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Realising the true potential of our fisheries addressing potential drivers and sources of conflict in our region? How
Over the last decade, Pacific countries have seen results from initiatives do we build a better understanding of peace and security across our
to increase the sustainable economic returns from our tuna fisheries. The communities and countries? How can these regional approaches be linked
last 3 years have seen growth in terms of value and control of the tuna to national security policies, plans or strategies?”
caught in the region. We are on track to reach the targeted 9000 new jobs The Forum’s reinvigorated security architecture must represent the
in the industry by 2020. Our export value has risen from USD $643 million security aspirations of all Forum members. The Forum Secretariat has
in 2015 to $775 million in 2016 with the target set for USD $800 million by undertaken a rigorous process of consultations to ensure inclusiveness and
2020. ownership.
There is no doubt that significant potential still remains within our tuna While the Biketawa Plus work is focussed on contemporary and future
fisheries. It is important to recognise that the sustainability of our tuna security challenges, members of the Pacific Islands Forum have a long
stocks depends upon the success of work we are also engaged in around history of working together on security arrangements and initiatives.
ocean management and conservation, climate change, regional security and The Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI)
securing our maritime boundaries. provides a strong example. Informed by the values of our own Pacific Way,
To maintain momentum and realise the true potential of our fisheries Forum countries worked side by side to help a neighbour in need to restore
will require a whole of region approach. This may be difficult at times but law and order, restore the machinery of government, bring perpetrators to
we must continue to work collectively, support one another and keep our justice, and rebuild the economy as the basis for sustained and genuine
focus on the greater good. Regional solidarity, for the improved health and development.
livelihoods for Pacific people must continue to be our priority. Our region is blessed with many riches: our people, our cultures, our Third South Pacific Forum Suva, 1972
resources. Ensuring their potential and wellbeing will require strong
collective action on regional security.
Securing the Blue Pacific Another regional example is the approach adopted by local communities

they have traditional or more recently assigned tenure rights or ownership.
Effective regional security underpins the vision outlined in the theme for Managing and Conserving Our Blue to manage and sustainably use their coastal and marine areas, over which
this year’s Pacific Islands Forum: Building a Strong Pacific: Our People, Our Pacific Oceanscape This is the mainstay of the work of Locally Managed Marine Area Network
Islands, Our Will. The security of our people and their environment is crucial and national initiatives, such as those in Samoa and Tonga. The lessons
for sustainable growth and development, and the way we organise ourselves from these experiences serve as valuable templates for the future
to protect and nurture our Blue Continent must be something we decide for Ninety-eight per cent of the area occupied by Pacific Island countries sustainable use of ocean resources.
ourselves. and territories is ocean. The Pacific Islands Forum has demonstrated
“Securing the wellbeing and potential of The Blue Pacific is at the centre a longstanding commitment to managing this vital resource. In fact, the Facing Challenges Together
being harvested within sustainable levels. Effective sub-regional fisheries of the Forum Agenda”, said Forum Chair and Prime Minister of Samoa, the United Nations Law of the Sea was a point of discussion during the historic The ocean is critical to the future prosperity and wellbeing of our people.
management arrangements, such as those adopted by the Parties to the Hon. Tuilaepa Malielegaoi at the Korea-Pacific Forum Foreign Ministers first meeting of the Forum in 1971. Through the Forum, the Pacific region It is our natural environment as well as the primary source of livelihoods,
Nauru Agreement (PNA), have been integral to the outcomes achieved. Meeting in Seoul last December. has a collaborative and integrated ocean management system in place. The economic opportunities and geopolitical importance. The ocean is dynamic
Fish from offshore and coastal waters can often be found on our dinner “Protecting The Blue Pacific will require a collective security architecture Pacific Islands Regional Ocean Policy promotes “sustainable development, and transcends borders. For these reasons, it is vital that we continue to
tables and is essential for the food security of Pacific islanders. Estimates that recognizes, promotes and provides security in the broadest sense of management and conservation of marine and coastal resources in the work collaboratively and collectively to conserve and manage this most
suggest that annual consumption can be as high as 146kg per person in the term. There is commitment to working together to ensure the security Pacific region” through five guiding principles based on the United Nations valuable of our resources.
some Forum countries. of our shared ocean geography, resources and ecosystems therein, from Convention on the Law of the Sea.
