VANUATU NATIONAL FISHERIES - Pacific Community Fisheries Sector... · APPROVAL OF THE VANUATU...
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A N N I V E R S A R YA N N I V E R S A I R E
VANUATUNATIONAL FISHERIESSECTOR POLICY2016–2031
A policy for the sustainable management, conservation and development of the fisheries sector in the Republic of Vanuatu
Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Forestry, Fisheries and Biosecurity
VANUATUNATIONAL FISHERIESSECTOR POLICY2016–2031
A policy for the sustainable management, conservation and development of the fisheries sector in the Republic of Vanuatu
Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Forestry, Fisheries and Biosecurity
© Government of Vanuatu 2017
All rights for commercial/for profit reproduction or translation, in any form, reserved.
Original text: English
Pacific Community Cataloguing-in-publication data
Vanuatu national fisheries sector policy 2016–2031: a policy for the sustainable management, conservation and development of the fisheries sector in the Republic of Vanuatu / ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Forestry, Fisheries and Biosecurity
1. Marine fishes – Vanuatu.
2. Fishery management – Vanuatu.
3. Fishes – Vanuatu.
4. Fisheries – Vanuatu.
5. Fishery law and legislation — Vanuatu.
6. Fishery policy — Vanuatu.
7. Fisheries — Government policy — Vanuatu.
I. Title II. Vanuatu. Fisheries Division III. Pacific Community
639.2099595 AACR2
ISBN: 978-982-00-1044-4
This plan was produced by the Vanuatu Department of Fisheries, with technical assistance from the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) and the Pacific Community (SPC).
Laid out and prepared for publication at SPC Headquarters, Noumea, New Caledonia.
Printed by Colorite Graphics Printers, Vanuatu - 2017
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APPROVAL OF THE VANUATU NATIONAL FISHERIES SECTOR POLICY
The Vanuatu National Fisheries Sector Policy is made in accordance with Part 3 Section 6(1) (a) of the Fisheries Act No. 10 of 2014.
By virtue of powers conferred upon the Minister Responsible for Fisheries, under Section 6(1) (a) of the Fisheries Act No.10 of 20014, notice is hereby given for the approval of the Vanuatu National Fisheries Sector Policy.
COMMENCEMENT DATE
This policy commences on the date on which it is approved by the Minister.
Made at Port Vila this………day of …......………………… 2016.
………………………………………………………….
Honourable Matai Seremaiah NAWALU (MP)
Minister of Agriculture, Livestock, Forestry, Fisheries and Biosecurity
Vanuatu National Fisheries Sector Policy 2016-2031iv
Acknowledgements
This Vanuatu National Fisheries Sector Policy is the result of contributions from many people and stakeholders. Thanks are given to the staff of the Vanuatu Fisheries Department for their initial ideas to this policy; community leaders, fishers, the private sector, provincial leaders, non-governmental partners, line government departments, and the fishing industry for their contributions to the policy through many consultations; the former Director of Environment Department, Mr Jason Raubani, for his initial work on the draft. Special thanks are given to the Pacific Community through the Director of the Fisheries, Aquacul-ture and Marine Ecosystems Division, Mr Moses Amos, the Aquaculture Advisor, Mr Robert Jimmy, and the Coastal Fisheries Science and Management Adviser, Mr Ian Bertram. We thank the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency — through the assistance of its Management Officer, Mr Samasoni Sauni — for improving the structure and visibility of this policy. Importantly, this policy would not have been possible without funding from the Vanuatu Government, the United Nations Development Programme through the Vanuatu Climate Change Adaptation project, and the ACIAR community based-based fisheries project FIS/2012/074.
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Speech by the Minister for Agriculture, Livestock, Forestry, Fisheries and Biosecurity, Hon Matai Seremaiah Nawalu,
at the official launching of the Vanuatu National Fisheries Sector Policy,
Tagabe Ground, Wednesday 14 December 2016
Parliament Secretary for Minister for Agriculture, Livestock, Forestry, Fisheries and Biosecurity (MALFFB)First Political Advisor of MALFFBDirectors of MALFFB and Directors from other government departments United Nations Development Programme representative Other development partners
Ladies and gentlemen,
Our main task on this occasion this morning is to launch the first ever national policy for the fisheries sector in Vanuatu. May I say that where the fisheries sector is today is the result of past planning, and where we will be in future will be the result of the policy vision we will launch today.
Ladies and gentlemen,
99% of Vanuatu is ocean; this vast ocean is home to one of the region’s largest fish stock — albacore tuna for which the annual catch is estimated at 8,000 tonnes per year. With other tuna resources, our produc-tion estimate lies in the range of 10,000 to 20,000 tonnes of fish per year. It is even more than this when deep bottom fish, reef fish and other reef and freshwater resources and other resource we have yet to explore are added.
Our people depend on these resources for food and income, and the country depends on revenue from resource rent and from exporting fees. During natural disasters, as we witnessed recently, when other land resources are affected, fish provides healthy food and income for our people and it is important that we continue to enjoy these benefits in the future.
Before I go ahead to launch this policy, may I take this time to reflect on some of the development challenges this sector has faced in the last 35 years.
1. Vanuatu is an important player in the industrial tuna fishery through the Palekula Fishing base on Santo. At that time, Palekula was servicing over 100 industrial fishing boats and processing up to 14,000 tonnes of fish per year. Over a thousand local New Hebrideans and ni-Vanuatu were employed and many more benefit from economic spinoffs of the Palekula base. We lost this eco-nomic activity soon after gaining independence, resulting in the loss of jobs and economic oppor-tunity. We still have our fish but we lack the vision to re-develop the industry in the last 30 years.
2. Soon after independence the government received much support from donor partners to develop the local fishing industry and empower our local people to participate in development. Fisheries centres were established on many islands in the country and fish markets established in Vila (Na-tai Fish Market) and Luganville (Santo Fish Market) to market fish from the island markets. This infrastructure failed not because we ran out of fish, it was because we did not have the vision to better manage these infrastructure developments.
Vanuatu National Fisheries Sector Policy 2016-2031vi
3. The Republic of Vanuatu has many international fishing vessels registered under the shipping registry. For years, the flag fishing fleet was not effectively managed and the fleet was conducting IUU fishing, which led to the yellow card issued to Vanuatu by the EU in 2012. Again, we do not have the vision on how to better manage our flag fishing fleet to prevent IUU fishing; in addition, much needed revenue that would have been collected from this industry was lost.
4. Many ni-Vanuatu nationals continue to risk their lives to work on fishing boats with no proper training and no welfare security. Many of our nationals receive poor treatment at sea and some lost their lives as a result. We do not have roadmap on how to manage and develop the crewing industry.
5. The Sino-Van fish factory has failed to operate in the last 8–12 years, again because of the lack of vision to de-velop supporting infrastructure to attract landing of fish in our ports. Our fish continue to be landed in other countries, supporting the economies of those countries while our government struggles to generate revenue to support its services.
6. Unemployment continues to grow and there is not enough employment for our people to meet their livelihood needs. The fisheries sector can provide employment opportunities and it needs to be developed. A roadmap that provide for this development is important.
7. An unskilled workforce is a feature of the fisheries sector and we need to equip our people with the required skills so that they benefit from employment opportunities in the fishing industry, locally and abroad.
8. We are currently facing a shortage of fish to feed our growing population and the increasing number of tourists visiting our islands. We must increase production of our own fish so that we eat and we buy our own fish and circulate money within our local economy.
9. Aquaculture is a potential area but infrastructure support was not there and we did not enjoy the economic benefit from this development area, but we are improving now and this new policy will guide the sector to fur-ther grow the aquaculture industry.
We have not maximised the potential of the fisheries sector because our planning for this sector in the past has not been adequate.
Ladies and gentlemen, time has come to address these problems to transform the fisheries sector to improve overall performance.
The National Fisheries Sector Policy is our policy roadmap. This policy will guide our operations in this sector for the next 15 years.
The National Fisheries Sector Policy builds on the long-term development strategy of the National Sustainable Development Plan 2016 to 2030, and the overarching productive sector policy and the agritourism policy.
On the regional level, this policy follows on from the regional and international policies and treaties, including the Mela-nesian Spearhead Group roadmap on coastal fisheries; the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency regional monitoring, control and surveillance strategy; the Noumea strategy on coastal fisheries; the Pacific Regional Roadmap on Fisheries 2010; and the Sustainable Development Goals. This collective policy is the culmination of our national planning in the fisheries and aquaculture sector.
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Our vision in the policy is to transform fisheries in Vanuatu. Our goal is to increase production, people’s incomes, food security, and nutritional status of all ni-Vanuatu. We will achieve this collective goal in eight priority areas:
1. Institutional setup, good governance and capacity building
2. Fisheries Investment, economic growth and employment opportunities
3. Sustainable food production and nutrition and non-communicable disease alleviation
4. Infrastructure support and product development and distribution
5. Environmental protection, climate change and disaster risk reduction
6. Information and communication technology
7. Strengthening compliance and illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing prevention
8. Partnership building and equal opportunities to all citizens.
Within each priority area, strategic actions and specific policy directives indicate what will be done to achieve these goals.
Ladies and gentlemen,
The policy we launch today will revolutionise the fisheries sector. The people of Vanuatu will see changes for the better through this Vanuatu National Fisheries Sector policy. The fisheries sector will grow from strength to strength to develop the sector and increase production of quality, increase fish protein intake, economic activity and raise government revenue through the sustainable development of aquatic resources.
I now declare the Vanuatu National Fisheries Sector Policy officially launched.
Thank you very much and may God bless us all.
Vanuatu national fisheries sector policy 2016-2031viii
Director of Fisheries remarks by the official launching of the National Fisheries Sector Policy Agriculture Ground, Tagabe, Port Vila,
Wednesday, 14 December 2016
Hon Matai Seremaia Nawalu, Minister for Agriculture, Livestock, Forestry, Fisheries and Biosecurity (MALFFB); Hon Tom Kor, Minister of Parliament for Tafea Islands and Permanent Secretary for MALFFB; Directors of MALFFB and other directors; donor partners; MALFFB department officials;
Ladies and gentlemen,
I take this time to first of all welcome you all to this morning ceremony and thank you for joining us to cel-ebrate the launching of the first ever fisheries sector policy. Past national development plans of the govern-ment cover some aspects of the fisheries sector but they are not comprehensive enough to provide a clear roadmap for the development and growth of the sector.
The Vanuatu National Fisheries Sector policy, which we are here to launch, is home grown and developed by the staff of the department with assistance from the Pacific Community and the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency. The approach taken is bottom up starting first with development of specific fisheries ac-tion plans.
The first is the national tuna management plan developed in the late 1990s, and followed by another nine plans including ones for: aquarium fish; illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing; sharks; and sea turtles; sea cucumber fishery management plan; national fishing fleet management plan; snapper fishery plan; fishing boat crew plan; and fishing vessel charter plan.
From these action plans, specific regulations were developed to guide day-to-day operations of the depart-ment in managing these fisheries areas. And in the last 15 years, the Fisheries Department has grown.
• in the 1990s, the Compliance and Licensing Section was established
• in 2004, the Management and Policy Section was established
• in 2008, the Seafood Verification Section was established
• in 2008, the National Fisheries Observer Programme was born, now with 30 observers
• in 2010, a freshwater aquaculture station was established at Tagabe
• in 2013, the Vanuatu flag fleet management role was taken over by the department
• in 2014, the International Fisheries Unit was established along with the Data Management Unit and the national VMS system added to the Compliance and Licensing Section
• in 2014, the new Fisheries Act came into force and at the same time Vanuatu became an IUU-,free country;
• in 2014, more females were recruited to the Fisheries Department, and I’m proud to say that the Fisheries Department now has 12 females and this year we produce our first qualified ni-Vanuatu female observer who has so far been doing well; so ladies and gentlemen, the department is implementing gender balance not by politics but through merit.
• in 2015, despite the disaster, the new departmental structure was approved with 71 positions and 52 staff. Staff qualification levels include masters, postgraduate diploma, degree, diploma and certificates and we continue to encourage staff to go on training and bringing in qualified new recruits but ensuring that there is a balance in the level of qualifications.
This year, 2016 the disaster recovery programmes are being rolled out including the expansion of the aqua-culture hatchery and fish farming facility at Tagabe and Santo and the revival of rural fisheries develop-ment across the country in partnership with our partners.
In 2016 we made good progress in the Sino-Van fishery development, which led to the first fish unloading trial last month and additional infrastructure work to commence soon.
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Overall, the budget of the department has grown and project funding has also grown. Revenue collection continues to grow since 2008 and I’m happy to announce that so far this year revenue collection has gone over that of last year. And we think that there is more potential for this sector to generate increased direct revenue and make significant contributions to the economy overall.
But it is common knowledge that the fisheries sector is increasingly becoming more dynamic and diverse and fisheries management has become more complex at the community, national, subregional, regional and international level. This complexity requires the careful marriage of scientific advice, good policy di-rection and legal minds of our lawyers to manoeuvre through the complexities. I trust my staff, who are all hard working local ni-Vanuatu people, that yes we can do it to grow the fisheries sector.
I take this time to thank the former directors and especially my predecessor for their contributions to initi-ate the evolution of the fisheries sector. I especially thank my managers and all the staff for their continued commitment and hard work, many times during overtime hours, public holidays and weekends which are valuable times for their families. I thank you for being passionate about your work and it is this passion that drives commitment and performance this far and I encourage you to continue to do so.
I thank the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Forest, Fisheries and Biosecurity through the leadership of the Minister and Director General, and other government ministers and departments for their support to the Fisheries Department. The Fisheries department cannot work on its own without the support of the whole government system.
Special thank you to SPC and FFA for their continued technical support to the department in the areas of scientific services, development and management support, and operational services. We thank also our do-nor partners: Australian government through the ACIAR project and the WorldFish project, the Japanese government through JICA and JOCV, the New Zealand government, the French government through the work of IRD, SPREP, UNDP and others for their support.
I thank also our industry players locally, in the region and internationally for working with us over the years and they are the ones giving us the revenue we collect. I especially thank our fishing crew operators for keeping the crewing industry alive despite lack of greater support from the government.
I thank also our non-governmental partners and communities whose support has raised the department to this level.
I thank also our media friends and journalists and especially the participants of the tunanomics workshop this year, the media have become more aware of fisheries and we look forward to continuing work with you.
Ladies and gentlemen, we are now at the cross road, and we have an exciting time ahead of us but how do we maneuver this sector into that future to reach that exiting time?
Without a sectoral policy, there is no roadmap to follow, the big road for management, development, and conservation of fisheries resources is unclear, door to investment opportunities is unclear, and road to in-crease fish production unclear, donor partners do not see where the sector is going, and therefore cannot put their money where they want to assist on, investors do not see where the sector is going and cannot invest their money, line government department and ministries do not see where to align their priorities.
