Bula Vinaka and bonjour!
Esteemed Heads of Fisheries, distinguished delegates, partners, and observers, as we conclude the 16th SPC Heads of Fisheries Meeting, it is an honour for me to extend our heartfelt gratitude for your leadership, engagement, and active participation throughout this eventful week.
This meeting has thrived on the vibrant exchanges during our sessions and the invaluable interactions in our side meetings. I have got personal feedback on the value of having time set aside for have bilaterals with each other. Collectively these interactions have provided an opportunity to connect, have in depth discussions, and better collaborate between all of us be it our team, or you as member and partner representatives.
This week, we delved into pressing issues that shape the future of fisheries and aquaculture in our region. This included discussions on the implementation of the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent including the current Review of the Regional Architecture, our SPC Strategic Plan 2022-2031 as well as our SPC FAME Business Plan.
We also tackled diverse and critical topics from climate change impacts on our ecosystems to the advancement of our Regional Aquaculture and Aquatic Biosecurity Frameworks. The updates on the Observer Programme and our discussions on data access, utilisation and integration underscore the progress we are making in technological and scientific domains to support sustainable fisheries management.
On better integration of our work, topics including GESI within fisheries, and the updates from our Flagship programmes – Climate Change and Oceans, highlighted the interrelated nature of our work—where environmental sustainability meets social responsibility and the need to take a holistic approach to our work.
Yesterday we were also able to witness the opening of the NZ Parliamentary Under Secretary for Oceans and Fisheries – Madam Jenny Marcroft of the CSEPTA Lab. We are grateful for NZ’s support with this and would like to acknowledge Ms Pamela Maru, CSEPTA Steering Committee Chair and your team for the leadership and oversight for this important piece of work
As you all heard yesterday as well, Madam Marcroft also announced that NZ will contribute $5M to add to the recent announcement of USA’s contribution of also $5M to add to Australia’s contribution of $25M for the research vessel. You will all recall we have discussed this item over the last few HOFs so it is great to see everything coming together.
Earlier in the week I met up with Ian Cartright who as you all know was among the attendees of the first HOFs in 1984. Ian’s reflections were that the meetings are bigger with more representation from the countries, well run and more diverse in terms of gender and topics covered. I think this is credit to the engagement from you all and puts us on good stead as we go on in our journey of co-designing the co-implementing the future of Fisheries on our Blue Pacific.
We acknowledge and appreciate the contributions of OneCROP partners including FFA, PIFS, and SPREP.
To our partners and supporters of the work we do – New Zealand, Australia, the European Union, the United States, and the WCPFC
Special faafetai tele lava to the chair, Archie who did an exceptional job this week. From leading, guiding and facilitating the conversations to sounding the bell to get people back to the next session. The Chair was in Suva last month with a high level American Samoan delegation to discuss with SPC, PIFS and other partners how American Samoa can engage more and better in the regional work. This week we saw an example of exemplary engagement and leadership through service so we all thank you Chair.
I would like to express my deep appreciation to each and everyone of you from our member countries for making time to be here, for your hard work, dedication, engagement and wise counsel. This is your meeting, and we can only serve alongside you better if we get good engagement and guidance.
I acknowledge the huge effort and dedication from across the SPC in ensuring the efficient running of this meeting. As Pacific islanders some think it is not appropriate to thank your own but can I just say in my 10+ years here at SPC I have become increasingly more certain that it is totally appropriate to thank your own people. So merci beaucoup to our support staff - maintenance, IT, translation, interpretation, travel, and finance, as well as the FAME administration and logistics team. Your hard work behind the scenes has been the backbone of our success this week.
To all other SPC teams including of course Neville and his team who have collectively contributed to OneSPC delivery mode for this meeting – vinaka vakalevu.
In closing I thank you all for your professionalism and commitment, which reflects the spirit of collaboration that defines our community.
The challenge with a good meeting of course and much is expected of the next one so here’s to a better future and look forward to seeing you all in HOFs 17.
As we finish this chapter and look forward to future collaborations, let us carry forward the momentum gained and continue to work together to ensure the sustainability and resilience of our fisheries and marine ecosystems. Thank you once again for your dedication and commitment to our Blue Pacific continent.
Malo 'aupito / Thank you.
