Training helps Licensing Officers use legal and FFA tools

HONIARA, SOLOMON ISLANDS 7-10 FEBRUARY 2011: Fisheries Licensing
Officers from 14 member countries of the Pacific Islands Forum
Fisheries Agency (FFA) have now completed the Fisheries Licensing
Officer’s Workshop (FLOW), where they learned more about key legal and
monitoring tools to control fishing.

A total of 20 participants from Cook Islands, Federated States of
Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Palau, Papua New
Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu
attended as well as staff from FFA, the Secretariat of the Pacific
Community (SPC) and the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries
Commission (WCPFC).

The workshop outlined the role of licensing and its importance to
fisheries management and controlling illegal fishing. The program
included a broad range of sessions designed to ensure licensing
officers have a thorough understanding of the various legal
arrangements applicable to their work, such as the Western and Central
Pacific Fisheries Commission measures, Parties to the Nauru Agreement
Implementing Arrangements and the US Treaty. In addition,
presentations on key FFA Monitoring, Control and Surveillance (MCS)
tools such as the Vessel Monitoring System, the Regional Fisheries
Surveillance Coordination Centre and the newly implemented Regional
Monitoring, Control and Surveillance Strategy were provided.

Funding for the training was made available by the Japanese Government
through the Japan Promotion Fund.

Explaining the significance of the training, FFA Fisheries Operations
Director Mark Young said: “Generally Licensing Officers perceive their
major role as national revenue generators, and fisheries monitoring,
control and surveillance is regarded as a separate role involving
other people like inspectors. But the role of licensing officers is an
important part of fisheries monitoring, control and surveillance too.”

Addressing the licensing officers, Young said: “You do have a
responsibility to your country and our region, and I challenge you to
address that responsibility in a meaningful and most appropriate
manner. The Role of Licensing Officers is an essential link not only
at the national fisheries level, but at the sub-regional, regional and
international levels. They are considered to be a vital conduit with
all stakeholders within national agencies, fishing industries and
policy makers, ensuring a timely dissemination of licensing
information to respective national and regional enforcement agencies.”

This was the 5th FLOW, the last one being held in 2008.

ENDS

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