The National Fisheries Sector Policy is key to showing us the road to follow in the next 15 years to further grow the fisheries sector in Vanuatu and to increase production, facilitate industry development support, open employment opportunities, and improve economy of the country and health of our people.
We thank department staff for their contribution to this policy formulation, the Environment Department for its contribution, and SPC and FFA for their valuable input to this policy.
We hope to continue to do our best to implement this policy to bring the fisheries sector to its rightful place.
Ladies and gentlemen, I wish you all an enjoyable time with us today to celebrate the launching of the Vanuatu National Fisheries Sector Policy.
Thank you.
Abbreviations
ACIAR Australian Centre for International Agricultural ResearchCDS catch documentation schemeCLS Collecte Localisation SatellitesCOTS crown-of-thorns starfishEIA environmental impact assessmentEM electronic monitoringER electronic reportingEU European UnionFAD fish aggregating deviceFAO Food and Agriculture Organization of the United NationsFFA Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries AgencyFMAC Fisheries Management Advisory CouncilIATF international authorization to fishICCAT international Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic TunasICT information and communication technologyINGO International non-governmental organisationIOTC Indian Ocean Tuna Commission IRD Institut de recherche pour le développementIUU illegal, unreported and unregulated fishingJICA Japan International Cooperation AgencyMALFFB Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Forest, Fisheries and Bio-securityMCS monitoring, compliance and surveillance MIPU Ministry of Infrastructure and Public UtilityMOA memorandum of agreementMOU memorandum of understandingNPOA National Plan of Action
a b
a Frozen albacore ready to be shipped to Fiji for processing. (Photo Sammy James)b Deep bottom snapper caught during a fishing technology training course. (Photo George Amos)
NCD non-communicable diseaseNGO non-governmental organisationNPFC North Pacific Fisheries Commission OGCIO Office of the Government Chief Information OfficerPMW Police Maritime WingPSC Public Service CommissionPWD Public Works DepartmentRFMO Regional Fisheries Management OrganisationSFVA Seafood Verification Authority SLO State Law OfficeSPC Pacific CommunitySPREP Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment ProgrammeTAG Technical Advisory GroupUNDP United Nations Development ProgrammeUSP University of the South PacificVARTC Vanuatu Agricultural Research and Training CentreVCF Vanuatu Cooperative FederationVDS vessel day schemeVFD Vanuatu Fisheries Department VIPA Vanuatu Investment Promotion AuthorityVISR Vanuatu International Shipping Registry VMS vessel monitoring system VMSS vessel monitoring system servicesVPMW Vanuatu Police Maritime WingVUFIMS Vanuatu Fisheries Information SystemWCPFC Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission
c d
c Tilapia sampling by fisheries aquaculture assistant officer and some farmers. (Photo Kalna Arthur)d Fisheries Development Officer, Mr Willie Jimmy, showcasing a newly constructed pond filled with water at a community in Torba Province. (Photo Willie Jimmy)
Vanuatu National Fisheries Sector Policy 2016-2031xii
Contents
Speech by the Minister for Agriculture, Livestock, Forestry, Fisheries and Biosecurity v
Director of Fisheries remarks viii
Executive summary 1
Constraints, issues and challenges within the fisheries sector 2
The Vanuatu National Fisheries Sector Policy 5
Overview 5
Policy development process 5
Policy vision, mission and guiding principles 7
Vision 7
Mission 7
Guiding principles 7
Strategic policy objectives 8
Strategic actions 9
SPO 1: Institutional strengthening and good governance 9
SPO 2: Fisheries investment and economic growth 11
SPO 3: Food and nutrition security and alleviation of non-communicable disease risk 13
SPO 4: Infrastructure support and product development 14
SPO 5: Environmental management, climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction 16
SPO 6: Information and communication technology improvement 18
SPO 7: Fisheries compliance and IUU prevention 20
SPO 8: Building partnership and networking 22
Policy implementation process 23
Steps in the process 23
Monitoring and evaluation 23
Annex 1: Implementation framework for the National Fisheries Sector Policy 24
1
Executive summary
The Vanuatu National Fisheries Sector Policy 2016–2031 is the umbrella visionary document of the Republic of Vanuatu, in which the Ministry responsible for Fisheries and its partners takes charge in delivering assistance to support the fisheries sector to achieve its target activities over the next 15-year period. The policy highlights priority issues in this sector and sets out a num-ber of key strategic actions to address these challenges.
This sector policy is in line and consistent with other policy documents of the Vanuatu government, such as the National Sustainable Development Plan (NSDP) or “Vanuatu 2030, The People’s Plan”, the Overarching Productive Sector Policy (2012–2017), and various other relevant policies, and should be read with all other relevant fisheries poli-cies pertaining to Vanuatu.
The Vanuatu National Fisheries Sector Policy 2016–2031 recognises all other fisheries-related subregional, regional and international policies and treaties that Vanuatu is a signatory to. Examples of these policies and treaties include the Melanesian Spearhead Group Coastal Fisheries Roadmap (2015–2024), the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency Regional Mela-nesian Spearhead Group Strategy (2010–2015), A new song for coastal fisheries – pathways to change: the Noumea Strategy (2015), the Pacific Regional Roadmap on Fisheries (2010), the Samoa Pathway (2014) and the Sustainable Development Goals (2014).
This policy seeks to coordinate the fisheries management, development and conservation activities of existing fisheries management plans, and the linkages to high-level strategies and monitoring programmes in the fisheries sector. Vanuatu’s continued efforts to remedy the man-agement challenges of its international fishing fleet to prevent illegal, unreported and unrelated fishing are a demonstration of its commitments to responsible fishing in the world’s oceans. It is not an easy task to manage an international fishing fleet that is based offshore because of capac-ity gaps and sustained resources. Vanuatu — through its Fisheries Department — endeavours to work towards fully discharging its international, regional and national responsibilities with regard to fisheries into the future.
The focus, however, is not just on sustainable stock management and biodiversity conserva-tion. Like other small island developing states, Vanuatu recognises the priority need for fisher-ies management, and advancing small-scale sustainable domestic fisheries and aquaculture developments using local operations around its provinces. In addition, Vanuatu acknowledges the need for larger commercial fishing ventures that promote employment and improved liveli-hoods, and ensure food and nutrition security.
About 80% of Vanuatu’s population dwell in rural areas, and these people depend heavily on coastal fisheries for their livelihood and food security. This policy seeks to promote community-based and co-management approaches to coastal fisheries. As Vanuatu’s human population continues to grow, diversification of fishing activities and development of alternative food and livelihood opportunities are critical to support increased production. Aquaculture and develop-ment of nearshore fisheries are viable options that this policy seeks to embrace and promote.
On the whole, Vanuatu continues to expend its efforts to work closely with private and business sector interests to increase possible opportunities in fishing, fisheries and aquaculture. Vanuatu embraces a balanced approach to fisheries and biodiversity through sustainable conservation, management and development. It is the expectation of this policy that the key actions set out here will be delivered appropriately, and with the joint support of the government and its part-ners. The scope of the policy covers all relevant matters pertaining to fishing and fisheries, in-cluding inland fisheries, coastal fisheries, oceanic fisheries and aquaculture.
Vanuatu National Fisheries Sector Policy 2016-20312
Constraints, issues and challenges within the fisheries sector
The key challenges in the fisheries sector are best described as primarily related to governance and adminis-tration, implementing commitments and obligations, relatively poor progress and growth in domestic fisher-ies and aquaculture development, biodiversity research, political will, resources and resourcing. There are also ongoing operational issues common in fisheries that relate to target and non-target species, the marine environment and/or ecosystem, and human well-being. Specifically, current operational challenges relate to resource sustainability, fishing capacity, input and output controls, resource use and ownership, maximising benefits from resource utilisation, and mitigating impacts on the environment and non-target species.
As party to most regional fisheries management organisations and international fisheries treaties, conven-tions and arrangements, Vanuatu is expected to fully comply with its commitments and obligations. This has been a challenge although not impossible as demonstrated by Vanuatu being removed from the European Union illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing activities yellow card in 2014. Vanuatu is committed to working with its provincial governments to improve management and develop jurisdictions, and to working with communities to improve and expand community-based fisheries. These constraints and challenges are summarised below.
1. Absence of a national fisheries sector policy The lack of a national fisheries sector policy is reflected in the lack of strategic direction to foster growth of the fisheries sector.
2. Weak institutional setup and regulatory framework Imbalanced Fisheries Department organisational setup and inadequate human resources and weak link-ages to other service providers are the challengers faced in delivering services to rural communities, and account for the unfavourable climate for growth.
3. Lack of Infrastructure to support fishing and marketing Infrastructure support — including markets, boat and fishing gear — are the main hindrances to fisheries development and increased fish production, resulting in shortfalls in fish supply in urban markets.
4. Inadequately trained workforce The fisheries sector has the potential to increase employment opportunities locally and offshore but lack a skilled workforce and training facilities and service resources to support skill training.
5. Resources and resourcing A shortage of human and financial resources within the Fisheries Department limits the recruitment of essential positions such as in information and communication technology, and fisheries extension officers, and in the administration of the Fisheries Department.
6. Ineffective enforcement of regulations Enforcement of regulatory measures is lacking because of the lack of existing capacity and no collabora-tion with the prosecution office.
7. Lack of infrastructure for shore-based industrial tuna processing development Shore-based Industrial tuna fisheries development is constrained by a lack of onshore infrastructure, in-cluding dedicated areas for wharves, a processing facility, and slipway services, all of which makes Vanu-atu unattractive to investors in the fisheries sector.
8. Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and implementation of the European Union (EU) IUU yellow card recommendations Vanuatu has made good progress in controlling its flag vessels against IUU fishing activities but inspec-tion of its international fishing fleet is a challenge and certification of catch for access markets in the EU are challenges that need to be addressed.
9. Meeting regional fisheries management organisation (RFMO) commitments and obligations Despite improvements in compliance by vessels, attendance to annual RFMO meetings and reporting remain a challenge due to human resource issues.
10. Poor participation of government stakeholders Working in isolation from relevant line government departments has resulted in the over-burden, duplication and stretching of limited resources of Vanuatu’s Fisheries Department and ineffective programme implementation.
11. Land disputes affecting rural fish market centres 80% of rural fish preservation and market centres have ceased because of land ownership issues, and there is lack of cooperation between fishers and resources owners.
12. Limited access to financial resources It is extremely difficult for fishermen to get a loan from the bank, and insurance providers are hesitant to ensure fishing boats because of the high risk involved.
13. Lack of aquaculture development Aquaculture development is faced with a lack of a fully equipped hatchery facility, which prevents the production of farming stocks and, therefore, the growth of fish farming; addi-tionally, an aquaculture extension programme has yet to be fully developed.
14. Community-based management Many approaches of community-based fisheries management have been introduced to local communities but, to date, these approaches have not worked because there is no govern-ment policy direction on community-based fisheries development and management.
15. High cost of working with rural fishers It is too expensive for fishers in rural areas to export their fish to urban markets because of a lack of infrastructure such as a fishing boat and gear, preservation and market facilities, and transportation costs to urban markets.
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e Using a sail on a canoe (a traditional fishing effort system rarely used nowadays in Vanuatu) to go out fishing for coastal pelagic fishes. (Photo Kalna Arthur)
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f VFD Officers inspecting a sea cucumber processing facility durring the sea cucumber harvest season in 2015. (Photo Sammy James)g Mr Sammy James of the Compete and Authority Division of VFD undertaking quality test on fish at a vendor market in Port Vila. (Photo Betsy Charley)h A display of fresh catch from a typical deep bottom fishing trip in a canoe. (Photo Pita Neihapi)i Fresh cultured marine shrimp harvested by Vate Prawns. (Photo Lency Dick)j Tilapia fish harvested from a small backyard pond. (Photo Kalna Arthur)
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The Vanuatu National Fisheries Sector Policy
OverviewThe Vanuatu National Fisheries Sector Policy sets out the vision, high-level policy directions, and strategic implementation framework for the sustainable conservation, management and de-velopment of fisheries and aquaculture in the Republic of Vanuatu, and ensures integrated ap-proaches across all sectors. This fisheries sector policy is developed in accordance with Section 6(1) (a) of the Fisheries Act, which provides for general policy guidance on fisheries and aqua-culture matters. The term of this fisheries policy is 15 years, consistent with other sectoral poli-cies of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Forest, Fisheries and Biosecurity, and the National Sustainable Development Plan 2016–2030, also referred to as ‘The People’s Plan’.
This policy focuses on improving: 1) fisheries governance, and sustainable and economically viable fisheries and aquaculture; 2) access to finance, improved infrastructures, market access, seafood safety and value- adding; and 3) sustainable growth, employment, food security and livelihood. The policy recognises and promotes gender equality, the participation of vulnerable groups in fisheries, and strengthens partnerships, collaboration and networking.
The use of information communication technology (ICT) and the increasing use of ICT in fisher-ies work, particularly in monitoring, compliance and surveillance of fishing operations inside and outside of Vanuatu waters is promoted. The need for information access and dissemination is critical for decision-making and visibility of the fisheries sector’s role in the economic devel-opment of the country and public education and awareness of the responsibility of the people of Vanuatu in managing their resources. The policy further recognises climate change and its adverse impacts on the environment and humanity, and the need for the fisheries sector to con-sider adapting and mitigating the impacts to reduce the risk of disasters.
The sector policy is an umbrella policy for the fisheries sector and should be read together with other fisheries-specific action plans, such as the:
• Revised Tuna Fishery Management Plan
• National Plan of Action on Sea Turtles
• National Plan of Action on Sharks
• National Plan of Action to Prevent, Deter and Eliminate Illegal, Unreported and
• Unregulated (IUU) Fishing
• National Fleet Management Policy
• Aquarium Trade Management Plan
• Snapper Fishery Management Plan
• Sea Cucumber Management Plan
• National Fishing Vessel Charter Policy
• National Fishing Vessel Crewing Policy
Policy development processThe development of this policy is a result of a number of stakeholder consultations and a litera-ture review of existing fisheries management plans and departmental internal consultations. Six consultations were conducted at the national, provincial government and community levels.
f VFD Officers inspecting a sea cucumber processing facility durring the sea cucumber harvest season in 2015. (Photo Sammy James)g Mr Sammy James of the Compete and Authority Division of VFD undertaking quality test on fish at a vendor market in Port Vila. (Photo Betsy Charley)h A display of fresh catch from a typical deep bottom fishing trip in a canoe. (Photo Pita Neihapi)i Fresh cultured marine shrimp harvested by Vate Prawns. (Photo Lency Dick)j Tilapia fish harvested from a small backyard pond. (Photo Kalna Arthur)
Vanuatu national fisheries sector policy 2016 - 2031
Consultations began in 2013 but validation consultation workshops occurred in March and July 2016. These series of validation consultations were conducted in all provinces. In November 2016, the final national consultation and open forum in Port Vila was held to consider the final draft policy.
