The Global Environment Facility4th Biennial International Waters Conference

July 31 – August 3 2007, Cape Town, South Africa

Pacific Islands Oceanic Fisheries Management Project

(OFM Project)

Transform AqorauDeputy Director General, FFA

Strategic Action Programme of the Pacif ic Small Island Developing States (SAP)

Goal: Integrated sustainable development and management of International Waters

Priority Concerns: Degradation of water quality Degradation of associated critical habitats Unsustainable use of resources

Imminent Threats/ Pollution from land-based activities Proximate Root Modification of critical habitats Causes Unsustainable exploitation of resources

Ultimate Root: Management deficiencies Causes a) governance b) understanding

Solutions: Integrated Coastal and Watershed Management Oceanic Fisheries Management

Strategic Action Programme of the Pacific Small Island Developing States (SAP)

IMPLEMENTING SUSTAINABLE WATER RESOURCES AND WASTEWATER MANAGEMENT

IN PACIFIC ISLAND COUNTRIES

The Pacific SAP is comprised of one OFM and one IWRM component and GEF is supporting the implementation of both

The GEF Pacific IWRM Project is implemented by SOPAC will run for five years to 2013

UNDP component ($6.1M from GEF): On-the-ground demonstration activities on IWRM & Water-use

Efficiency (WUE) initiated in 13 PICs ($6.1M)

UNEP Components ($2.1M from GEF): IWRM & WUE frameworks Policy, legislative and institutional reform for IWRM & WUE (funded

by EU) National and regional capacity building

IMPLEMENTING SUSTAINABLE WATER RESOURCES AND WASTEWATER

MANAGEMENT IN PACIFIC ISLAND COUNTRIES

1. Watershed Management - e.g. Federated States of Micronesia - Ridge to Reef: Protecting Water Quality from Source to Reef in FSM

2. Wastewater Management – e.g. Tuvalu – Ecosan

3. Water Resources Assessment & Protection -e.g. Cook Islands – Integrated freshwater and coastal management on Rarotonga

4. Water Use Efficiency & Water Safety - e.g. Tonga - Improvement and Sustainable Management of Nieafu Aquifer Groundwater Resources in Vava'u Islands

IWRM Demonstration ActivitiesIWRM Demonstration Activit ies

OFMP Outline

15 participating Pacific SIDS5 year life (commenced October 2005)Financed by $10.9m GEF GrantExecuted by UNDPImplemented by FFA with SPC, IUCN and WWF

OFMP Goals

The global environmental goal of the Project is to achieve global environmental benefits by enhanced conservation and management of transboundary oceanic fishery resources in the Pacific Islands region and the protection of the biodiversity of the Western Tropical Pacific Warm Pool Large Marine Ecosystem.

The broad development goal of the Project is to assist the Pacific Island States to improve the contribution to their sustainable development from improved management of transboundary oceanic fishery resources and from the conservation of oceanic marine biodiversity generally.

OFMP Structure

Component 1, the Scientific Assessment and Monitoring Enhancement Component, (SPC)improved scientific information and knowledge strengthening the national capacities of Pacific SIDS in these

areas.

Component 2, the Law, Policy and Institutional Reform, Realignment and Strengthening Component, (FFA)

assisting Pac SIDS to: participate in the new WCPF Commissionreform, realign and strengthen their national laws, policies,

institutions and programmes

Component 3, PCU and awareness raising

Geographic Context

Outcomes

Pilot Phase

WCPF Convention concluded with Pacific SIDS participation

Commission Rules prepared including limits on meetings and full funding for all 15 Pacific SIDS to all meetings of the Commission and its subsidiary bodies, including Technical Working Groups

Outcomes

Scientific Assessment and Monitoring Enhancement Component Development of monitoring programmes in all Pacific SIDS with

data now flowing into target species stock assessments and ecological risk assessments

A focus on stock assessment capacity building and support for national EAFM analyses following funding of core stock assessment tasks by the Commission

Assessment of the role of seamounts in oceanic pelagic fisheries and impacts of seamounts on oceanic biodiversity being undertaken

Completion of the first phase of the Pacific Tuna Tagging Programme

Development of trophic structure models Use of ecosystem models used to test management options and

assess impacts of some climate change scenarios

Law, Policy and Institutional Reform, Realignment and Strengthening Component

Commission is established with all Pacific SIDS having ratified the Convention

Comprehensive monitoring and compliance programme established, based largely on Pacific SIDS in-zone programmes including 9, 400 vessels on the Vessel Record High seas boarding & inspection is operational 2,200 vessels registered to report to the High seas VMS serviced by the

FFA 500 Pacific Island Onboard observers projected to be deployed in 2010 IUU list

This programme establishes several global precedents for high seas Commission data and science programmes funded from the Commission

budget serviced by SPC Preliminary catch or effort caps in all major fisheries with initial mitigation

measures for sharks, seabirds and turtles Law and policy reforms undertaken in almost all Pacific SIDS, EAFM analyses for management policy reforms undertaken for most Pacific

SIDS using risk assessment approach developed under the Project

Shortfalls

Seamount-related activities were initially set back by lack of research vessel

Collaboration with industry has been disturbed by the constraints at the regional industry association

The national consultative committees have not functioned effectively

Currency fluctuations have reduced the real value of project funding (balanced by increased co-financing)

More work on national implementation is required, especially in smaller SIDS

Inadequate priority on awareness raising

Lessons Learned

Small developing countries, working together, can make a difference

Limits are good for business - regional conservation measures and resource protection programmes have improved the private investment climate in oceanic fisheries

Long term investments in science and data pay offMonitoring and control programmes create attractive jobsThe PCU and outreach functions have been under-resourcedThere is a critical need for long-term capacity building which is

beyond the scope of the Project and GEF fundingNational capacities are the over-riding limit on what can be

achieved

Phase II Proposal

MTR recommended a second phaseShift to making existing measures work at national

level, rather than adopting more measuresFocus on smaller SIDSAddress the impact of climate changeInvest more in knowledge managementStreamline national consultative processes

THANK YOU