Pacific Island Tuna Industry Association announces its readiness to work with regional governments

The Pacific Island Tuna Industry Association (PITIA) announces that it is organised and ready to engage with Pacific Island governments and other stakeholders to effectively address the major issues that increasingly affect the Pacific Islands industry.

Established in 2004, the Pacific Islands Tuna Industry Association, PITIA, is comprised of the national commercial export tuna associations and operators in the fourteen Forum Island Countries.

At its annual general meeting held in Wellington, New Zealand, 26-27 May 2007 facilitated by GEF and DevFish, the Association discussed priority issues and developed plans of action for tuna conservation and management, fisheries trade, regional and national governance and industry profitability.

“We are faced with daunting problems that affect the viable future of our industry and the ongoing meaningful participation by the Pacific Islands people”, said PITIA Chairman, Mr James Movick.

PITIA members expressed their concern that the true value of the Pacific tuna resource is not being fully realized by the Pacific Island countries through the maximization of employment and economic opportunities.

PITIA can play a positive and proactive role to assist governments in the development of the tuna resources. In recognition of the important role of industry as a key partner in the development of the fishery and fisheries policy, the Managing Director of the Papua New Guinea National Fisheries Authority, Mr Sylvester Pokajam, donated USD$20,000 to PITIA in support of regional industry participation initiatives.

The Pacific Islands commercial tuna industry has a vast pool of experience and expertise that should complement government efforts to secure these broader benefits for their national economies.

Meanwhile, Government recognises the important role of commercial industry in regional tuna industry development

“The domestically based tuna fisheries Industry plays a crucial role in partnering with governments to bring about meaningful national tuna fisheries development in the Pacific Islands”.

That is the message that Acting Executive Director of the Papua New Guinea National Fisheries Authority, Mr Sylvester Pokajam, delivered to Pacific Islands tuna industry representatives gathered in Wellington on May 26-27, for the annual general meeting of the Pacific Islands Tuna Industry Association (PITIA).

Mr Pokajam told PITIA members that the recent success in PNG’s tuna industry development is largely due to the proactive and cooperative role that the PNG tuna industry plays in partnership with the PNG Government and he pledged a contribution of USD $20,000 from the Authority to PITIA to enable more of its members to attend regional tuna fisheries related meetings where they can make an effective impact.

The PNG National Fisheries Authority is the country’s principal governmental fisheries management authority and has been credited with shepherding the fastest growing tuna industry development in the Pacific islands region.

Mr Pokajam said he was grateful for the role played by the PNG tuna industry and he was confident that PITIA could play a similarly significant role to facilitate greater industry involvement with other Island governments.

PITIA Chairman, Mr James Movick, assured Mr Pokajam that PITIA members are committed to engage proactively with Pacific Island governments and other stakeholders to establish more suitable tuna industry development strategies in the region.

He said that PITIA members were most committed to assist Island governments to realize the full true value of the Pacific tuna resource through the maximization of employment and economic opportunities.

Source: Islands Business