Stakeholders play a significant role in the development of the fisheries and aquaculture sector in Vanuatu. Representatives attending the consultation workshops included government senior of-ficers, provincial government officers, area secretaries, community leaders, representatives from the private sector, youth and women’s groups, church leaders, resource owners, donor partners, non-governmental organisations, and regional and international fisheries organisations and in-stitutions.
k l
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k Mr Clay Sara, Sanma Province Fisheries Development Officer with a good catch from a FAD test fishing trip in Santo. (Photo Clay Sara)l Successful construction of a bamboo FAD at south Santo by fishermen and Sanma Province Fisheries Development Officer. (Photo Clay Sara)m Two fishermen return from a fishing trip at Maskelynes Islands, south Malekula. (Photo Pita Neihapi)
7
Policy vision, mission and guiding principles
VisionHealthy and sustainable fisheries sector for the long-term economic, social and food security for current and future generations of the Republic of Vanuatu.
MissionTo provide an effective, efficient, transparent and accountable service delivery through a par-ticipatory approach to ensure long-term sustainable fisheries management, conservation and development.
Guiding principlesThe following guiding principles form the basis of the Vanuatu National Fisheries Sector Policy:
i) Optimum utilisation of fisheries and aquaculture resources to ensure ecological and so-cioeconomic sustainability in resource-use and domestic developments, while protect-ing cultural and traditional norms, including embracing customary marine tenure;
ii) Maximise net economic benefits from resource use in all fisheries waters and reinvest such benefits in the development of coastal and inland fisheries and the aquaculture sector in Vanuatu;
iii) Promote the use of rights-based management supported by best science and practices in all fisheries and aquaculture;
iv) Promote the principles of visibility, transparency, participatory and inclusivity, which includes relevant stakeholders in decision-making processes on fisheries and aquacul-ture management and development;
v) Safeguard the welfare of future generations, recognising gender equity and vulnerable groups, and protecting the country’s sovereignty and jurisdiction; and
iv) Promote good governance and strengthen cooperation, partnerships and networking at all levels of the government and with civil societies and communities, including be-tween government and external partners and institutions.
k Mr Clay Sara, Sanma Province Fisheries Development Officer with a good catch from a FAD test fishing trip in Santo. (Photo Clay Sara)l Successful construction of a bamboo FAD at south Santo by fishermen and Sanma Province Fisheries Development Officer. (Photo Clay Sara)m Two fishermen return from a fishing trip at Maskelynes Islands, south Malekula. (Photo Pita Neihapi)
Vanuatu National Fisheries Sector Policy 2016-20318
Strategic policy objectivesThis sector policy is structured around eight strategic policy objectives (SPO), each of which is underpinned by more specific strategic actions and policy directives.
1. Institutional setup and good governance: Sustained resources and resourcing that strengthen the fisheries institution in promoting and ensuring good governance, capac-ity building, training and technical service delivery;
2. Fisheries investment and increase economic growth: A strong fisheries sector generat-ing maximum economic growth, employment, and at the same time ensuring the sus-tainability of fish stocks, thereby securing food security and improving livelihoods of all communities;
3. Food and nutrition security and the alleviation of non-communicable diseases: A strong fisheries sector that increases the production of safe and healthy fish to feed the growing population, and thus providing a balanced diet and contributing to the allevia-tion of non-communicable diseases.
4. Infrastructure support and product development:Investment in onshore infrastruc-tures that support value-adding and product development in order to increase exports, consistent with internationally acceptable standards and certifications as required by competent authorities and potential markets;
5. Environment management, climate change and disaster risk reduction: Investigate the impacts of development on the environment, and the impacts of climate change and disaster on fisheries resources and habitats, particularly identifying and implementing key priority areas on climate resilience and disaster risk reduction;
6. Information and communication technology improvement: An improved fisheries and aquaculture sector that is supported by the improved development of informa-tion technology and management, including electronic reporting and monitoring, done within the requirements of the national ICT policy;
7. Fisheries compliance and IUU fishing prevention: Zero-tolerance of IUU activities, which requires the effective implementation of the National Fleet Management Policy, and ensures all Vanuatu flag and licensed fishing vessels are fully monitored and com-pliant;
8. Building partnerships and networking: Strengthen current partnerships, collaboration and networking between the Fisheries Department and other government agencies, and encourage the establishment of new partnerships that better promote the principles of visibility, transparency, participatory and inclusivity.
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Strategic actions
The following strategic policy actions and directives address the key constraints and challenges faced by the fisheries sector as set out in earlier sections of this policy. The strategic actions and policy directives are laid out under the eight strategic policy objectives (SPOs).
SPO 1: Institutional strengthening and good governance
Sustained resources and resourcing that strengthen the fisheries institution in promoting and ensuring transparency, good governance, capacity building, training and technical service delivery.
Strategic action 1: Strengthen institutions that administer and enforce fisheries sector policies and regulations that promote good governance
Policy directives
1. Review the organisational structure of the Fisheries Department
2. Assess and implement the separation of the Fisheries Department into a separate minis-try or entity
3. Create field officer positions for rural areas to cover expanding fisheries roles
4. Create positions for ICT and communications officers
5. Increase budgetary support and increase the skills of staff for a more complex fisheries management environment
6. Encourage access to finance and soft loans to support private sector development
7. Develop a strategy to improve monitoring, control and surveillance of tunas and coastal fisheries
8. Enact, review and enforce the regulatory framework from time to time
9. Implement recommendations in the Institution Strengthening Project report by the Pa-cific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA).
Strategic action 2: Train all workers in the fisheries sector Policy directives
1. Develop a training plan to maintain the required skills for departmental operation
2. Develop a training syllabus and modules based on the needs of the fisheries sector
3. Seek capacity building opportunities for fisheries officers
4. Develop arrangements for work attachments and exchange programmes
5. Encourage formal training of officers at all qualifications and levels
6. Provide a budget for domestic training
7. Work with partners, donors and the fishing industry to support training and scholarships.
Vanuatu National Fisheries Sector Policy 2016-203110
Strategic action 3: Inform and educate the public on relevant fisheries developments Policy directives
1. Prepare information security standards and procedures to promote information sharing and exchange
2. Promote use of electronic, visual and print media, radio programme workshops, semi-nars and public forums
3. Use and disseminate fisheries data (to be guided by binding rules)
4. Create position and recruit fisheries communications officer.
Strategic action 4: Maintain good fishing vessel reputation in the shipping registry Policy directives
1. Conduct due diligence on all new vessels entering and exiting the flag vessel registry
2. Ensure record of fishing vessels and reporting to shipping registry is up to date
3. Maintain clean record of IUU and related illegal and criminal activities during register-ing, flagging, chartering and licensing of fishing vessels
4. Maintain good cooperation with RFMOs
5. Ensure timely payment of annual RFMO dues and avoid accumulation of outstanding fees
6. Ensure that RFMO fee is cost recovered from fishing industry operators
7. Actively participate in annual RFMO meetings
8. Review appointments of Vanuatu’s RFMO representations.
Strategic action 5: Strengthen participation of stakeholders Policy directives
1. Consult with stakeholders in important fisheries developments
2. Engage with formal and informal resource groups at the government and community level
3. Activate the role of the Fisheries Management Advisory Committee
4. Develop memoranda of understanding to govern critical interagency relationships
5. Consult with non-governmental organisations and the fishing industry on new manage-ment measures and developments.
Strategic action 6: Provide equal opportunity to all sectors of community Policy directives
1. Encourage fair participation of women in all positions in the Fisheries Department
2. Open training opportunities to all community groups, including vulnerable groups
3. Encourage participation of youth in training opportunities in fisheries, aquaculture and value-adding processes.
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SPO 2: Fisheries investment and economic growth
A strong fisheries sector generating maximum economic growth, increase employment creation and livelihood development at the same time ensuring sustainability of fish stocks, healthy ecosystems
and environmentally sound practices.
Strategic action 7: Facilitate investment in the fisheries sectorPolicy directives
1. Create a conducive environment for investment in the fishing industry
2. Strengthen the role of the Vanuatu Investment Promotion Authority to facilitate investments
3. Develop a policy to support joint venture
4. Improve trade procedures for the fisheries sector
5. Improve institutional support for investment
6. Reduce barriers to investment and costs of doing business
7. Assist with the collaboration of all investment sectors
8. Continue to maintain the national stand to discourage harmful subsidies in the indus-trial fisheries sector.
Strategic action 8: Grow revenue base of fisheries sector through quota management or vessel day scheme
Policy directives
1. Assess opportunities for implementing a vessel day scheme (VDS) or quota manage-ment system to add value to Vanuatu fish stock
2. Review licensing system to balance investment and revenue increase
3. Develop and implement new fee initiatives, including export taxes, environmental fees, product sales and service costs
4. Consult the industry on these new revenue initiatives
5. Establish regulations and mechanisms to implement new revenue initiatives
6. Improve fee payment system from international clients
7. Develop policy on revenue growth in the fisheries sector
8. Balance revenue growth, resource management and industry benefits.
Strategic action 9: Undertake research and development in wild fisheries Policy directives
1. Encourage exploratory fishing for tuna and squid in Vanuatu’s exclusive economic zone
2. Encourage support for small-scale longline fisheries development (through the Sino-Van Fisheries Ltd) joint venture arrangement
3. Collaborate research on the potential for a deep-bottomfish fishery, reef and pelagic fish-ery and recreational fishing
Vanuatu National Fisheries Sector Policy 2016-203112
4. Upgrading to medium-size fishing vessels that are suitable for ni-Vanuatu fishers.
5. Conduct biological research on the status of resources and invasive species
6. Collect accurate fishery data from subsistence and commercial fishing operators
7. Undertake 100% coverage in port sampling
8. Conduct socioeconomic surveys of the impact of coastal and industrial fishing activities
9. Establish research protocols for visiting scientists and institutions.
Strategic action 10: Facilitate full establishment and operation of Sino-Van Fisheries Limited
Policy directives
1. Gain government approval for the relocation and funding of the new Fisheries Depart-ment Office complex and mariculture station
2. Facilitate establishment of the new temporary fisheries wharf at Paray Bay
3. Facilitate completion of Sino-Van Fisheries Ltd1 factory support warehouses
4. Work with the Vanuatu Investment Promotion Authority to facilitate preferential treat-ment to Sino-Van Fisheries Ltd and other fisheries investors
5. Establish full operation of the Sino-Van Fisheries Ltd.
Strategic action 11: Strengthen coastal and nearshore fisheries development Policy directives
1. Deploy fish aggregating devices (FADs) in all provinces
2. Train all fishers in fishing skills and FAD management
3. Establish fishers associations to manage fishing infrastructure
4. Provide fishing gear and boat support to fishers associations on credit
5. Establish fish preservation facilities in strategic market locations across country
6. License all small fishing boat operators
7. Provide duty concessions to fishing boat operators
8. Maintain support and engagement with fishers associations
9. Cooperate with other line government departments to support coastal fisheries devel-opment.
Strategic action 12: Undertake aquaculture research and development Policy directives
1. Conduct research in freshwater hatchery production
2. Develop system of seed supply at cost recovery to farmers
3. Conduct farm production trials from standard farms
4. Undertake research in feed development
1 Sino-Van Fisheries Ltd is a joint venture company between the Vanuatu government and the China National Fisheries Corporation. The purpose of the joint venture company is for both parties to cooperate in the development of an onshore fishing industry and the processing of fish to support local economic development.
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5. Conduct training and capacity building for fisheries officers and farmers
6. Develop aquaculture extension services
7. Improve breeding quality of aquaculture species
8. Introduce new aquaculture species.
Strategic action 13: Minimise adverse environmental impacts on fisheries developmentPolicy directives
1. Undertake an environmental impact assessment (EIA) of major developments
2. Follow biosecurity protocols in aquaculture and the importation of new species
3. Monitor and mitigate negative impact of invasive species
4. Develop a policy on environmental fee collection from the tourism industry
5. Ensure that EIA activities undertaken by the Fisheries Department are cost recovered
6. Develop a guideline or standard practice for EIA work.
Strategic action 14: Create employment opportunities in the fishing industry Policy directives
1. Enact and implement the fishing boat crewing policy and regulations
2. Train existing and new fishermen to take up crew employment opportunities
3. Train fish handlers and processors to be ready for skilled labour export
4. Assist enactment of maritime legislation to facilitate crewing employment
5. Control operation of crew recruiting agent
6. Collaborate with industry operators on crew training and employment
7. Collaborate with the Department of Labour on employment matters.
SPO 3:Food and nutrition security and alleviation of non-communicable disease risk
Strong fisheries sector to increase fish production to ensure food and nutrition security needs and assist with the alleviation of non-communicable diseases.
Strategic action 15: Increase production of seafood at the national level Policy directives
1. Increase availability of fish for domestic consumption
2. Establish marketing system in rural areas to support fish production
3. Establish fish markets in towns, provinces and villages
4. Encourage the landing of fish by industrial fishing fleets in domestic ports
5. Channel tunas and bycatch fish to the local market
6. Provide funding support to fishermen to increase fish production.
Vanuatu National Fisheries Sector Policy 2016-203114
Strategic action 16: Improve access to sufficient and safe seafood Policy directives
1. Increase consumption of seafood and help reduce the risk of non-communicable diseases
2. Establish domestic seafood quality standards
3. Apply standards to all seafood markets
4. Train fishers and fish receivers on proper handing and processing methods
5. Inform consumers of the risk of eating certain reef fish species
6. Develop education and awareness materials on seafood poisoning
7. Improve value-adding of fish products
8. Encourage production of healthy and environmentally sound fish farming
9. Maintain standards for exports and imports of seafood
10. Collaborate with the Department of Industry on food safety standards.
Strategic action 17: Sustain production of fish at the national level Policy directives
1. Strengthen fishermen’s association networking in the islands, provinces and at the na-tional level
2. Provide supporting infrastructure, training and mentoring to fishers associations and fishermen’s cooperative societies
3. Sustain fishing activities at all levels of operation from small-, medium- and large-scale fishing activities
4. Increase production of fish to meet the growing demand of Vanuatu’s population
5. Sustain production of fish from capture and aquaculture
6. Minimise wastage of resources
7. Provide subsidy to licensed fishing boats.
SPO 4: Infrastructure support and product development
Invest in infrastructures that support fisheries development, including, wharves and port facilities, processing facilities, aquaculture facilities, Fisheries Department offices.
Strategic action 18: Establish centralised international fisheries port at PalekulaPolicy directives
1. Conduct feasibility study for re-development of the former Palekula fishing base on Santo, involving an anchorage, slipway services and fish processing centre
2. Work with FFA to complete feasibility study of the Palekula site
3. Declare the area a special industrial zone to support fish processing industry
4. Establish and operate an international fisheries port under the framework of the Vanuatu Cooperative Federation
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5. Establish temporary fisheries wharf in Port Vila to support the landing and processing of fish by Sino-Van Fisheries Ltd in the short term
6. Encourage partnerships with donor governments and investors for the establishment of an international fisheries port
7. Encourage foreign investment in a large-scale, onshore tuna processing factory
8. The Vanuatu Cooperative Federation will provide business management services to the international fisheries port investment
9. Work with the Vanuatu Investment Promotion Authority to attract foreign investors to invest in the international fisheries port.
