Highlighting both the significant economic potential of seabed minerals and the accompanying environmental consequences for ocean health and future generations, Dr. Transform Aqoraua, prominent expert in the Pacific Tuna industry, addressed attendees at the Fiji National University in Suva last week. He highlighted that the current regional architecture used for tuna management does not adequately address deep seabed mining. Therefore, Dr. Aqorau stressed the necessity of establishing a proper framework for seabed mining development, with a focus on environmental preservation and social equity. Additionally, he emphasized the importance of exercising caution and conducting thorough scientific research before proceeding with any…

Highlighting the government's commitment to enhancing the Blue Economy as a means of maintaining food security, Dr Jeffrey emphasized the extensive potential of the Blue Economy across different sectors, such as enriching fish resources, boosting processing activities, producing downstream products, and expanding marketing areas. Datuk Seri Dr. Jeffrey Kitingan, Deputy Chief Minister and Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food Industry for Sabah, emphasized this during his visit to Sabah Fish Marketing Sdn Bhd (SAFMA), where he stressed, the importance of SAFMA prioritizing and capitalizing on various opportunities under the Blue Economy initiatives. Such initiatives included focusing on ocean fishery activities…

Justin Ilakini, Managing Director of the National Fisheries Authority of Papua New Guinea, provided an update on the K105 million project initiated in January 2022 aimed at developing the Voco Point coastal fisheries hub in Lae. He said that the project, which had experienced a two-year delay due to funding issues, will now be resumed back this year. While outlining the project phases to establish a coastal fisheries hub for products from Morobe and its surrounding provinces with inland fisheries, aquaculture and coastal fisheries, he emphasized the hub's role in enhancing the mobilization of seafood volume and supply within the…

Speaking at the EU Indo-Pacific Ministerial Forum in Brussels, Belgium, Minister Zameer highlighted challenges faced by small island nations and called on EU to eliminate the disproportionate taxes-imposed on Maldives fish products to assist Maldives in its efforts to diversify its economy by creating equal opportunities for trade and investment. This has been the case, with Maldives graduating as a middle-income country in 2013, to which, EU countries, including the UK, imposed a 24 percent duty fee. As a result, the previous governments have also discussed reducing the taxes levied on fisheries exports due to the increase in the price…