Vuna Road, Sopu
Tongatapu, Tonga

A one-week workshop was held at Davina House from the 7th – 10th of November 2017 for the Formulation of National strategies and action plans to improve compliance with the agreement on Port State Measure attended by experts from FAO, FFA, SPC, Ministry of Primary Industries – New Zealand, Fisheries officials from Cook Islands and government officials from line ministries.

The agreement on Port State Measures calls upon all member countries to develop and implement a consistent national Plan of Action and to provide a guideline/checklist of supporting actions for implementing the FAO Agreement on Port State Measures at operational and capacity development at the National level. Tonga signed the Port State Measures Agreement in 2016, aiming to eliminate illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, through globally agreed minimum standards for concerted action, enabling better inspections and controls at the ports and on vessels and strengthened flag state responsibility. 

After a great weekend of Tonga celebrating the Mate Ma'a Tonga's win against the New Zealand team in The Rugby League World Cup 2017; the Ministry of Fisheries staff was back to reality and started off this week with the second workshop to review the Tuna Management and Development Plan Review 2015 - 2017 and work on the new Sport Fishing Plan 2018 - 2022; this will run and end on the 16th November 2017, at the Ministry of Fisheries conference room in Sopu.

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The workshop was officially opened by the CEO of the Ministry of Fisheries, Dr. Tu'ikolongahau Halafihi. The workshop was led by the FMA from FFA and assisted by staff of the Fisheries Management and Development Division through presentations and discussions.