Strategic action 19: Establish centralised fish markets in urban and provincial centres Policy directives
1. Establish centralised fish markets in urban areas and province centres
2. Repair and maintain existing fish market facilities in provincial centres
3. Set up fish market outlets in rural areas
4. Rural fish markets to aggregate produce for shipment to urban markets
5. License all markets and/or receivers of fish
6. Fish bycatch from the industrial fishing fleet will be marketed by the Port Vila fish mar-ket and the Luganville fish market.
7. Protect the interests of small-scale fishermen by controlling fish supply and prices
8. Ensure that the quality and price of fish is fair to consumers.
Strategic action 20: Establish central aquaculture hatchery facilities and provide standard farm construction support
Policy directives
1. Establish freshwater hatcheries and holding facilities in the northern and southern re-gions to service fish farmers
2. Promote farming of tilapia and tiger prawn in demonstration farms to promote local ni-Vanuatu farmers
3. Secure funding to build a new mariculture station in Port Vila and a new freshwater aquaculture station on Santo
4. Facilitate construction of demonstration farms in provinces, based on new standards of small-, medium- and large-scale aquaculture farming
5. Identify suitable aquaculture lands
6. Trial a cyclone-proof design for floating farms
7. Seek funding for earth moving equipment
8. Assist farmers with construction, farming and marketing of produce.
Strategic action 21: Support the design and building of fishing boats Policy directives
1. Install new boat building machinery and equipment at the Fisheries Department boatyard
Vanuatu National Fisheries Sector Policy 2016-203116
2. Increase production of locally designed fishing boats
3. Invest in building of medium size fishing vessels
4. Train boat builders via boatyard attachment trainings
5. Increase production of newly designed fishing gear and other marine items
6. Conduct training in boat maintenance for rural fishers
7. Amalgamate workshop and boatyard
8. Create engineering position and recruit
9. Collaborate with partners and investors on the improved design of small-scale fishing boats.
Strategic action 22: Improve Fisheries Department office infrastructure Policy directives
1. Seek government approval for the relocation of the Fisheries Department office and mariculture hatchery in Port Vila
2. Secure funding for new Fisheries Office building or rent office space in Port Vila
3. Relocate the main Vanuatu Fisheries Department Office in Port Vila to the new office
4. Maintain and build new provincial office buildings and staff houses in all provinces
5. Rent existing waterfront land in Port Vila to Sino-Van Fisheries Ltd for temporary fish-eries wharf development
6. Existing wharf facility to become the domestic fisheries wharf in Port Vila
7. Keep accurate inventory of building assets of the Fisheries Department.
Strategic action 23: Secure budget for new vehicles, motorbikes, fishing boats and a multipurpose vessel to support rural fisheries work
Policy directives
1. Seek budget support for new department vehicles to support fisheries work
2. Establish strict vehicle management measures, in line with Public Service Commission procedures
3. Secure funding to purchase motor bikes for rural areas to support fisheries work
4. Maintain Fisheries Department vehicles Vehicle maintenance to be serviced by work-shop mechanic
5. Secure funding to purchase a Fisheries Department vessel to be used for conducting fisheries activities and to service fisheries centres in rural areas (e.g. for FAD deploy-ment, surveys, and visits)
6. Create position of captain to manage vessel operation
7. Ensure that all fisheries centres have a small fishing boat to carry out fisheries work
8. Encourage new projects to provide budgetary support for the recruitment of project officers.
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SPO 5:Environmental management, climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction
Investigate the impacts of adverse environmental impacts caused by climate change and natural disasters on fisheries resources and habitats, focusing on climate resilience and disaster risk reduction.
Strategic action 24: Undertake an environmental impact assessment and baseline study to assess climate change impacts
Policy directives1. Develop a policy on long-term monitoring of coral reef health, sea water temperature
and resource status 2. Implement research studies to monitor coral bleaching, crown-of-thorns outbreak,;3. Develop standard operating procedure for responding to a climate change disaster such
as fish kill, crown-of-thorns starfish outbreak4. Work with research institutions to establish a long-term climate change monitoring pro-
gramme 5. Assess the following: impact of coastal uplift caused by earthquakes, fish kill from in-
creased sea surface temperatures, and tropical cyclone damage6. Coordinate stakeholders to assess crown-of-thorn outbreak and damage7. Conduct stock assessment to monitor fish stock behaviour, fishing patterns and catch
composition as a measure of climate change 8. Establish data management and reporting procedures for climate change monitoring
results 9. Collaborate with other partners in addressing marine environmental monitoring.
Strategic action 25: Implement mitigation and adaptation activities in readiness for disasters
Policy directives1. Establish marine protected areas as food reserves for use during natural disasters 2. Restrict and ban commercialisation of endangered reef resources 3. Minimise wastage of resources by establishing preservation facilities to store and pre-
serve fish for use during disasters4. Implement and enforce fisheries regulations at the community level5. Train fishers on fish value-adding for use during disasters6. Develop alternative livelihood activities for communities, including ecotourism, handi-
craft production and aquaculture 7. Establish an available stock of fishing gear and FAD materials for use during natural
disasters 8. Take into account the expected impact of climate change on tuna stocks when estimat-
ing future national fisheries sector revenue 9. Develop mapping system to assess scale of climate change impacts on marine environ-
ment10. Provide adequate training to fishers, and strengthen fishers associations and encourage
the cooperation of all fishers.
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Strategic action 26: Promote community-based management and climate change adaptation
Policy directives1. Develop guidelines and procedures for community-based fisheries management
2. Strengthen community-based management and climate change adaptation through community-based ecosystem plans
3. Preserve traditional resource management and fishing practices
4. Adapt co-management practices at the community level
5. Develop other livelihood opportunities
6. Work with provincial governments and communities to set aside marine areas for con-servation and ecotourism development.
Strategic action 27: Work with communities to Identify and establish marine conservation areas and develop ecotourism ventures
Policy directives1. Identify suitable biologically significant marine ecosystems across Vanuatu
2. Conduct surveys to verify the status of various resources
3. Work with communities to set up ecotourism development activities
4. Map marine protected areas in the country
5. Work with the tourism office to promote marine areas as tourist attractions
6. Promote community, provincial and national government cooperation in managing conservation areas
7. Encourage provincial governments to participate in marine policing.
SPO 6: Information and communication technology improvement
An improved fisheries sector supported by improved information and communication technology and information management, including electronic reporting and electronic monitoring, which are
implemented within the framework of the national ICT policy.
Strategic action 28: Develop standard procedure for information securityPolicy directives1. Prepare information security guidelines and procedures to guide the collection, produc-
tion and dissemination of information
2. Protect fishery-sensitive information from leaking out to the public
3. Create positions for ICT officers in the Fisheries Department to manage information
4. Disseminate information through all forms of media to improve visibility, education and awareness and for other development uses.
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Strategic action 29: Centralise Fisheries Department data management systemPolicy directives1. Progress the centralised management of fisheries data
2. Link database to the fisheries information management system
3. Encourage the Pacific Community to standardise the Fisheries department databases (such as TUFMAN, TUF-ART and TAILS) to accommodate coastal fisheries data
4. Use a standardised data collection system and recording format
5. Promote the use of both paper and electronic data recording logs.
Strategic action 30: Improve website, electronic reporting and electronic monitoring Policy directives1. Revamp the Fisheries Department website
2. Develop a website license application and issuance system
3. Implement electronic reporting and electronic monitoring and develop a national strat-egy for electronic reporting and electronic monitoring
4. Expand fisheries information management system to include all other fisheries and aquaculture areas
5. Replicate electronic reporting of coastal fisheries through registered fishing vessels
6. Adopt same reporting in aquaculture production farms.
Strategic action 31: Enhance vessel monitoring system operation Policy directives1. Maintain use of state-of-the-art information technology to monitor fishing vessels oper-
ating inside Vanuatu waters
2. Maintain cooperation with Police Maritime Wing of the Police Force and FFA on sur-veillance and VMS operation
3. Continue to work with Collecte Localisation Satellites (CLS) to monitor flag vessels op-erating internationally
4. Request training support from CLS to improve national VMS operation
5. Assess options to enhance and integrate the two systems to improve effectiveness and cut costs to the government
6. Assess options to localise management of the national VMS operation
7. Strengthen engagement with Police Maritime Wing and FFA in surveillance operations
8. Formalise memorandum of understanding with the Police Maritime Wing.
Strategic action 32: Progress fisheries observer and port sampling to full cost recovery
Policy directives1. National fisheries observer and port sampling programme to become fully cost recovered
2. Equip all observers with safety gear and a uniform
3. Fully insure observers while they are at sea
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4. Develop fully qualified debriefers to maintain quality control of observers
5. Transition into an electronic monitoring system
6. Extend the role of observers to cover coastal fisheries and aquaculture.
SPO 7: Fisheries compliance and IUU prevention
Advocate for zero-tolerance of IUU fishing activities, which requires the effective implementation of the national fleet management policy, and ensures all Vanuatu flag and licensed fishing vessels are
fully monitored and compliant.
Strategic action 33: Reduce and eliminate IUU fishing in the offshore fishery Policy directives1. Prevent the entry of fishing vessels with a historical record of IUU into the Vanuatu In-
ternational Shipping Registry
2. Enforce strict control of flag fishing vessels through compliance checks
3. Ensure that vessels leave the Vanuatu International Shipping Registry with a ‘clean re-cord’
4. Fully implement the National Plan of Action on Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing and the National Fleet Management Policy
5. Swiftly resolve any infringement by Vanuatu flag vessels
6. Fully enforce penalty notices on vessel operators and/or owners for breaches
7. Improve the condition of international authorization to fish licenses to require informa-tion on fishing licenses
8. Implement 24-hour monitoring of the VMS.
Strategic action 34: Limit RFMO membership to within the greater Pacific Ocean region Policy directives1. Withdraw Vanuatu’s membership to the International Commission for the Conserva-
tion of Atlantic Tunas, and the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission, and encourage mem-bership within the greater Pacific Ocean region
2. Enact policy and regulations on the chartering of Vanuatu flag vessels (chartering of Vanuatu flag fishing vessels is authorised for RFMO members for which Vanuatu is a party to)
3. RFMO annual membership contribution should be cost recovered from fishing industry operators
4. Industry operators must comply and pay their RFMO fees in a timely manner
5. Create trust account to manage RFMO fees.
Strategic action 35: Reduce and eliminate IUU fishing in coastal fisheriesPolicy directives1. Register and license all small domestic fishing vessels
2. Enforce license conditions on all vessels to ensure compliance
3. Establish an applicable catch data recording system
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4. Enforce license conditions on processing license holders
5. Strengthen compliance at ports and airport check points
6. Work with partners to improve community fisheries compliance
7. Assist fisheries authorised officers to collect accurate information
8. Ban the import and sale of destructive fishing gear
9. Confiscate illegal fishing gear.
Strategic action 36: Strengthen the management of the Vanuatu flag fishing fleet Policy directives 1. Discontinue the current Vanuatu flag fleet management contract with the private entity and do not
allow any such contracts in the future
2. Fisheries Department to fully assume the role of managing the flag fishing fleet
3. Fisheries Department to maintain closure cooperation with fishing industry operators
4. Provide efficient and reliable service to vessel operators.
Strategic action 37: Implement catch documentation scheme in all flag vesselsPolicy directives 1. Finalise and implement a national control plan with FFA
2. Conduct food safety and catch documentation scheme inspections on vessels
3. FFA to conduct independent monitoring and approval
4. Complete EU certification of the Seafood Verification Authority
5. Issue catch certificates to flag vessels to enable access to the EU and other markets
6. Participate in trade negotiations.
Strategic action 38: Strengthen fisheries law enforcement and prosecution Policy directives 1. Establish cooperation with the Public Prosecution Office through a memorandum of understanding
2. Encourage attachment training of Fisheries Compliance Officer in the prosecution of fisheries cases
3. Increase the number of community fisheries authorised officers
4. Collaborate with the Policy Force to train community fisheries authorised officers
5. Improve administrative penalty regulations and enforcement
6. Strengthen inspection procedures at market outlets, restaurants and shops
7. Undertake investigation and prosecution training of fisheries authorised officers
8. Strengthen enforcement on the importation, sale and use of destructive fishing gear.
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SPO 8: Building partnerships and networking
Strengthen current partnership, collaboration and networking between the Fisheries Department and other line agencies and industry, and encourage the establishment of new ones that better promote
the principles of visibility, transparency, participatory and inclusivity.
Strategic action 39: Formalise collaboration with line government departments and stakeholders through MOUs and MOAs
Policy directives 1. Formalise collaborations through a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the
Police Maritime Wing, Air Vanuatu, Public Prosecutions Office, Cooperative Depart-ment, Industry Department, Environment Department, Vanuatu Agricultural Research and Training Centre, Vanuatu Maritime College
2. Formalise MOUs with other line-government departments and entities, communities and civil society groups where necessary
3. Assess, through the State Law Office, MOUs and memoranda of agreement (MOA) where necessary for consistency and legal issues
4. Encourage joint implementation and cost sharing opportunities where necessary.
Strategic action 40: Formalise collaboration with intergovernmental partners and governments through agreements and MOUs
Policy directives 1. Review and approve Joint Country Strategy and Service Level Agreement with SPC
and FFA and other regional intergovernmental organisations
2. Ensure these agreements are in line with this national fisheries sector policy
3. Focus technical assistance on priorities identified in the agreements
4. Request technical assistance to be channelled through the official protocol
5. Finalise transboundary cooperation with Fiji and Solomon Islands.
Strategic action 41: Partnership with other external partners Policy directives 1. Encourage other external partners to enter into an MOA for the services they intend to
provide
2. Focus of new projects to be on responding to national priorities identified in this sec-toral policy
3. Encourage partnerships and cooperation that enhance and advance priority works on fisheries
4. Include in the agreement delivery of research information to the Fisheries Department on completion of projects
5. Encourage new projects to support the funding of new positions within the existing structure.
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Policy implementation process
Steps in the processIn order for this policy to achieve its objectives, other factors will need to be addressed as out-lined in the following steps.
Step 1: The implementation strategy of this sector policy (see Annex 1) outlines the policy’s broad objectives, strategic actions and specific directives that relate directly to each priority ac-tion area, main aims, indicators and implementing partners.
Step 2: Relocation of the Fisheries Department Office and mariculture hatchery in Port Vila, and investment in a new office and mariculture buildings will support the effective implementation of this policy.
Step 3: Restructuring the Fisheries Department is necessary to better align with programmes, strengthen corporate services, and create vital new positions to ensure efficient administration and function of the organisation and associated budgetary support to allow this policy to be fully and effectively implemented.
