Tokelau takes action to protect its most valuable resource

MEDIA RELEASE

Tokelau government takes action to protect its most valuable resource

Tokelau earns over $5 million per year from fishing activities in Tokelau's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). This is more than 5 times what Tokelau was earning just 3 years ago, and is the result of a very successful working partnership with New Zealand to improve the management of Tokelau’s EEZ fisheries.

However, the Government of Tokelau's concerned that this successful management of its most economically valuable natural resource could be undermined by illegal fishing.The protection of one of its only sustainable revenue sources is critical to the future of Tokelau.

Recently Tokelau has been working in partnership with New Zealand to increase the penalties for illegal fishing in Tokelau’s EEZ. The current penalties were set over 35 years ago and no longer provide an effective deterrent to illegal fishing.

New Zealand and Tokelau are working together to ensure that Tokelau's concerns over the penalties clause are satisfactorily addressed. It is hoped that the new more stringent penalty regime will be in place before the end of 2013.

To better manage the risks of illegal fishing in its EEZ, Tokelau is also working collaboratively with other Pacific Island Countries. Under the Niue Treaty and the TeVaka Toa arrangement Tokelau works with other Pacific Island Countries on fisheries law enforcement activities.

Tokelau shares a state of the art satellite-based Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) with other Pacific Island Countries and works closely with NZ Defence Forces in aerial and surface surveillance activities. Tokelau’s vessel monitoring and surveillance activities are coordinated out of the Department of Economic Development, Natural Resources and Environments’fisheries division office on Fakaofo.

ENDS

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