The Commonwealth Government has announced $8 million to support community-based fisheries management in the Pacific, following the annual Pacific Regional Fisheries Ministers meetings.
Assistant Minister for Forestry and Fisheries Jonno Duniam said Oceanic and Coastal fisheries are central to the livelihoods and economies of our Pacific family and will play a vital role in the region’s post-COVID 19 economic recovery.
“This week I attended the annual Pacific Regional Fisheries Ministers meetings and I was very happy to announce $8 million of support for scaling up community-based fisheries management in the Pacific,” Assistant Minister Duniam said.
“Amongst rural populations in the Pacific, between 50 and 90 per cent of animal-sourced protein consumed comes from fish.
“This funding will support the governments of Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and Kiribati to scale up community based fisheries management in their countries and ensure local communities make decisions about how their fisheries are managed.
“This is a key example of how we are helping our closest neighbours to address the issues that are most important to them.
“On top of that, we will also provide $2 million in co-funding to support the New Zealand-led Food and Economic Security through Coastal Fisheries and Aquaculture Project under the leadership of the Pacific Community.”