Step 4: The policy implementation process will be regularly monitored by forums such as the National Development Technical Committee, and revision of the policy will be done as needed to make the policy relevant and effective.
Step 5: Fishers associations in all provinces must be established and strengthened under the National Fishermen’s Association, and regular trainings and consultations are critical to support implementation of this policy.
Step 6: Collaboration with the fishing industry will be maintained, and consultations with stakeholders will be undertaken during the course of implementing this policy.
Step 7: A midterm review of this policy should be completed by 2023 to track progress of imple-mentation, identify gaps and challenges, and provide recommendations. The results of the re-view can be used to advise on new development areas of interest to development partners.
Step 8: Final evaluation will be commissioned at the end of the policy period in 2031.
Monitoring and evaluationEffective implementation of this policy hinges on an effective monitoring and evaluation strat-egy with appropriate performance indicators and an efficient feedback mechanism. This entails carrying out information gathering at national, subnational, community, and sectoral levels.
The monitoring and evaluation framework will focus on measuring the outputs of each stra-tegic action and will provide the information needed to continually determine, assess and rec-ommend the way forward toward the successful implementation of this policy in achieving its long-term vision.
Vanuatu National Fisheries Sector Policy 2016-203124
An
nex
1: I
mple
ment
atio
n fr
amew
ork
for
the
Nati
onal
Fis
heri
es S
ecto
r Po
licy
Strategic objective 1: Institutional strengthening and good governance
Sust
aine
d re
sour
ces a
nd re
sour
cing
that
stre
ngth
en th
e fis
herie
s ins
titut
ion
in p
rom
otin
g an
d en
surin
g go
od g
over
nanc
e, c
apac
ity
build
ing,
trai
ning
and
tech
nica
l ser
vice
del
iver
y
Stra
tegi
c pol
icy ac
tions
Targ
et
Prop
ose
activ
ities
/dir
ectiv
esIn
dica
tors
Part
ners
1: S
tren
gthe
n in
stitu
tiona
l an
d ad
min
iste
r and
en-
forc
e th
e fis
herie
s sec
tor
polic
y an
d re
gula
tions
th
at p
rom
ote
good
go
vern
ance
• Re
view
the
orga
nisa
tiona
l str
uctu
re b
y 20
17
and
impl
emen
tatio
n by
201
8;
• M
CS S
trat
egy
for C
oast
al F
isher
ies b
y 20
17;
• Cr
ewin
g po
licy
and
regu
latio
ns c
ompl
eted
by
201
7;•
Gui
delin
es o
n ac
cess
to fi
nanc
e an
d so
ft lo
ans
by 2
018.
• Re
view
the
orga
nisa
tiona
l str
uctu
re, c
reat
e ne
w p
ositi
ons;
• In
crea
se b
udge
tary
supp
ort,
up-s
kill
staf
f; •
Faci
litat
e ac
cess
to fi
nanc
e an
d so
ft lo
ans;
• Im
prov
e M
CS;
• En
act,
revi
ew a
nd e
nfor
ce re
gula
tory
fram
ewor
k; •
Impl
emen
t rec
omm
enda
tions
of t
he IS
P re
port.
• N
ew V
FD o
rgan
isatio
nal s
truct
ure
com
plet
ed
and
impl
emen
ted;
• M
CS S
trate
gy o
n Co
asta
l Fish
erie
sapp
rove
d fo
r im
plem
enta
tion;
• Cr
ewin
g po
licy
and
legi
slatio
nsap
prov
ed fo
r im
plem
enta
tion.
VFD
, oth
er g
over
nmen
t lin
e m
inist
ries a
nd
depa
rtm
ents
, RF
MO
s, SP
C, F
FA,
dono
r age
ncie
s,
and
NG
Os
2: Tr
ain
all w
orke
rs in
the
fishe
ries s
ecto
r•
By 2
018,
VFD
hum
an re
sour
ce p
lan
is de
velo
ped
and
appr
oved
;•
At le
ast 1
-2 n
atio
nal t
rain
ings
com
plet
ed e
very
ye
ar, 2
017-
2026
;•
At le
ast 1
nat
iona
l tra
inin
g fo
r fish
erm
en a
nd
rura
l com
mun
ities
com
plet
ed e
very
yea
r;•
At le
ast 2
-3 sc
hola
rshi
ps fo
r und
ergr
adua
te a
nd
post
-gra
duat
e st
udie
s in
fishe
ries a
nd
aqua
cultu
re a
s of 2
018;
• Cr
ew tr
aini
ng c
omm
ence
by
2017
;•
Scho
ol c
urric
ulum
dev
elop
men
t com
plet
ed
by 2
017.
• D
evel
op tr
aini
ng p
lan,
trai
ning
sylla
bus a
nd m
odul
es,
capa
city
bui
ldin
g op
port
uniti
es, w
ork
atta
chm
ents
and
ex
chan
ge p
rogr
amm
es, a
nd fo
rmal
trai
ning
of o
ffice
rs;
• Al
loca
te b
udge
t for
trai
ning
; •
Wor
k w
ith p
artn
ers a
nd d
onor
to su
ppor
t tra
inin
g;•
Cons
ulta
tion
on sc
hool
cur
ricul
um a
nd fi
nalis
atio
n.
• H
uman
reso
urce
dev
elop
men
t and
trai
ning
pol
icy
is in
pl
ace
and
impl
emen
ted;
• N
atio
nal t
rain
ings
for o
bser
vers
, Van
uatu
hav
e
debr
iefe
rs, t
rain
ing
budg
et a
lloca
tion
fishe
rmen
trai
n-in
gs c
ondu
cted
ann
ually
; •
1-2
scho
lars
hips
eac
h ye
ar o
nfish
erie
s and
aqu
acul
ture
(m
aste
rs a
nd P
hDs o
n st
ock
asse
ssm
ent,m
odel
ling)
;•
Scho
ol c
urric
ulum
com
plet
ed a
nd u
sed
in s
ylla
bus
by 2
018.
VFD
, VM
C,go
vern
men
t lin
e m
inist
ries a
nd
depa
rtm
ents
,fis
hing
indu
stry
, fis
hers
ass
ocia
tions
, do
nor p
artn
ers,
SP
C, F
FA,
trai
ning
inst
itutio
ns
25
3: In
form
and
edu
cate
the
publ
ic o
n re
leva
nt
fishe
ries d
evel
opm
ents
• Co
mpl
ete
the
info
rmat
ion
diss
emin
atio
n
proc
edur
e by
201
8;•
Info
rmat
ion
offic
er re
crui
ted;
•
Effe
ctiv
e m
edia
l com
mun
icat
ions
for n
ews
artic
les f
or ra
dio,
TV
and
new
spap
ers a
t lea
st 4
–6
times
a y
ear;
• Pr
omot
e fis
herie
s inf
orm
atio
n an
d di
ssem
inat
ion
durin
g pu
blic
foru
ms,
sem
inar
s and
wor
ksho
ps –
an
nual
act
ivity
;•
Org
anise
doc
umen
tary
film
s; •
Dev
elop
scho
ol c
urric
ulum
mat
eria
ls.
• In
form
atio
n se
curit
y st
anda
rd a
ppro
ved
and
impl
emen
ted;
• Co
mm
unic
atio
ns o
ffice
r rec
ruite
d;•
New
s art
icle
s for
radi
o, T
V, sc
hool
s and
ne
wsp
aper
s con
tinuo
usly
diss
emin
ated
; •
Scho
ol c
urric
ulum
mat
eria
l com
plet
ed.
• Pr
oced
ure
on in
form
atio
n se
curit
y in
pla
ce;
• 50
% o
f all
foru
ms a
nd sc
hool
s cov
ered
in th
e fir
st
5 ye
ars o
f the
pol
icy;
• 90
–100
% c
ompl
eted
with
fish
erie
s inf
orm
atio
n pu
blic
do
mai
n on
ly w
ell d
issem
inat
ed in
the
coun
try;
• Sc
hool
cur
ricul
um u
sed
to d
evel
op sy
llabu
s.
VFD
, SLO
,FFA
, SPC
, La
w C
omm
issio
n, N
GO
s
4: M
aint
ain
good
re
puta
tion
for f
ishi
ng
vess
els i
n th
e Sh
ippi
ng
Regi
stry
• Pr
epar
e fo
r the
revi
ew, c
ompl
eted
by
late
201
7;•
Cons
ulta
ncy
is ta
rget
ed to
be
com
plet
ed in
201
8;•
Refo
rm o
f Van
uatu
ope
n fla
g re
gist
ry
• ex
pect
ed to
be
com
plet
ed b
y 20
20.
• Co
nduc
t due
dili
genc
e on
all
vess
els e
nter
ing
and
exiti
ng V
ISR;
• U
pdat
e re
cord
of f
ishin
g ve
ssel
s;•
Vess
els a
sses
sed
befo
re;
• M
aint
ain
clea
n re
cord
of I
UU
and
rela
ted
crim
inal
ac
tiviti
es b
y re
gist
erin
g, fl
aggi
ng, c
hart
erin
g an
d
licen
sing
fishi
ng v
esse
ls;
• M
aint
ain
good
coo
pera
tion
with
RFM
O;
• Ti
mel
y pa
ymen
t of a
nnua
l RFM
O d
ues.
• Co
nsul
tanc
y re
port
app
rove
d an
d re
com
men
datio
ns
impl
emen
ted
appr
opria
tely
;•
IUU
reco
rds b
y fla
g ve
ssel
s red
uced
by
60–8
0% in
the
first
5 y
ears
, and
100
% b
y 20
26;
• Ve
ssel
regi
stry
refo
rmed
with
func
tions
con
siste
nt w
ith
best
pra
ctic
e.
VFD
,RFM
O, V
ISR,
fish
ing
indu
stry
, gov
ernm
ent
line
min
istrie
s and
de
part
men
ts, o
ther
st
akeh
olde
rs
5: S
tren
gthe
n pa
rtic
ipa-
tion
of st
akeh
olde
rs
• By
202
0 re
leva
nt m
emor
anda
of u
nder
stan
ding
sig
ned
betw
een
the
VFD
and
rele
vant
age
n-ci
es a
nd c
omm
uniti
es in
supp
ort o
f res
ourc
e m
anag
emen
t;•
By 2
026
at le
ast e
ach
prov
ince
has
a w
orki
ng TA
G
for f
isher
ies i
n pl
ace,
with
impr
oved
visi
bilit
y an
d fa
ir pa
rtic
ipat
ion
in re
sour
ce m
anag
emen
t.
• Co
nsul
t with
stak
ehol
ders
in
impo
rtan
t fish
erie
s dev
elop
men
ts;
• En
gage
with
form
al a
nd in
form
al re
sour
ce g
roup
s at
gove
rnm
ent a
nd c
omm
unity
leve
l;•
Activ
ate
the
role
of t
he M
anag
emen
t Adv
isory
Com
mitt
ee;
• D
evel
op M
OU
s to
gove
rn c
ritic
al in
ter-a
genc
y
rela
tions
hips
.
• Ac
tive
FMAC
, pro
vinc
es w
ill h
ave
an a
ctiv
e TA
G fo
r e
ffect
ive
man
agem
ent o
f fish
erie
s; •
Com
posit
ion
of F
MAC
s will
at l
east
hav
e a
fem
ale
and
othe
r non
-fish
erie
s sta
keho
lder
.
VFD
, lin
e go
vern
men
t m
inist
ries a
nd d
epar
t-m
ents
, pr
ovin
cial
gov
ernm
ent,
NG
Os,
fis
hers
ass
ocia
tions
fis
hing
indu
stry
6: P
rovi
de e
qual
op
port
unity
to a
ll
sect
ors o
f com
mun
ity
• By
202
0, g
ende
r equ
ity a
nd fa
ir re
pres
enta
tion
of
stak
ehol
ders
in V
FD;
• By
202
0, sm
all-s
cale
fish
erie
s ope
ratio
ns in
volv
-in
g w
omen
and
you
th p
artic
ipat
ion
are
sup-
port
ed (e
.g. c
oast
al in
vert
ebra
te fi
sher
ies)
;•
Use
fish
ers a
ssoc
iatio
ns a
nd in
clud
e fe
mal
e m
embe
rs.
• In
crea
se fe
mal
e st
aff i
n VF
D;
• En
cour
age
all g
roup
s of c
omm
unity
to
par
ticip
ate
in tr
aini
ng;
• En
cour
age
part
icip
atio
n of
you
th in
all
train
ing.
• At
leas
t 1–2
wom
en in
all
prov
ince
s fish
ers a
ssoc
iatio
ns;
• At
leas
t 20–
30%
of w
omen
and
you
th p
artic
ipat
ing
in
train
ing;
• At
leas
t 10
or m
ore
MO
Us e
stab
lishe
d be
twee
n VF
D
and
com
mun
ities
on
smal
l-sca
le
fishe
ries o
pera
tions
.
VFD
, gov
ernm
ent l
ine
min
istrie
s and
dep
art-
men
ts, p
rovi
ncia
l go
vern
men
ts, N
GO
s, fis
hers
ass
ocia
tions
, ci
vil s
ocie
ty
* The
defi
nitio
ns o
f all
abbr
evia
tions
use
d in
Ann
ex 1
are
foun
d in
the
list o
f abb
revi
atio
ns a
t the
beg
inni
ng o
f thi
s pol
icy.
Vanuatu National Fisheries Sector Policy 2016-203126
Strategic objective 2: Fisheries investment and economic growth
A st
rong
fish
erie
s sec
tor g
ener
atin
g m
axim
um e
cono
mic
gro
wth
, inc
reas
e em
ploy
men
t , fo
od se
curit
y an
d liv
elih
ood
de
velo
pmen
t at t
he sa
me
time
ensu
ring
sust
aina
bilit
y of
fish
stoc
ks, h
ealth
y ec
osys
tem
and
env
ironm
enta
lly so
und
prac
tices
Stra
tegi
c ac
tions
Out
com
eSp
ecif
ic a
ctio
ns/a
ctiv
ities
Indi
cato
rsPa
rtne
rs
7. F
acili
tate
inve
stm
ent i
n th
e fis
herie
s sec
tor
• Spe
cial
indu
stria
l zon
e de
velo
pmen
t pro
cess
co
mpl
eted
by
2020
; • In
vest
men
t pro
cess
sim
plifi
ed;
• VIP
A ac
tive
to w
ork
clos
ure
with
go
vern
men
t dep
artm
ents
; • A
djus
t lic
ense
fees
for f
orei
gn fi
shin
g ve
ssel
s.
• Cre
ate
cond
uciv
e en
viro
nmen
t for
inve
stm
ent;
• Str
engt
hen
role
of V
IPA;
• D
evel
op p
olic
y on
join
t ven
ture
s; • Im
prov
e tr
ade
proc
edur
es o
n fis
herie
s; • Im
prov
e in
stitu
tiona
l sup
port
for i
nves
tmen
t; • R
educ
e ba
rrie
r to
inve
stm
ent a
nd c
ost o
f doi
ng b
usin
ess.
