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Coastal Fisheries Policy and Planning Workshop Underway

Wednesday: January 30, 2008

(SPC)

Coastal fisheries play an important role in the economies of Pacific Island countries and territories (PICTs), in terms of sustaining people’s livelihoods and contributing to exports, food security and poverty reduction.

A workshop on coastal fisheries policy and planning is being held at the Food and Agriculture Organization’s Sub-regional Office for the Pacific Islands (FAO–SAPA) headquarters in Apia, Samoa, from 28 January to 8 February 2008.

The high-level training course is designed to enhance the skills and experience of heads of fisheries departments and senior fisheries managers. Achieving the goals and objectives of their national development plans requires these fisheries experts, as well as decision-makers, to have a clear understanding of the principles of fisheries policy and planning, and the ability to design and implement policies successfully.

Through the training, senior management staff of PICT fisheries administrations will have an excellent opportunity to improve their understanding of the principles and acquire related skills. It is hoped that the 26 participants will acquire tools to help them develop clear and achievable policy objectives and well-integrated system management to address the needs of fisheries in the region.

The training will also partially fulfil one of the regional training needs noted in the Strategic Plan for Fisheries Management and Sustainable Coastal Fisheries in Pacific Islands. This plan was established in 2003 and will be reviewed during a Special Session of Heads of Fisheries immediately after the workshop on 11–13 February 2008.

The workshop is organized by the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) and is jointly funded by the Commonwealth Secretariat and the Government of Iceland.