Our fish also contribute significantly to the diets of people in other unsustainable exploitation and illegal activities, including illegal fishing and The Framework for a Pacific Oceanscape catalyses regional action
parts of the world, with the Western and Central Pacific Ocean accounting transnational crime. and initiatives covering our ocean and island ecosystems. It strengthens
for almost 60 per cent of the global tuna catch, around two-thirds of This is a time of profound change; and this change is taking place at the Pacific Islands Regional Ocean Policy, particularly through stronger
which is taken in the waters of Forum member countries. In 2016 alone, an unprecedented pace. Geo-strategic competition between major world provisions in the areas of coordination, resourcing and implementation. It
tuna caught in FFFA members’ waters totalled some 1.5 million metric powers has once again made our region a place of renewed interest and also aspires to protect, manage and sustain the cultural and natural integrity Forum Week Schedule
tonnes worth $USD 2.5 billion. strategic importance. Climate change increasingly affects our people in a of the ocean for present and future generations of the broader global
variety of ways including increased severe weather events, scarcity of food community. At its heart is a desire to build pride, leadership, learning and
Increased returns from tuna fisheries and water, and displaced communities. Information and communication cooperation across the ocean environment. MONDAY, 03 SEPTEMBER 2018
Flag Raising (Pacific Islands Forum Flag and
:
8:00 -8:30am
The region has made huge strides in the last decade to reap a greater technologies (ICT) are burgeoning and with them issues relating to cyber Republic of Nauru Flag)
proportion of the economic benefit from the tuna caught in its waters. security and cyber enabled crime. Maritime Boundaries 9:00-12:30am : Smaller Island States Leaders Meeting
The PNA Vessel Day Scheme, in particular, has resulted in a fivefold Within this context, at the Forum Leaders meeting in Apia last year, A key strategic priority for the region outlined in the Framework for a 1:30-5.00pm : Pacific ACP Leaders Meeting
increase in economic returns to PNA member countries for access to Leaders directed the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat to engage in Pacific Oceanscape is mapping and declaring the maritime boundaries 7:00pm : Official Opening Ceremony of the 49th Pacific
the purse seine fishery in their waters – a remarkable success story that consultations to refresh our existing security arrangements to meet the of Pacific Island Countries. The settlement of maritime boundaries will Islands Forum & Related Meetings
highlights the benefits of zone based management arrangements that regions current and future security challenges. provide certainty to the ownership of our ocean space, which is vital for our
recognise the ownership rights of Pacific Island countries to the fishery Forum Leaders saw the need to expand and strengthen collective action Pacific cultures and critical for managing our ocean resources, biodiversity, TUESDAY, 04 SEPTEMBER 2018
within our EEZs. for regional security inclusive of human security, humanitarian assistance, ecosystems, and fighting the impacts of climate change. 9:00-10.30am : Forum Dialogue Partners Session with Forum
While the FFA reports substantial growth against a number of economic prioritizing environmental security and building resilience to impacts of The Pacific Community (SPC) has been working closely with countries Leaders
indicators (link), all Pacific stakeholders acknowledge that there is more natural disasters and climate change. to establish territorial sea baseline and outer limits of maritime zones in 11:00-12.30pm : Associate Member & Observers Dialogue Ses-
that could be achieved. Two-thirds of the catch taken in our waters is As a result the Forum Secretariat has been working on a declaration national legislations and then depositing this information with the United sion with Forum Leaders
harvested by foreign fishing boats and nearly 90% is taken out of the which is currently dubbed Biketawa Plus and will be discussed by Forum Nations Convention on the Law of The Sea (UNCLOS). 1:30-3.00pm : Civil Society Dialogue Session with Forum
region for processing. In 2015, Pacific Islands Forum leaders responded Leaders at this Forum. The value of this initiative for maximising rights over Pacific island Leaders
to these figures by endorsing the Future of Fisheries Roadmap that was The Regional Security Declaration is an opportunity to build off the countries’ critical resources, and to promote regional security, was a focus 3:30-5.00pm : Private Sector Dialogue Session with Forum
put forward by the region’s Fisheries Ministers. In doing so, Leaders Biketawa Declaration and other existing security declarations for strategic for discussions at the recent Pacific Islands Forum Foreign Minsters’ Leaders
called for an expedited process to increase the sustainable economic responses to security issues and determine what the region’s priorities and meeting in Samoa. Ministers at that meeting recognised the potential for
returns from the region’s tuna fisheries in just five years. interests will be into the future. declaration of the 200 nautical mile outer limits of Exclusive Economic WEDNESDAY, 05 SEPTEMBER 2018
A taskforce comprising the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, Pacific In opening a recent Forum Members security meeting, Fiji’s Minister of Zones (EEZs), to realise in a practical way the Forum’s vision of the region 9:30am-3:30pm : Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Retreat
Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA), the Parties to the Nauru Agreement Defence and National Security, Ratu Inoke Kubuabola said “At the heart of as the ‘Blue Continent’.
Office (PNAO) and the Pacific Community (SPC) has been focused since all this is ensuring that this new declaration will enable us to work better THURSDAY, 06 SEPTEMBER 2018
then on four key areas of work – longline fishery reform, employment collectively to forge a secure and stable environment that will enable all our Leadership in Ocean Management 5:00 – 8.00pm : Official Closing ceremony of the 49th Pacific
and improved working conditions, trade and export, and value chain Pacific peoples to live free and worthwhile lives”. Maritime boundaries provide just one example of the noteworthy and Islands Forum & Related Meetings
participation. A significant amount of work has also been done to combat “Biketawa Plus should be about prevention as much as it is about demonstrable achievements within our region that highlight innovation and
illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing in the region. response. How can we better monitor, assess and provide advice on exemplary leadership in ocean management.

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