F.F.A PLEDGED TO SUPPORT GOV’T WITH FISHERIES
FFA monitoring, control and surveillance experts meet about illegal fishing. Photo credit: FFA.
The Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) has pledged its continued cooperation with the Solomon Islands Government in addressing fisheries issues in the country.
FFA Director General James Movick made the pledge when he visited Prime Minister Hon Manasseh Sogavare this week.
Office of the Prime Minister and Cabinet’s Media unit reports, Mr Movick said FFA adds its voice to concerns raised over certification of illegal fishing and stressed that any country engaged in tuna export must fully comply with European Union ( EU) requirements.
The European Commission has in place an Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated regulation to prevent, deter and eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.
This regulation requires fisheries management authorities a ‘catch certificate’ for ‘wild caught’ seafood imported into the European Union.
Mr. Movick explains, Solomon Islands has been issued a yellow card for non-compliance with the IUU regulation and he has already raised this issue with the Minister for Fisheries and Marine Resources to work together with FFA to address it.