Pacific Celebrates The Voices Of Women In Fisheries At The Fisheries Ministers Meeting In Niue

Women working behind the scenes across the Pacific fisheries sector were celebrated in Niue last night, as the latest edition of Moana Voices was honoured during the opening ceremony of the 24th Forum Fisheries Committee Ministerial Meeting (FFCMin24).

The celebration, hosted by the Government of Niue, formed the second part of the official opening ceremony, shone a light on Pacific women whose critical contributions in fisheries often go unseen. From compliance officers to inspectors to processors and policy leaders, their stories took centre stage.

The celebration was attended by regional Fisheries Ministers, representatives from Australia and New Zealand, CROP agencies including The Pacific Community (SPC) and the University of the South Pacific (USP), and local dignitaries. Traditional dances and singing provided a fitting Pacific backdrop as leaders and guests honoured the women whose stories too often go unheard.

Incoming Chair of the Forum Fisheries Committee and Niue’s Minister for Natural Resources, Hon. Mona Ainu’u, said, “It’s such a joy to celebrate not just a magazine, but the voices of Pacific women whose hands and hearts sustain our fisheries sector. Behind every vessel, every tuna shipment, every policy decision, there are women – working in factories, inspecting fish, monitoring compliance, leading agencies, and supporting families at home. Moana Voices reminds us that their stories matter.”

The Moana Voices series is an ongoing initiative by the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) to amplify the voices of women in fisheries, highlighting their essential but often unseen roles - from compliance officers and inspectors to processors, policy advocates, and leaders. This latest edition, revived after a few year’s gap, continues that mission, to ensure women’s contributions are visible, valued and recognised.

One of those women is Tarawariki Laurenti, from Kiribati. She’s one of the country’s most experienced fisheries observers – and one of only around 2,500 observers worldwide. In a job where most people last just a year or two, her strength is remarkable. Tarawariki shared how isolating and challenging her work can be, saying:

“We women can face some minor harassment on board, and sometimes interference with our work… some officers trying to know what you write in your report.”

Her story reminds us that fisheries are not just about tuna stocks and export dollars – they’re about people. About courage. About resilience.

And she is not alone.

In Samoa, Lorian Finau-Groves is leading one of her country’s biggest fisheries milestones—the establishment of the Seafood Safety Verification Unit, a project two decades in the making. As Lorian says herself:

“This has been a mission from our predecessors for, say, 20 years now,” paying tribute to both current and former fisheries officers whose persistence has brought this vision to life. For Samoa, this achievement is not just bureaucratic progress - it’s the result of years of advocacy, leadership, and hard work. And at its heart is a woman leading change for her country.

In Kiribati, Katherine Maruia stands alongside her all-female fisheries inspection team - nine women ensuring that every piece of fish exported from their atoll islands meets strict international food safety standards. Imagine that. Women regularly boarding fishing vessels where they’re the only women among entire male crews - ensuring standards, ensuring safety, and showing the power of quiet leadership in spaces traditionally dominated by men.

Both Lorian and Katherine represent what Moana Voices is all about. Their stories - and those of so many others in this magazine - remind us that the strength of our fisheries comes not just from the ocean, but from the people who work every day to manage, protect, and sustain it.

And beyond the individual stories, this magazine also tells a bigger story. It’s a celebration of who we are as a Pacific family. Our ocean doesn’t divide us – it connects us. It binds us as one Blue Pacific Continent. Through fisheries, we are reconnecting, working together, and shaping a future we can be proud of.

Speaking at the event, FFA Director General Noan Pakop said, “Tonight, we honour women who work quietly but powerfully across the fisheries value chain. Moana Voices is not the start – it is the continuation of stories that need to be told. At FFA, we are humbled to work alongside our Members to celebrate these women and commit to advancing gender equality and inclusion throughout Pacific fisheries.”

“Across the fisheries sector – from data collection and inspection to policy advocacy – women are essential drivers of our industry’s success. Through Moana Voices, we honour their stories and their strength.”

Hon. Ainu’u closed the celebration with a powerful message, “Our ocean doesn’t divide us -it connects us. Through fisheries, we are bound as one Blue Pacific Continent. And through Moana Voices, we are reminded that our greatest resource is not just our tuna - it’s our people.”

The celebration of Moana Voices stands as a call to action across the region: to create safer, fairer, and more inclusive fisheries workplaces; to ensure women’s voices are heard; and to keep telling the stories that sustain the Pacific’s most valuable resource - its people.

About Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA)

FFA assists its 17-member countries to sustainably manage fishery resources that fall within their 200-mile Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs). FFA provides expertise, technical assistance and other support to its members who make decisions about their tuna resources and participate in regional decision making on tuna management. Find out more here: www.ffa.int

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