacific Small Island Developing States (PSIDS). At the meeting, delegates identified areas of concern that require immediate action to reduce overexploitation of these national and regional resources and ensure that the safety and basic human rights of fishing industry workers are adequately met.