1. NEARSHORE FISHERIES DEVELOPMENT SECTION 2012 HIGHLIGHTS & PLANS FOR 2013

2. OBJECTIVE: To develop sustainable nearshore fisheries in PICTs to provide food security, livelihoods (and), economic growth and climate change adaptation

3. THE SECTION: 5 professional staff, 1 project assistant
2012 budget > USD 500,000
NFDS provides assistance in:
- fishing technology including FADs, sport fishing, fisheries diversification
- seafood export facilitation
- fishermen’s associations
- fisheries economics

4. ONGOING PARTNERSHIPS WITH:
IFREMER (FADs, fish waste utilization)
FAO (International Guidelines for SSF)
FFA and EU (DevFish-2 project)
AusAID (seafood exports – Fish for Food Security project)
NZAID (5-year Pacific Fisheries Training Programme)
JICA (FAD training)
GIZ (CC adaptation and FAD projects)
SPTO (sport fishing development)
SPC/OFP (artisanal tuna fisheries data)
SPC/CFP (economic assessments, fisheries diversification)

5. Fishing technology: 2012 highlight
Exploratory fishing for diamond-back squid in New Caledonia
Project received support from Okinawa & New Caledonia Fisheries Department
Untapped commercial resource found – 2 species
Potential for coastal fisheries diversification with local marketing

6. Fishing technology : 2012 key inputs
FAD work in Kosrea (FSM), Cook Islands, American Samoa, Vanuatu and Kiribati
Training of sport fishing guides in Niue and New Caledonia
Pilot fisheries diversification project (small pelagics) in Marshall Isds
FAO/SPC regional workshop on SSF
Regional workshop on fish waste utilization

7. Fishing technology : 2013 plans
Nearshore FAD projects with data collection in American Samoa, Palau, Yap (FSM)
Fisheries diversification project (bagan) in Kavieng (PNG)
Sport-fishing tourism development (Palau? Yap?)
DVD on fish handling in sport fishing (catch-and-release)
Training in sashimi-grade tuna handling in Tarawa (Kiribati)
SFO course in Christmas Island (Kiribati)
Fisheries education project in Cook Islands

8. Seafood export facilitation: 2012 highlight
Evaluation of Competent Authorities in Fiji and Solomon Isds
Done in collaboration with FFA (DevFish-2)
To ensure compliance with EU importing requirements
Shortcomings found, ongoing work by SPC/FFA to rectify those

9. Seafood export facilitation : 2012 key inputs
Regional Fish Inspectors training course (4 weeks, NZ)
HACCP courses for CA and private sector in Fiji and Solomon Islands
Technical assistance and training to private sector:
Tripacific in Fiji – tuna pouch exports to AUS and NZ (Canada, EU)
International Food Corporation in PNG – tuna cans to EU
South Seas Investments in SOL – sashimi tuna to Japan
Regional workshop on EU’s TRACES system

10. Seafood export facilitation : 2013 plans
Regional thermal process training – 3 phases – for CAs and private sector (with FFA)
Onsite thermal process assistance to companies and CAs in Fiji, Solomon Islands, PNG, Marshall Islands
Pre-EU audit of the PNG CA (with FFA)
2nd Regional Fish Inspectors course for CAs and private sector
2 more HACCP courses

11. Fishermen’s associations: 2012 highlight
Small Fishing Operations (SFO) course for Tarawa associations
Training conducted in collaboration with Kiribati Fisheries and PNG’s National Fisheries College
Course covered safe vessel operations, fishing techniques and fish handling
Provides Tarawa fishers with access to export markets via KFL

12. Fishermen’s associations : 2012 key inputs
Study of sustainability options for fishermen’s associations, results discussed at regional workshop (Auckland, November)
Follow-up support to PITIA and national associations based on study’s recommendations
Inputs into PNA’s purse-seine crewing strategy

13. Fishermen’s associations : 2013 plans
Strengthening of Palau Fishing Association (PFA) – sustainability options and startegic plan
Testing mobile phone technology for small boat safety
Feasibility study of alternative power sources for fisheries centers in atoll countries
FAD training in Timor Leste

14. Fisheries economics: 2012 highlight
“Financial management training for fisheries officers”
Vessel economics, aquaculture economics, project management, business management & marketing
National courses in Fiji and Solomon Islands
Regional courses in New Zealand and Vanuatu
Fiji course participants at local tilapia and carp farm Solomon Islands course participants

15. Fisheries economics: 2012 key inputs
Economic inputs in sub-regional study on management of sea cucumber fisheries and bêche-de-mer trade
Data collection systems developed for cost-benefit analysis of FAD programmes and sport fishing tourism
Economic analysis of development proposals for Tokelau’s nearshore fisheries and Samoa’s aquarium trade

16. Fisheries economics: 2013 plans
FAD monitoring programs established in American Samoa, Palau and FSM (Yap)
Tourist surveys implemented in Niue and Cook Islands
Financial management training in Tuvalu, Fiji (phase 2) and 2 regional courses
Economic inputs into Aquaculture Section’s project ‘Improving Community-based Aquaculture in Fiji, Kiribati, Samoa and Vanuatu’
Collaboration with PNG National Fisheries College on economic aspects of Kavieng processing facility and cobia aquaculture

17. Publications