Hon Mona Ainu’u, Minister for Natural Resources
Hon Prime Minister Dalton Tagelagi, Cabinet Ministers, President of Ekalesia Kerisiano Niue - Rev Navy Salatielu, Director-General Noan Pakop, High Commissioners for Australia and New Zealand, FFC delegates, FFA Secretariat staff, ladies and gentlemen, and especially our students from Niue Primary School.
Fakaalofa lahi atu kia mutolu oti ke he pogipogi fulufuluola nai kua foaki mai he Atua. Ko e haaku a loto kua puke he fiafia ha kua fakamooli e manako mo e mohe miti ke tamai e fono mahuiga nai ke he motu fakahelehele ko Niue. Tau nava mo e tau fakaheke kua nakai oti ha ko e taonaga nai.
It is my utmost pleasure to formally welcome you all to our home Niue, the Rock of Polynesia. The last time a FFC meeting was held in Niue was in 2009 and it’s exactly 16 years. The next opportunity will be in 17 years time.
Hosting this meeting on our island is very important for me and my team. I want to focus on two key reasons why it is important.
Firstly, it provides awareness for our people; in particular the level of representation and importance of these meetings for our people, our region and our tuna fishery. The Pacific tuna fishery is a multi-billion dollar industry and over 50% of the global tuna supply is sourced from our region.
Secondly, hosting this meeting provides an opportunity to showcase what we can do as a small fisheries administration and how we have made it work.
In terms of the level of commercial fishing activities in our waters, we are one of the lowest in the FFA region. Since Covid-19, we have not licensed any vessel to fish in our EEZ. We have relied on the revenue from the US Treaty as our contribution to the government’s recurrent budget, and have very worked hard to secure a share of the funds under that Arrangement to help us meet our responsibilities. The non-payment of US Treaty funds is a major concern for me as a Minister of Fisheries. I note that the review of the US Treaty administration will be discussed this week. However, whilst this review was a directive from the FFC and is required to improve efficiency, I ask that during your discussions that you identify options and bring them to us at the Ministerial level for our consideration.
As you may know, I will be Championing the Ocean Literacy Initiative at the FFC Ministerial meeting in July. A draft concept and strategy will be presented for your discussion this week. The initiative is based on my experience as an Ocean’s Mother, a Politician, a Minister and a GESI Political champion for climate change for the last 3 years.
My concern is that our people especially our youths and children need to understand the impacts of the decisions that are being made at the international and regional levels on their livelihood.
Our children will inherit the seeds we plant today. They will eventually take over from us and so, we need to invest now through programs that are incorporated into school curriculums and outreach programs. By investing now, the transition when they are ready to take over will be smoother. We also need our Pacific people to continue to lead through collective efforts to facilitate sustainable development.
I know we can’t do it alone in the fisheries space and we need to work with others especially those in the education sector to design and deliver programs to enhance ocean literacy in our region. So, I look forward to your feedback, suggestions and recommendations to the FFC Ministerial on how we can take ocean literacy to another level.
Director-General Mr Noan Pakop, congratulations on your appointment and welcome back to Niue. This is your first FFC Annual Official meetings in your capacity as DG for FFA. I wish you all the best as you take on the role and look forward to working with you and my fellow Ministers in July.
To the outgoing FFC Chair, congratulations and well done on the completion of your term. I wish you all the best.
Delegates and representatives from the 17 FFA membership, all the best with your deliberation during this week. I know you have a full program for the week ahead but I encourage you to take some time out to enjoy our Rock. All the very best with your meetings.
And so, it is my greatest honour and privilege to officially open the 138th Annual Forum Fisheries Committee meeting. Kia monuina e tau fakatutalaaga.
Fakaue lahi.
