Forum Fisheries Agency finalises major study on trade aspects of the Pacific tuna industry

A major study on trade related aspects of the tuna industry and their impact on Pacific Island countries has just been completed by the Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) based in Honiara.

The study called Pacific Islands countries, the global tuna industry and the international trade regime – a guidebook commissioned by FFA had been designed as a reference book for fisheries officers, trade officers and tuna industry operators in FFA member countries.

Fisheries adviser to FFA Secretariat Amanda Hamilton revealed this to journalists from around the Pacific attending a workshop ‘Business and Economics Journalism’, a preceding event to the 4th Biannual PINA Convention which officially began last Thursday and ended on Saturday in the Solomon Islands.

Ms Hamilton said it was important for FFA to regulate fisheries development for its member countries and take extra precautions in ensuring that communities in the region benefit from the ocean resources.

The guidebook will help fisheries and trade officers and also tuna industry operators and their respective governments to better understand the rules and requirements of international and regional trade agreements. It also provided policy options to ensure member countries were in well-informed positions to accommodate trade rules that have potentially adverse impacts on their fishery sector.

Ms Hamilton was the project manager of the study which was conducted by consultants, Liam Campling of the University of London, Elizabeth Havice of the University of California and Vina Ram Bidesi of the University of the South Pacific. It was edited by Roman Grynberg.

Source: PNG National