• Sin
o-Va
n Fi
sher
ies i
nves
tmen
t ful
ly e
stab
lishe
d a
nd o
pera
tiona
l;• S
peci
al in
dust
rial z
one
iden
tifie
d an
d
legi
slatio
n co
mpl
eted
; • P
roce
ssin
g in
dust
ry e
stab
lishe
d.
VFD
, MAL
FFB,
VIP
A,
othe
r gov
ernm
ent
depa
rtm
ents
an
d m
inist
ries,
fishi
ng in
dust
ry
oper
ator
s
8. G
row
reve
nue
base
of
fishe
ries s
ecto
r• D
evel
op re
venu
e po
licy
of F
isher
ies
Dep
artm
ent b
y 20
17;
• New
initi
ativ
es id
entif
ied
and
regu
lato
ry m
ea-
sure
s est
ablis
hed
by 2
017;
• Pay
men
t sys
tem
impr
oved
for d
omes
tic a
nd
fore
ign
tran
sact
ion
by 2
017;
• Com
men
ce d
evel
opm
ent c
ompl
ianc
e m
onito
r-in
g sc
hem
e a
nd o
r VD
S fo
r lon
glin
e fis
hery
by
2017
;• Im
prov
e in
voic
ing
syst
em b
y 20
17;
• Str
engt
hen
prod
uct d
evel
opm
ent a
nd sa
le a
s of
201
6.
• Dev
elop
new
reve
nue
initi
ativ
es;
• Con
sult
the
indu
stry
; • E
stab
lish
regu
lato
ry m
easu
res
• Impr
ove
paym
ent s
yste
m;
• Dev
elop
pol
icy
on re
venu
e op
tions
; • B
alan
ce re
venu
e gr
owth
, res
ourc
e m
anag
emen
t and
in
dust
ry b
enef
its.
• Rev
enue
pol
icy
of V
FD c
ompl
eted
; • In
crea
se re
venu
e to
500
mill
ion
vatu
targ
et b
y 20
19;
• Pay
men
t sys
tem
impr
oved
; • N
o re
venu
e ou
tsta
ndin
g;• Im
plem
ent i
mpr
oved
invo
ices
.
VFD
, MAL
FFB,
Fin
ance
D
ept,
othe
r gov
ern-
men
t dep
artm
ents
an
d m
inist
ries,
fishi
ng
indu
stry
ope
rato
rs
9: U
nder
take
rese
arch
an
d de
velo
pmen
t in
wild
fis
herie
s
• By
2020
, ove
r 60%
of t
he re
leva
nt
biol
ogic
al a
nd s
ocio
econ
omic
rese
arch
and
fis
hing
tria
ls c
ompl
eted
and
repo
rts
also
co
mpl
eted
; • R
esul
ts w
ill b
e us
ed fo
r for
mul
atin
g or
revi
sing
reso
urce
pla
ns a
t lea
st b
y 20
26;
• Exp
lora
tory
fish
ing
to d
eter
min
e fu
ll po
tent
ial o
f ne
w fi
sher
ies c
ompl
eted
by
2020
;• R
esea
rch
into
dev
elop
men
t of
recr
eatio
nal f
ishin
g in
the
prov
ince
s.
• Tria
ls on
cap
ture
fish
erie
s and
recr
eatio
nal f
ishin
g;• E
xplo
re fi
shin
g on
smal
l lon
g lin
e fis
hing
boa
t;• C
ondu
ct b
iolo
gica
l res
earc
h on
reef
reso
urce
s and
in
vasiv
e sp
ecie
s;• C
olle
ct a
ccur
ate
fishe
ry d
ata;
• 100
% c
over
age
in p
ort s
ampl
ing;
• C
ondu
ct so
cioe
cono
mic
surv
eys;
• Est
ablis
h re
sear
ch p
roto
cols
for v
isitin
g sc
ient
ists.
• Num
ber o
f res
earc
h, su
rvey
s and
fish
ing
tria
ls co
mpl
eted
ove
r tim
e;• R
epor
ts a
nd p
ublic
atio
ns fr
om re
sults
of
surv
eys a
nd tr
ials;
• An
incr
easin
g nu
mbe
r of s
tand
ard
farm
s es
tabl
ished
in th
e pr
ovin
ces;
• Res
eedi
ng o
f deg
rade
d ec
osys
tem
s suc
h co
ral r
eefs
, nu
rser
y ar
eas i
nclu
ding
man
grov
es a
nd o
ther
wet
land
s.
VFD
, fish
ing
indu
stry
do
nor p
artn
ers,
FFA,
SP
C
27
10: F
acili
tate
full
es
tabl
ishm
ent a
nd
oper
atio
n of
Sin
o-Va
n
Fish
erie
s Lim
ited
• Sin
o-Va
n co
mpa
ny fu
lly o
pera
tiona
l by
2017
;• B
y 20
18, t
wo
onsh
ore
proc
essin
g fa
cilit
ies i
n fu
ll op
erat
ion
and
prod
uctio
n, a
nd 7
0 fis
hing
ves
sels
base
d lo
cally
; • B
ycat
ch la
nded
from
fish
ing
boat
that
are
fit f
or
hum
an c
onsu
mpt
ion
dist
ribut
ed to
urb
an a
nd
rura
l are
as;
• By
2026
food
secu
rity
and
impr
oved
live
lihoo
ds
ensu
red.
• VFD
offi
ce a
nd h
atch
ery
relo
catio
n an
d fu
ndin
g ap
prov
al p
roce
ss;
• Con
stru
ctio
n of
tem
pora
ry w
harf
at V
FD lo
catio
n;
• Con
stru
ctio
n of
fact
ory
supp
ort w
areh
ouse
s at S
ino-
Van
fact
ory;
• Aw
aren
ess o
n fis
hing
indu
stry
.
• New
fish
erie
s wha
rf co
mpl
eted
;• T
wo
onsh
ore
proc
essin
g fa
cilit
ies o
pera
ting
to
full
prod
uctio
n;• 7
0-ca
p lic
ense
s tha
t max
imise
eco
nom
ic b
enef
its;
• Incr
ease
exp
orts
of f
roze
n an
d fre
sh fi
sh d
irect
ly fr
om
onsh
ore
faci
litie
s.
VFD
, Sin
o-Va
n Lt
d,
gove
rnm
ent l
ine
m
inist
ries a
nd
depa
rtm
ents
11: S
tren
gthe
n co
asta
l an
d ne
arsh
ore
fishe
ries
deve
lopm
ent
• FAD
dev
elop
men
t and
man
agem
ent p
lan
deve
l-op
ed b
y 20
17;
• Fish
ers a
ssoc
iatio
ns e
stab
lishe
d in
all
prov
ince
s by
201
8;• G
radu
atio
n of
ass
ocia
tions
to c
oope
rativ
es b
y 20
18;
• All
coas
tal c
omm
uniti
es h
ave
acce
ss to
fish
ing
optio
ns b
y 20
20,
• exp
ande
d to
all
islan
ds b
y 20
20;
• All
asso
ciat
ions
’ mem
bers
trai
ned
by 2
020;
• V
FD to
acq
uire
mul
ti-pu
rpos
e ve
ssel
to su
ppor
t fis
hers
ass
ocia
tions
.
• Inst
all F
ADs i
n al
l pro
vinc
es;
• Tra
in a
ll fis
hers
in fi
shin
g sk
ills;
• Est
ablis
h fis
hers
ass
ocia
tions
; • P
rovi
de fi
shin
g ge
ar a
nd b
oat s
uppo
rt to
ass
ocia
tions
on
cred
it;
• Est
ablis
h fis
h pr
eser
vatio
n su
ppor
t in
stra
tegi
c m
arke
t loc
a -tio
ns a
cros
s cou
ntry
;• L
icen
se a
ll fis
hing
boa
t ope
rato
rs;
• Pro
vide
dut
y co
nces
sions
to li
cens
e op
erat
ors;
• Mai
ntai
n en
gage
men
t with
fish
ers a
ssoc
iatio
ns.
• FAD
dep
loye
d in
all
islan
ds;
• Fish
ers A
ssoc
iatio
n es
tabl
ished
in a
ll
prov
ince
s and
isla
nds;
• Man
agem
ent p
lans
com
plet
ed fo
r all
asso
ciat
ions
; • Q
ualit
y an
d qu
antit
y of
fish
pro
duct
ion
incr
ease
d.
VFD
, fish
ers a
ssoc
iatio
ns,
Prov
inci
al G
over
nmen
t, Co
oper
ativ
es D
ept,
Indu
stry
Dep
t,co
mm
uniti
es, d
onor
s,N
GO
s, SP
C
12: U
nder
take
aq
uacu
lture
rese
arch
and
de
velo
pmen
t
• Aqu
acul
ture
rese
arch
and
tria
ls co
mpl
eted
and
ap
plie
d by
202
0; F
inal
ise a
quac
ultu
re p
lan,
whi
ch
shou
ld b
e ad
opte
d an
d im
plem
ente
d by
201
8;
• Ach
ieve
200
smal
l aqu
acul
ture
farm
s ful
l ope
ra-
tiona
l by
2020
;• B
y 20
26, a
quac
ultu
re p
rodu
ce fu
lly
satis
fyin
g lo
cal f
ood
secu
rity
requ
irem
ents
and
m
odes
t exp
orts
; • S
ecur
e fu
ndin
g to
dev
elop
new
m
aric
ultu
re st
atio
n by
202
0.
• Dev
elop
new
aqu
acul
ture
and
mar
icul
ture
stat
ion;
• T
ry fr
eshw
ater
hat
cher
y pr
oduc
tion;
• S
eed
supp
ly c
ost r
ecov
ered
; • C
ondu
ct fa
rm p
rodu
ctio
n tri
als a
nd te
st st
anda
rd fa
rms;
• Fee
d re
sear
ch;
• Tra
in a
nd b
uild
cap
acity
of o
ffice
rs a
nd fa
rmer
s;• D
evel
op a
quac
ultu
re e
xten
sion
serv
ices
.
• Aqu
acul
ture
s fish
and
pra
wn
read
ily
avai
labl
e at
Por
t Vila
and
San
to m
arke
ts;
• Dem
onst
ratio
n fa
rms i
n al
l pot
entia
l isla
nds;
• Qua
lity
fish
prod
uctio
n ac
hiev
ed.
VFD
, fish
ers a
ssoc
iatio
ns,
Prov
inci
al G
over
nmen
t Co
oper
ativ
es D
ept,
Indu
stry
Dep
t, co
mm
u -ni
ty, d
onor
s, N
GO
s, SP
C
Vanuatu National Fisheries Sector Policy 2016-203128
Strategic objective 2: Fisheries investment and economic growth (
cont
’d)
Stra
tegi
c ac
tions
Out
com
eSp
ecif
ic a
ctio
ns/a
ctiv
ities
Indi
cato
rsPa
rtne
rs
13: M
inim
ise
adve
rse
envi
ronm
enta
l im
pact
s fr
om d
evel
opm
ent
• EIA
com
plet
ed o
n al
l maj
or d
evel
opm
ents
;• E
nfor
ce se
afoo
d re
gula
tions
on
all e
xpor
t fac
ilitie
s by
201
7;
• Cha
rge
vess
els d
ischa
rgin
g po
llute
d w
aste
to se
a;• In
crea
se a
war
enes
s on
fish
proc
essin
g fa
ctor
ies.
• Und
erta
ke e
nviro
nmen
t im
pact
ass
essm
ent o
n
maj
or d
evel
opm
ents
;• F
ollo
w b
iose
curit
y pr
otoc
ols i
n aq
uacu
lture
and
impo
rtat
ion
of n
ew sp
ecie
s;• M
onito
r and
miti
gate
neg
ativ
e im
pact
of i
nvas
ive
spec
ies;
• Dev
elop
pol
icy
on e
nviro
nmen
tal f
ee c
olle
ctio
n fro
m to
urism
indu
stry
; • E
IA a
ctiv
ities
und
erta
ken
by F
isher
ies D
epar
tmen
t ar
e co
st re
cove
red.
• Com
plia
nce
with
was
te m
anag
emen
t con
trol
led;
• No
inci
denc
e of
unc
ontr
olle
d w
ater
pro
duct
ion;
• Pub
lic c
once
rn a
dequ
atel
y de
alt w
ith.
VFD
, Env
ironm
ent
Dep
t, fis
hers
as
soci
atio
ns,
prov
inci
al
gove
rnm
ent
indu
stry
op
erat
ors,
co
mm
uniti
es
14: C
reat
e
empl
oym
ent
oppo
rtun
ity in
fish
ing
indu
stry
• Cre
w p
olic
y an
d re
gula
tion
appr
oved
and
impl
e-m
ente
d by
201
7;
• Rec
ruitm
ent o
f qua
lifie
d cr
ews b
y 20
17;
• Dev
elop
trai
ning
sylla
bus b
y 20
17;
• Lic
ensin
g of
cre
w a
gent
s by
2017
;• C
ertif
ied
fish
hand
lers
as o
f 201
8 an
d ex
port
ing
of
fishi
ng in
dust
ry w
orke
rs b
y 20
20;
• Rai
se c
rew
em
ploy
men
t abo
ve 3
00 b
y 20
18;
• Em
ploy
men
t opp
ortu
nitie
s inc
reas
ed b
y ov
er
50%
in 2
020.
• Ena
ct p
olic
y an
d re
gula
tion
on fi
shin
g bo
at c
rew
ing;
• Tra
in e
xist
ing
and
new
fish
erm
en to
take
up
crew
em
ploy
men
t opp
ortu
nity
;• T
rain
fish
han
dler
s and
pro
cess
ors i
n sk
illed
labo
ur
requ
irem
ents
for e
xpor
ts;
• Impl
emen
t pol
icy
and
regu
latio
n on
cre
win
g;
• Ass
ist e
nact
men
t of m
ariti
me
legi
slatio
ns to
faci
litat
e
crew
ing
empl
oym
ent;
• Con
trol o
pera
tion
of c
rew
recr
uitin
g ag
ent;
• Col
labo
rate
with
indu
stry
ope
rato
rs o
n cr
ew tr
aini
ng a
nd
empl
oym
ent.
• Exp
ortin
g of
qua
lifie
d fis
hing
boa
t cre
w;
• Exp
ortin
g of
qua
lifie
d fis
h ha
ndle
rs;
• Incr
ease
num
ber o
f cre
w in
dom
estic
and
in
tern
atio
nal f
ishin
g in
dust
ry.
