PALIKIR, Pohnpei, September 17, 2024—The Vice President of the Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), the Honorable Aren B. Palik, officially opened the 19th Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA) Ministerial Meeting held on September 17th, 2024 at the College of Micronesia-FSM Gym. The gathering brought together ministers and distinguished delegates from across the region, committed to advancing sustainable tuna fisheries management in the Western and Central Pacific Ocean.
In his opening remarks, Vice President Palik underscored the importance of maintaining unity among PNA members, stating, “Your individual and collective dedication has been essential to ensuring that PNA remains a force for good and a global leader in the sustainable management of tuna fisheries.”
Vice President Palik praised the ministers for their enduring commitment to the Vessel Day Scheme (VDS), which has become the cornerstone of PNA’s fisheries management efforts. “Despite continuous challenges and opposition, particularly to our VDS, it has remained the centerpiece of PNA’s management measures of the skipjack tuna fishery. This scheme has not only redefined the value of our fisheries but has also shifted the balance of power to us as resource owners.”
In a significant announcement, Vice President Palik shared that Vanuatu will soon join the VDS management framework, following in the footsteps of Tokelau. “This expansion of participation underscores the growing recognition of the VDS as a vital tool for sustainable fisheries management, reinforcing its significance across the region,” he added.
Highlighting another milestone, Vice President Palik revealed that FIMS Inc., the entity managing the Fisheries Information Management System for the VDS, is now debt-free. “The loan that was used to finance its acquisition was fully repaid this year. This is a significant achievement, and I extend a well-deserved congratulations to FIMS, the PNA Office Staff, and the honorable Ministers and Shareholders for a job well done.”
However, Vice President Palik also issued a cautionary note, urging PNA members to remain vigilant in their efforts to protect the integrity of the FSM Arrangement (FSMA). “While we have seen significant success with the VDS, nearly quadrupling our financial returns from the tuna fisheries, we must guard against complacency,” he stated. “It is critical that we ensure our individual pursuits do not undermine our collective arrangements.”
The Vice President highlighted the FSM’s commitment to advancing Electronic Monitoring (EM) systems, calling it a “transformative solution” for improving fisheries transparency and sustainability. He urged the PNA members to develop EM systems collectively, stating, “By integrating EM systems onboard fishing vessels, we expect to improve data collection, ensure adherence to regulations, and strengthen efforts to combat Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing.”
Vice President Palik also warned of the growing threat climate change poses to regional fisheries, particularly the redistribution of tuna stocks toward the high seas, favoring distant-water fishing nations. “In response, it is imperative that we act decisively and creatively to secure our rightful allocations of tuna resources in these international waters,” he emphasized.
In closing, Vice President Palik reaffirmed FSM’s unwavering support for PNA’s collective efforts to manage and control tuna fisheries. “Our strength lies in our unity, and with the commitment and solidarity that has brought us this far, I am confident that together, we will continue to ensure the sustainable and prosperous management of our precious ocean resources.”
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