Virus threatening sector

The National Business

DEALING with the immediate impacts of the Covid-19 and the longer term threats of climate change on offshore fisheries are key areas to address in the Pacific, Fiji’s fisheries, minister Semi Koroilavesau says.
He told the Forum Fisheries Committee Ministerial (FFCM) meeting last week that getting the industry, which was a key contributor to local economies, food security and livelihoods, back on its feet was an important issue for the Pacific.
“We want to see all of our people back out there, earning their livelihoods and being able to take care of their families, but, even more crucially we must ensure their health and safety is protected from the Covid-19,” he said.
“We have seen some really unfortunate situations in other oceans with fleets having to tie up as crew members become infected with the Covid-19.
“We want to avoid that outcome in the Pacific so there is an urgent need for seafarers, fishing crew and observers to be prioritised as frontline workers.”
Koroilavesau said there was a lot at stake.
“Vaccinations are an important first step in getting people back to work.”
Some of the outcomes endorsed by the ministers to secure the future of the oceanic Pacific fishery included:

  • STRONG endorsement of the work to place the impact of climate change on Pacific fisheries firmly on the agenda for the Pacific’s input into United Nations (UN) Convention of Parties later this year;
  • SUPPORTING the notion that all governments, including flag states operating fishing vessels in the region, should prioritise the vaccination of observers, fishing crew and seafarers; and,
  • HIGHLIGHTING the importance of protecting the human rights of crew on fishing vessels and ensuring that crew have fair and decent labour conditions, supporting the development of a binding measure in the Western and Central Pacific

Fisheries Commission on labour standards for crew.
Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) director general Dr Manu Tupou-Roosen thanked the ministers for their leadership, and support for the work of the FFA secretariat, particularly since the onset of the pandemic.
The meeting was attended by ministers representing Australia, the Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Republic of the Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, PNG, the Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tokelau, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.