Over two decades, collaborative governance, technological innovation, and community-led initiatives have safeguarded the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (WCPO), home to 60% of the world’s tuna, while boosting economic resilience.
“Here in the Pacific, we not only value tuna as an important species, but we recognise it as an integral part of our livelihoods,” says FFA Director General Noan Pakop.
“In fact, tuna is a pillar of our identity, a driver of our economies, and a cornerstone of our food systems. Our tuna stocks – skipjack, yellowfin, bigeye, and South Pacific albacore – remain amongst the healthiest in the world. This success reflects the strong cooperation across our region and with our global partners,” he adds.
An upcoming report, Pacific Power: A 20-Year Journey to Transform Tuna Fisheries, sees the Oceanic Fisheries Management Project (OFMP) delving into the key lessons learned from two decades of intensive work to foster sustainable tuna fisheries in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean. OFMP was started in 2005, with the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA), where its work continues 20 years later.
The FFA’s work in this space has been made possible through close collaboration with its Member Governments, regional Partners - including the Pacific Community (SPC), the Parties to the Nauru Agreement Office (PNAO), and World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), and with support from the GEF, implemented through UNDP.