VFD
, MAL
FFB,
VM
C,
Port
s and
Har
bour
, La
bour
Dep
t, M
IPU
, RF
MO
s and
fish
ing
indu
stry
ope
rato
rs,
Fish
ing
and
Crew
ing
Agen
t, FF
A an
d SP
C,
dono
rs
29
Strategic objective 3: Increase food and nutrition security and aleviation of NCD risk
A st
rong
fish
erie
s sec
tor t
o in
crea
se fi
sh p
rodu
ctio
n to
ens
urin
g fo
od a
nd n
utrit
ion
secu
rity
need
s and
ass
ist t
o al
levi
ate
the
risk
of n
on-c
omm
unic
able
dis
ease
s
Prio
rity
act
ions
Targ
etPr
opos
e ac
tiviti
esIn
dica
tors
Part
ners
15: I
ncre
ase
pr
oduc
tion
of se
afoo
d at
th
e na
tiona
l lev
el
• By
2020
, all i
sland
s hav
e 3–
5 an
chor
ed FA
DS
depl
oyed
; • F
isher
s sup
porte
d w
ith fi
shin
g ge
ar; F
ish p
rese
rva-
tion
syst
em o
pera
ting
and
fishi
ng o
pera
tions
; • B
y 20
20, a
ll pro
vinc
es w
ill ha
ve ru
ral f
isher
ies
mar
kets
and
rura
l fish
ing
gear
shop
s est
ablis
hed;
• Cen
tral f
ish m
arke
t com
plet
ed in
201
7 in
Por
t Vila
, 20
18 in
San
to;
• By
2026
, alte
rnat
ive
duty
exe
mpt
ions
or s
ubsid
y by
VFD
com
plet
ely
supp
ortin
g lo
cal f
isher
men
;• B
y 20
20, f
isher
s and
fish
ers a
ssoc
iatio
ns a
re
oper
atin
g co
mm
erci
ally
as f
isher
ies c
oope
rativ
es.
• Incr
ease
ava
ilabi
lity
of fi
sh fo
r do
mes
tic c
onsu
mpt
ion;
• E
stab
lish
mar
ketin
g sy
stem
to ru
ral a
reas
to su
ppor
t fish
pr
oduc
tion;
• Est
ablis
h fis
h m
arke
ts in
tow
ns, p
rovi
nces
and
vill
ages
;• E
ncou
rage
land
ing
of fi
sh b
y in
dust
rial f
ishin
g fle
et in
do
mes
tic p
orts
;• C
hann
el tu
na a
nd b
ycat
ch fi
sh to
the
loca
l mar
ket;
• Pro
vide
fund
ing
supp
ort t
o fis
herm
en to
incr
ease
fi
sh p
rodu
ctio
n.
• Pro
gres
s rep
orts
on
livel
ihoo
d pr
ogra
mm
es;
• Ass
essm
ent a
nd te
chni
cal r
epor
ts;
• Pric
e of
fish
affo
rdab
le in
Por
t Vila
and
San
to m
arke
ts;
• Cen
tral
fish
mar
kets
in P
ort V
ila a
nd S
anto
est
ablis
hed;
• R
ural
fish
erie
s mar
kets
and
rura
l fish
ing
gear
shop
s es
tabl
ished
in a
ll pr
ovin
ces;
• Loc
al fi
sh a
vaila
bilit
y is
incr
ease
d in
Por
t Vila
and
San
to
mar
kets
;• Im
port
atio
n of
fish
is re
duce
d.
VFD
, Pro
vinc
ial g
over
n-m
ents
, fish
ers a
ssoc
ia-
tions
, Ind
ustr
y D
ept,
Coop
erat
ive
Dep
t,
Fish
ing
Indu
strie
s, SP
C,
FFA,
UN
DP,
JICA,
ACI
AR,
NG
Os,
com
mun
ities
an
d
civi
l soc
ietie
s
16: I
mpr
ove
acce
ss to
su
ffici
ent a
nd a
dequ
atel
y sa
fe se
afoo
d
• Sta
ndar
ds fo
r sea
food
for l
ocal
mar
kets
es
tabl
ished
and
enf
orce
d by
201
7;• N
ew m
arke
ts in
201
6 ar
e bu
ilt b
ased
on
stan
dard
s;• T
rain
ing
on se
afoo
d st
anda
rds d
evel
opm
ent;
• Sea
food
pre
para
tion
and
safe
ty a
war
enes
s co
nduc
ted;
• Im
plem
ent s
eafo
od re
gula
tions
by
2017
.
• Est
ablis
h do
mes
tic se
afoo
d qu
ality
stan
dard
s; • A
pply
stan
dard
s to
seaf
ood
mar
kets
; • T
rain
fish
ers a
nd fi
sh re
ceiv
ers o
n pr
oper
han
ding
and
pr
oces
sing
met
hods
;• In
form
con
sum
ers o
f risk
of e
atin
g ce
rtai
n re
ef fi
sh sp
ecie
s; • D
emon
stra
te sa
fe h
andl
ing
and
prep
arat
ion
of se
afoo
d;• Im
prov
e va
lue-
addi
ng o
f fish
; • E
nhan
ce su
stai
nabi
lity
of se
afoo
d su
pply
at n
atio
nal l
evel
; • D
evel
op v
alue
-add
ing
of fi
sh p
rodu
cts.
• Fish
mar
kets
in P
ort V
ila o
pene
d, a
nd d
evel
opm
ent o
f fis
h m
arke
t in
Sant
o co
mm
ence
d;• M
ore
seaf
ood
avai
labl
e at
mar
kets
;• T
rans
port
of s
eafo
od to
urb
an m
arke
t im
prov
ed b
y 20
17;
• Affo
rdab
le p
rice
of fi
sh in
Por
t Vila
and
San
to m
arke
ts;
• Loc
al fi
sh a
vaila
ble
in h
otel
s and
rest
aura
nts .
VFD
, pro
vinc
ial g
over
n-m
ents
fish
ers a
ssoc
ia-
tions
, Ind
ustr
y D
ept,
Coop
erat
ive
Dep
t, fis
hing
indu
strie
s, SP
C, F
FA, U
ND
P, JIC
A,
ACIA
R ot
her d
onor
pa
rtne
rs,a
nd c
ivil
soci
ety
17: S
usta
in p
rodu
ctio
n of
fis
h at
nat
iona
l lev
el• S
usta
inab
le FA
D p
rogr
am e
stab
lishe
d;• A
ssoc
iatio
ns st
reng
then
ed;
• Ass
ocia
tion
activ
ities
are
cos
t rec
over
y;• S
uppo
rt pr
ovid
ed to
indu
stria
l fish
ing
indu
stry
to
incr
ease
land
ing
of fi
sh to
dom
estic
mar
ket.
• Pro
duct
ion
of fi
sh is
sust
aina
ble
to m
eet g
row
ing
dem
and;
• Sus
tain
fish
ing
activ
ities
at a
ll le
vels;
• S
usta
in p
rodu
ctio
n of
farm
ed fi
sh;
• Pro
mot
e go
od a
quac
ultu
re p
ract
ices
; • M
inim
ise w
asta
ge o
f res
ourc
es;
• Pra
ctic
e va
lue-
addi
ng o
f fish
to im
prov
e va
lue.
• Con
tinue
fish
ing
activ
ities
;• M
ove
to la
rger
fish
ing
vess
els;
• Fish
qua
lity
and
valu
e-ad
ding
impr
oved
;• F
isher
s’ ac
tiviti
es p
rofit
able
.
VFD
, pro
vinc
ial
gove
rnm
ents
,fis
hers
ass
ocia
tions
, In
dust
ry D
ept,
Coop
-er
ativ
e D
ept,
fishi
ng
indu
strie
s, SP
C, F
FA,
UN
DP,
JICA,
ACI
AR,
othe
r don
or p
artn
ers,
NG
Os,
com
mun
ities
an
d ci
vil s
ocie
ty
Vanuatu National Fisheries Sector Policy 2016-203130
Strategic objective 4: Infrastructure support and product development
Inve
st in
infr
astr
uctu
res t
hat s
uppo
rt o
nsho
re d
evel
opm
ent o
f the
fish
ing
indu
stry
incl
udin
g sp
ecia
l ind
ustr
ial z
ones
, w
harf
s, fa
ctor
ies,
slip
way
s, bo
ats a
nd m
arke
ts
Prio
rity
act
ions
Targ
etPr
opos
e ac
tiviti
esIn
dica
tors
Part
ners
18: E
stab
lish
Inte
rnat
iona
l Fi
sher
ies P
ort
• Maj
or in
vest
men
t in
the
Inte
rnat
iona
l Fish
erie
s Po
rt a
ppro
ved
by g
over
nmen
t by
2017
;• N
egot
iate
with
inve
stor
s for
this
long
-ter
m
deve
lopm
ent;
• For
shor
t-te
rm te
mpo
rary
fish
erie
s wha
rf co
m-
plet
ed b
y 20
17;
• Ons
hore
pro
cess
ing
faci
litie
s ful
ly o
pera
tiona
l by
202
8;• V
alue
-add
ing
and
prod
uct d
evel
opm
ent c
om-
plet
ed b
y 20
26.
• Est
ablis
h te
mpo
rary
fish
erie
s wha
rf to
supp
ort l
andi
ng
and
proc
essin
g of
fish
for e
xpor
t; • A
ssist
to e
stab
lish
an in
tern
atio
nal F
isher
ies P
ort t
o se
rvic
e fis
hing
indu
stry
;• E
ncou
rage
inve
stm
ent i
n la
rge
scal
e on
shor
e tu
na p
ro-
cess
ing
fact
ory;
• A
ssist
cre
atio
n of
spec
ial i
ndus
tria
l zon
es to
acc
omm
o-da
te fi
sh p
roce
ssin
g in
dust
ry;
• Iden
tify
site
and
enac
t spe
cial
indu
stria
l zon
e.
• Fish
erie
s wha
rf co
mpl
eted
and
in o
pera
tion;
• Chi
na N
atio
nal F
isher
ies C
orpo
ratio
n on
shor
e
proc
essin
g fa
cilit
ies c
ompl
eted
and
full
oper
atio
n;• S
mal
l-sca
le fi
sher
ies o
pera
tions
in p
rovi
nces
;• V
alue
-add
ing
and
prod
uct d
evel
opm
ent t
este
d an
d co
mm
erci
ally
use
d;• F
ish p
rodu
cts e
xpor
ted
by a
ir an
d se
a.
VFD
, pro
vinc
ial
gove
rnm
ents
, fish
ers
asso
ciat
ions
, In
dust
ry D
ept,
Coop
-er
ativ
e D
ept,
VIPA
, VCF
, fis
hing
indu
strie
s, FF
A,
othe
r don
or p
artn
ers
19: E
stab
lish
ce
ntra
lised
fish
mar
kets
in
urb
an a
nd
prov
ince
cen
tres
• Com
pete
nt A
utho
rity
fully
est
ablis
hed,
wel
l-re
sour
ced
and
supp
orte
d;• P
ort V
ila m
arke
t est
ablis
hed
in 2
017;
pot
entia
l m
arke
ts se
cure
d by
201
7;
• Enf
orce
stan
dard
on
cons
truc
tion
and
oper
a-tio
n;
• Dev
elop
and
eac
h st
anda
rd p
roce
dure
s for
th
ese
mar
kets
.
• Est
ablis
h ce
ntra
l fish
mar
kets
in u
rban
are
as;
• Rep
air f
ish m
arke
t fac
ility
in p
rovi
ncia
l cen
tres
; • S
et u
p fis
h m
arke
t out
lets
in ru
ral a
reas
; • E
ncou
rage
mar
kets
to lin
k di
rect
ly to
mar
kets
in u
rban
are
as;
• Lic
ensin
g of
all
mar
kets
and
or f
ish re
ceiv
ers;
• Mar
ketin
g of
fish
byc
atch
from
indu
stria
l fish
ing
fleet
; • P
rote
ct in
tere
st o
f sm
all-s
cale
fish
erm
en;
• Qua
lity
and
pric
e of
fish
is fa
ir to
con
sum
ers.
• Num
ber o
f rou
tine
insp
ectio
ns w
ith su
cces
sful
in-
com
e in
crea
sing;
• Num
ber o
f exp
ort c
onsig
nmen
ts in
crea
sing
ev
ery
year
;• R
even
ues a
nd v
olum
e of
Van
uatu
fish
exp
orts
incr
eas-
ing
ever
y ye
ar;
• Em
ploy
men
t im
prov
ed b
y ov
er 5
0% in
the
pr
oces
sing
and
fishi
ng su
bsec
tors
;• G
DP
fishe
ries c
ontr
ibut
ions
incr
ease
d .
VFD
, mun
icip
al a
nd
VCF,
Coop
erat
ive
Dep
t, In
dust
ry D
ept.,
fish
ing
indu
stry
, fish
ers a
s-so
ciat
ions
, pro
vinc
ial
gove
rnm
ent c
ounc
ils,
NG
Os,
FFA,
SPC
, JIC
A an
d ot
her p
artn
ers
20: E
stab
lish
aqua
cultu
re
hatc
hery
and
farm
co
nstr
uctio
n su
ppor
t
• Dem
onst
ratio
n of
stan
dard
farm
s and
pon
ds
cons
truc
ted
for a
ll pr
ovin
ces a
nd in
ope
ratio
n by
202
0;• R
egul
ar tr
aini
ng o
n co
nstr
uctio
n of
stan
dard
fa
rms a
nd p
onds
, at l
east
2-4
sess
ions
a y
ear;
• Enc
oura
ge in
vest
men
ts in
thes
e in
itiat
ives
w
ith a
targ
et o
f usin
g cl
imat
e ch
ange
fund
s to
supp
ort t
hese
act
iviti
es fo
r pur
pose
s of f
ood
secu
rity
and
impa
ct o
f clim
ate
chan
ge o
n re
ef
syst
ems;
• New
bre
edin
g st
ock
secu
red
and
colla
bora
tion
agre
emen
ts w
ith p
artn
ers f
inal
ised;
• Env
ironm
ent a
nd b
iose
curit
y re
quire
men
ts fu
lly
oper
atio
nal i
n 20
20.
• Est
ablis
h fre
shw
ater
hat
cher
ies i
n th
e so
uth
and
nort
h to
se
rvic
e fa
rmer
s;• C
onst
ruct
dem
o fa
rms b
ased
on
deve
lope
d st
anda
rds;
• Sec
ure
fund
ing;
• B
uild
mar
icul
ture
stat
ions
in P
ort V
ila a
nd S
anto
; • T
arge
t far
min
g of
hig
h pr
iorit
y sp
ecie
s for
dem
o fa
rms;
• Iden
tify
suita
ble
aqua
cultu
re la
nd a
vaila
ble
by is
land
s;• T
rial c
yclo
ne p
roof
des
ign
for f
loat
ing
farm
s;• S
eek
fund
ing
supp
ort f
or e
arth
mov
ing
equi
pmen
t.
