SPC Headquarters, New Caledonia
Distinguished delegates, officials, partners and observers, I warmly welcome you all to the 16th Pacific Community Heads of Fisheries Meeting.
On behalf of the people of American Samoa, it is with great pleasure to preside over this year’s meeting as Chair. For colleagues who do not know me, my name is Archie Soliai, and I am the Director of Department of Marine and Wildlife in American Samoa.
Let me begin by thanking the outgoing Chair for the 15th SPC Heads of Fisheries meeting – Wallis and Futuna, under the chairmanship of Mr. Joseph Gestin, Director of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in Wallis and Futuna. Through his dedication and stewardship, the meeting discussed critical issues affecting fisheries and aquaculture in our region and agreed on practical actions.
Colleagues, this will be the second fully in-person Heads of Fisheries meeting since the pandemic, and it is wonderful to see you all again in this conference room. I wish to thank SPC for their support in bringing us to New Caledonia and hosting us this week.
We are gathered this week to discuss important issues affecting our region’s fisheries and aquaculture and to provide strategic direction for SPC’s work in the field of fisheries, marine ecosystems and aquaculture. I do not need to stress the significance your contribution and input will have to this week’s meeting.
As leaders in fisheries and marine ecosystems management, we are acutely aware of the challenges we face now and in the future. Overfishing, climate change, and the degradation of marine ecosystems represent just a few of the complex issues confronting our region. These challenges require our immediate attention and decisive action. By working together as a unified body with a shared vision and commitment, we can develop effective strategies to ensure the long-term sustainability of our marine resources.
Despite the ongoing challenges, we remain committed to finding solutions and making progress towards a sustainable and resilient fishery in our region. We continue to show resilience towards the current issues facing our countries and our blue Pacific continent, drawing on our rich cultural heritage and knowledge of our Ocean.
This week also provides us with an opportunity to discuss contemporary challenges, lessons learned, and potential solutions in addressing the impact of climate change and the access and utilization of fisheries and aquaculture data. Our aim is to identify actionable steps and priorities towards creating a sustainable and resilient fishery.
As many of you will have seen, our agenda holds several important topics to be discussed over the course of the next four days. I look forward to a productive and engaging discussion with you all that will generate practical and actionable outcomes and strengthen our collective commitment to sustainable fisheries and aquaculture in the region.
