FIJI:   The Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) and the Pacific Community (SPC) are today launching the "Tuna Bites'' campaign to celebrate the UN World Tuna Day and Pacific Tuna Month. The campaign, in partnership with National Governments, aims to showcase tuna as an important source of protein in the Pacific and highlight its significance for food security. The campaign will be held in Pacific countries, Fiji, Federated States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Niue, Samoa, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.

The campaign is based around a culinary competition that will feature the best tuna dish from each country. The national competition will have a judging panel comprising renowned chefs and culinary experts who will select the winning dish based on taste, presentation, and other country-specific criteria. The one-day competition will take place in each of the eight countries and will be broadcast on TV, allowing the public to appreciate the local culinary talent and the crucial role of tuna in Pacific cuisine and culture.

Dr. Manu Tupou-Roosen, Director-General of FFA said, "We are proud to be a part of this effort to raise awareness and appreciation of the  importance of this resource to Pacific diets.  Tuna makes up a valuable part of Pacific food systems, livelihoods, revenues and is a key contributor to socio-economic goals."

Commending the new 'Tuna Bites' campaign, Pacific Islands Forum Secretary General Henry Puna says the culinary competition "celebrates the best of our Pacific master chefs working with our Pacific tuna. Our people and cultures helped bring about the global World Tuna Day celebration and its only fitting that our region continues to innovate and inspire in celebrating this fish. Our Pacific tuna feeds the world, feeds our economies, and of course, is the best source of protein for our people, who consume up to five times more fish than the global average. "

In addition to the food competition, the “Teen Tuna Tok” campaign will have a special format this year. Youths from each country will ask questions of the competitors, creating an interactive session that fosters engagement and knowledge-sharing between the younger generation and culinary experts.

Dr. Paula Vivili, Deputy Director of SPC, said, "Passing down knowledge and practices from one generation to the next is very much aligned with our SPC values of kaitiakitanga, the stewardship of our Blue Pacific. Together with our member countries, we ensure that resources are used sustainably while preserving seafood for future generations."

Rhea Moss-Christian, Executive Director of the Western Central Pacific Fisheries Commission, praised the Pacific Tuna Bite campaign, stating, "The Western Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) and its members are committed to maintaining and conserving Tuna Fisheries at healthy stock levels. The Pacific Tuna Bite campaign is an excellent initiative that emphasizes the role that tuna has at the heart of Pacific culture."

Tuna is a vital "blue food"- food derived from aquatic sources - that can help provide a solution to the challenge of food security in the Pacific region. Despite facing climate change-induced challenges such as rising sea levels and natural disasters, the region's consumption of tuna remains high, ranging from 16 kg to 102 kg (SPC Coastal Fisheries Report card 2022) per person per annum. . It also represents a key regional resource for employment and revenue with 27,500 jobs and $US480 million in government revenue from access and licensing fees (2021). By promoting and implementing sustainable fishing practices, we can ensure the long-term availability of this critical resource for future generations, while also supporting the region's food security and overall well-being.

 The campaign is generously supported by the Overseas Fishery Cooperation Foundation of Japan.

Source: https://www.spc.int/updates/news/joint-release/2023/05/tuna-bites-celebrating-tunas-significance-in-pacific-cuisine

USA: The Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability (GDST) announced today that the Fishing Industry Association of Papua New Guinea (FIA PNG) version of iFIMS software has successfully passed the GDST Capability Test. The GDST Capability Test is an online platform that allows businesses to verify whether software solutions can deliver on their promises of compatibility with the GDST interoperable traceability standard.  Software products that pass this test are eligible to carry the “GDST Capable” logo.

“We, the Fishing Industry Association of Papua and New Guinea (FIA PNG), are thrilled that our version of the iFIMS (Fisheries Information Management System) has passed the GDST Capability Test. As a vertically integrated Tuna harvesting operation in the Western Central Pacific Ocean; it is important that this complex fishery be recognized as GDST capable.” said Marcelo Hidalgo, the Sustainability  CSR Director of FIA PNG “The ‘GDST-Capable’ logo is awarded to software that is capable of fully implementing the GDST Standard” said Greg Brown, Executive Director of the GDST. “It’s exciting to see another key player in the Tuna sector, FIA PNG, make this important step towards enhanced transparency and assurance against illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing.”

The Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability (GDST) is a Partnership and participation organization dedicated to advancing the standardization and adoption of Interoperable Traceability throughout fishery and aquaculture supply chains around the world through its global traceability standard (GDST 1.1) governing information content and data formats for seafood traceability systems. Interoperable traceability provides operational efficiency, manages and mitigates risk, provides easy and certain access to Food Safety recall and certification information, communicates product provenance and facilitates global market access. Learn more at www.thegdst.org.

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FIJI: The Ministry of Fisheries and Fong Chung Formosa Co., Ltd (FCF) has further strengthened its collaboration following a signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on 15 April 2023.

FCF is one of the world’s largest tuna trading companies with a long history of sourcing from tuna vessels globally. In Fiji, FCF have sourced product for Bumble Bee’s production at PAFCO for 30 years. FCF has designed a Social Responsibility Programme (SRP) to ensure that high safety and crewing standards are met across the FCF supply chain. The MOU was signed on behalf of the parties by Hon. Kalaveti Ravu, Minister for Fisheries and Forestry, and FCF Representative Mr Brett Carter on behalf of the company’s President, Mr. Max Chou.

The goal of this MOU is to establish a framework within which the Government, through the Ministry of Fisheries and FCF, can collaborate to achieve the common goal of maintaining safe, fair, and respectable working conditions on board Fijian tuna longline vessels and other vessels as appropriate. Following the signing of the document, Hon. Ravu stated that the coalition Government welcomed its development partners. He described the agreement as a 'holistic one for both sides' interests and obligations in ensuring proper crew safety and welfare standards are maintained. Hon. Ravu went on to say that the operations of both parties were complimentary and mutually reinforcing, because the actions made by the government to ensure compliance with domestic laws and policies concerning crew safety and welfare will boost the implementation of the FCF SRP, and vice versa.

Source: Ministry of Fisheries, Fiji.