• At l
east
ove
r 10
stan
dard
and
com
mer
cial
farm
s and
po
nds c
onst
ruct
ed in
eac
h pr
ovin
ce;
• Incr
easin
g nu
mbe
r of h
ouse
hold
s or l
ocal
com
mun
i-tie
s eng
aged
in th
is in
itiat
ive;
• Incr
easin
g co
llabo
ratio
n w
ith V
FD to
supp
ort t
he c
on-
stru
ctio
n an
d op
erat
ion
of st
anda
rd fa
rms o
r pon
ds.
VFD
, MAL
FFB,
pr
ovin
ces,
Bios
ecu-
rity
Vanu
atu
(form
erly
Q
uara
ntin
e D
epar
t-m
ent),
aqu
acul
ture
fa
rmer
s, ci
vil s
ocie
ty,
FFA,
SPC
and
don
or
part
ners
31
21: S
tren
gthe
n
Fish
erie
s D
epar
tmen
t bo
atya
rd a
nd p
rodu
c-ti
on o
f sm
all a
nd
med
ium
siz
e fis
hing
bo
at
• Inst
all n
ew b
oat b
uild
ing
mac
hine
ries b
y 20
17;
• Mas
s pro
duct
ion
of p
lyw
ood
Har
tley
fishi
ng b
oats
by
201
7 an
d on
war
ds;
• Mas
s pro
duct
ion
of a
ssoc
iate
d fis
hing
gea
r; • A
dopt
new
pro
mot
ion
syst
em, in
clud
ing
pric
ing
syst
em;
• Ope
n ge
ar sh
op in
Por
t Vila
; • P
rodu
ctio
n of
firs
t med
ium
-sca
le fi
shin
g bo
at b
y 20
20;
• Rep
air a
nd se
ll exi
stin
g bo
ats;
• Am
alga
mat
ion
of b
oaty
ard
and
wor
ksho
p an
d re
crui
tmen
t of m
echa
nic
in 2
017;
• Intro
duce
new
fish
erm
en c
redi
t sys
tem
.
• Inst
all n
ew m
achi
nes a
nd e
quip
men
t at F
isher
ies D
ept
boat
yard
;• In
crea
se p
rodu
ctio
n of
loca
lly d
esig
ned
fishi
ng b
oats
; • In
vest
in b
uild
ing
of m
ediu
m-s
ize fi
shin
g ve
ssel
s; • T
rain
ing
of b
oat b
uild
ers v
ia b
oaty
ard
atta
chm
ent t
rain
ings
;• In
crea
se p
rodu
ctio
n of
fish
ing
gear
and
oth
er m
arin
e ite
ms;
• Con
duct
trai
ning
in b
oat m
aint
enan
ce fo
r rur
al fi
sher
s;• A
mal
gam
ate
wor
ksho
p an
d bo
atya
rd;
• Cre
ate
mec
hani
c po
sitio
n an
d re
crui
t.
• Loc
ally
bui
ld b
oat s
prea
d to
the
prov
ince
s reg
ion;
• Pric
e of
loca
lly b
uild
boa
t low
er th
an im
porte
d bo
ats;
• Fish
ing
gear
read
ily a
vaila
ble
and
at a
fford
able
pric
e;
• Fish
erie
s sal
e sh
op o
pen
in P
ort V
ila b
y 20
20.
VFD
, MAL
FFB,
pro
vin-
cial
cou
ncils
, For
estr
y D
ept,
Indu
stry
Dep
t, fis
hers
ass
ocia
tions
, FF
A, S
PC a
nd d
onor
pa
rtne
rs
22: R
eloc
ate
Fish
er-
ies
Dep
artm
ent o
ffic
e in
fras
truc
ture
and
mov
-ab
le a
sset
sup
port
• Con
stru
ctio
n of
new
Fish
erie
s Offi
ce c
ompl
ex
com
plet
ed b
y 20
18;
• Con
stru
ctio
n of
new
mar
icul
ture
hat
cher
y re
lo-
cate
d an
d co
mpl
eted
by
2018
;• R
enov
atio
n an
d bu
ildin
g of
new
offi
ces i
n al
l pro
v-in
ces c
ompl
eted
by
2020
;• S
ecur
e VF
D v
ehic
les s
uppo
rt fo
r Lug
anvi
lle, P
ort
Vila
, Tan
na, a
nd m
otor
bike
s for
oth
er is
land
s .
• Impr
ove
and
build
new
offi
ce b
uild
ings
and
staf
f hou
ses i
n al
l pro
vinc
es;
• Sec
ure
fund
ing
to b
uild
a n
ew F
isher
ies O
ffice
bui
ldin
g in
Po
rt V
ila;
• Dev
elop
exi
stin
g w
ater
front
land
in P
ort V
ila in
to d
omes
tic
fishe
ries w
harf;
• S
eek
budg
et su
ppor
t for
new
dep
artm
ent v
ehic
les t
o su
p -po
rt fi
sher
ies w
ork;
• Fish
erie
s Dep
artm
ent m
ulti-
purp
ose
vess
el is
bui
lt;• S
mal
l fish
ing
supp
ort b
oats
are
mad
e av
aila
ble
in a
ll fis
herie
s ce
ntre
s; • E
ncou
rage
pro
ject
to p
rovi
de b
udge
tary
supp
ort.
• VFD
offi
ce a
nd m
aric
ultu
re st
atio
n re
loca
ted;
• N
ew o
ffice
and
staf
f hou
ses c
ompl
eted
and
reno
vate
d in
all
prov
ince
s.
VFD
, MAL
FFB,
MIP
U,
PSC,
PW
D, I
nter
nal A
f-fa
irs, p
rovi
ncia
l cou
n-ci
ls, c
omm
uniti
es
Vanuatu National Fisheries Sector Policy 2016-203132
Priority objective 5: Environmental management, climate change and disaster risk reduction
Inve
stig
ate
the
impa
cts o
f env
ironm
enta
l and
clim
ate
chan
ge o
n fis
herie
s res
ourc
es a
nd h
abita
ts –
focu
s on
clim
ate
resi
lienc
e an
d di
sast
er ri
sk re
duct
ion
Stra
tegi
c ac
tions
Targ
et o
utco
me
Prop
ose
activ
ities
Indi
cato
rsPa
rtne
rs
23: U
nder
take
bas
elin
e as
sess
men
ts m
arin
e en
viro
nmen
t for
long
te
rm c
limat
e ch
ange
m
onit
orin
g
• Impl
emen
t all
the
rele
vant
stud
ies o
n th
e im
pact
of
clim
ate
chan
ge o
n fis
herie
s and
aqu
acul
ture
an
d co
mpl
eted
by
2020
;• D
evel
op a
nd e
ndor
se c
oral
reef
mon
itorin
g pl
an
by 2
018;
• Impl
emen
t pla
n by
202
0 an
d in
202
6;• Im
plem
ent s
peci
fic fi
sher
y pl
ans;
• Use
resu
lts o
f res
earc
h to
iden
tify
and
addr
ess c
li -m
ate
chan
ge im
pact
s and
disa
ster
risk
redu
ctio
n in
fish
erie
s and
aqu
acul
ture
reso
urce
pla
ns.
• Dev
elop
pol
icy
on c
oral
reef
mon
itorin
g an
d cl
imat
e ch
ange
; • Im
plem
ent r
esea
rch
stud
ies o
n th
e m
onito
ring
of
the
impa
ct o
f clim
ate
chan
ge o
n co
ral r
eef h
ealth
; • S
et u
p lo
ng-te
rm m
onito
ring
of se
a su
rface
tem
pera
ture
in
loca
tions
alo
ng V
anua
tu is
land
cha
in;
• Ass
ess i
mpa
ct o
f ear
thqu
akes
, cyc
lone
, ele
vate
d
tem
pera
ture
s on
cora
l ree
f hab
itat a
nd re
sour
ces
and
fishi
ng b
ehav
iour
; • A
sses
s and
doc
umen
t sca
le o
f dam
age
of re
ef b
y
crow
n-of
- tho
rns (
COTS
) out
brea
ks;
• Est
ablis
h da
ta m
anag
emen
t and
dat
abas
e su
ppor
t.
• Cor
al re
ef m
onito
ring
plan
com
plet
ed;
• Per
man
ent l
ogge
rs in
stal
led
and
mon
itore
d;• B
leac
hing
mon
itorin
g do
ne w
hen
occu
rred
and
repo
rted
; • C
OTS
cle
an-u
p ca
mpa
ign
esta
blish
ed;
• Num
ber o
f rep
orts
and
pub
licat
ions
pr
oduc
ed e
ach
year
.
VFD
, SPC
, SPR
EP, C
li-m
ate
Chan
ge O
ffice
, to
ur o
pera
tors
, En
viro
nmen
t Dep
t, N
GO
s, do
nor p
artn
ers,
com
mun
ities
and
ot
her p
artn
ers
24: I
mpl
emen
t m
itig
atio
n an
d ad
apta
-ti
on a
nd d
isas
ter r
isk
redu
ctio
n ac
tivi
ties
in
read
ines
s fo
r nat
ural
di
sast
ers
• Rur
al fi
sher
ies d
evel
opm
ent o
rient
ed to
disa
ster
pr
epar
edne
ss.
• Exp
and
aqua
cultu
re fa
rmin
g as
a so
urce
of f
ish
durin
g di
sast
ers b
y 20
20;
• Div
ert e
ffort
to o
uter
reef
fish
ing
to p
rese
rve
reef
re
sour
ces;
• Foo
d pr
eser
vatio
n an
d va
lue-
addi
ng a
s ada
pta -
tion
activ
ity;
• Stre
ngth
en m
arin
e pr
otec
ted
area
; • F
isher
ies m
anag
emen
t and
con
serv
atio
n w
ork
supp
orte
d by
all
com
mun
ities
; • F
isher
ies r
even
ue fo
reca
sted
to a
dapt
to c
hang
ing
wea
ther
pat
tern
s and
mov
emen
t of f
ish st
ock.
• Pre
serv
e ce
rtai
n re
ef re
sour
ces f
or u
se d
urin
g na
tura
l di
sast
ers.
• Set
asid
e m
arin
e pr
otec
ted
area
s as f
ood
rese
rve
durin
g na
tura
l disa
ster
s; • E
stab
lish
faci
lity
to st
ore
and
pres
erve
fish
dur
ing
disa
ster
s;• Im
plem
ent a
nd e
nfor
ce fi
sher
ies r
egul
atio
ns a
t co
mm
unity
leve
l;• T
rain
fish
ers t
o pr
eser
ve fi
sh fo
r use
dur
ing
disa
ster
;• D
iscou
rage
was
tage
of f
ish;
• Dev
elop
alte
rnat
ive
livel
ihoo
d ac
tiviti
es fo
r com
mun
ities
in
clud
ing
eco-
tour
ism, h
andi
craf
t and
aqu
acul
ture
; • A
dapt
eco
nom
ic d
evel
opm
ent t
o th
e im
pact
of w
eath
er
patt
ern
on tu
na st
ocks
; • D
evel
op m
appi
ng sy
stem
to a
sses
s sca
le o
f im
pact
s on
mar
ine
envi
ronm
ent.
• Ful
l im
plem
enta
tion
of n
atio
nal f
isher
ies
man
agem
ent p
lans
. Enf
orce
men
t of f
isher
ies
regu
latio
ns in
all
com
mun
ities
;• A
ctiv
e co
mm
unity
ale
rt o
n CO
TS o
utbr
eaks
; • N
etw
ork
on C
OTS
out
brea
ks a
ctiv
e;
• Per
cent
age
of c
oral
ble
achi
ng in
Van
uatu
is a
sses
sed;
• P
rogr
ess o
f rec
over
y is
asse
ssed
;• In
dica
tors
of c
limat
e ch
ange
in fi
sher
ies a
nd a
quac
ul-
ture
iden
tifie
d an
d us
ed.
VFD
, SPC
, SPR
EP, C
li-m
ate
Chan
ge O
ffice
, to
urism
ope
rato
rs,
Envi
ronm
ent D
ept,
NG
Os,
dono
r par
tner
s,
com
mun
ities
an
d ot
her p
artn
ers
25: S
tren
gthe
n
com
mun
ity-
base
d
man
agem
ent t
hrou
gh
coop
erat
ive
appr
oach
• Dev
elop
and
fina
lise
polic
y on
com
mun
ity-b
ased
m
anag
emen
t to
stan
dard
ise fo
rmat
and
uni
t of
com
mun
ity-b
ased
man
agem
ent;
• Inco
rpor
ate
tradi
tiona
l and
cul
tura
l val
ues i
n co
m-
mun
ity fi
sher
ies p
lans
; • E
ncou
rage
vol
unta
ry c
ompl
ianc
e of
fish
erie
s re
gula
tion
by c
omm
uniti
es;
• Enc
oura
ge c
oope
rate
man
agem
ent o
f fish
erie
s in
com
mun
ity o
wn
area
s.
• Stre
ngth
en c
omm
unity
bas
ed-m
anag
emen
t and
clim
ate
chan
ge a
dapt
atio
n;
• Pre
serv
e tr
aditi
onal
reso
urce
man
agem
ent a
nd fi
shin
g pr
actic
es;
• Ada
pt c
o-m
anag
emen
t pra
ctic
es a
t com
mun
ity le
vel;
• Dev
elop
and
impl
emen
t com
mun
ity p
lans
;• A
dopt
eco
syst
em a
ppro
ach
in c
omm
unity
bas
ed m
anag
emen
t; • D
evel
op o
ther
live
lihoo
d op
port
uniti
es.
• Num
ber o
f com
mun
ity fi
sher
ies p
lans
co
mpl
eted
and
impl
emen
ted;
• Tra
inin
g of
com
mun
ity w
orke
rs;
• App
oint
men
t of c
omm
unity
fish
erie
s au
thor
ised
offic
ers .
VFD
, SPC
, SPR
EP, C
li-m
ate
Chan
ge O
ffice
, to
urism
ope
rato
rs,
Envi
ronm
ent D
ept,
NG
Os,
do
nor p
artn
ers,
com
mun
ities
and
ot
her p
artn
ers
33
Priority
objective 6: In
form
atio
n an
d co
mmun
icat
ion
tech
nolo
gy (
ICT)
imp
rove
ment
An
impr
oved
fish
erie
s sec
tor s
uppo
rted
by
impr
oved
info
rmat
ion
and
com
mun
icat
ion
tech
nolo
gy a
nd in
form
atio
n m
anag
emen
t
Stra
tegi
c ac
tions
Targ
etPr
opos
e ac
tiviti
esIn
dica
tors
Part
ners
26: D
evel
op s
tand
ards
fo
r inf
orm
atio
n se
curi
ty
and
web
site
• Sec
urity
pro
cedu
res f
or in
form
atio
n co
llect
ion,
pr
oces
sing
and
diss
emin
atio
n ad
opte
d by
201
7;• D
atab
ases
com
plet
ed b
y 20
28;
• Info
rmat
ion
Offi
cer p
ositi
on e
stab
lishe
d at
V
FD b
y 20
17;
• VFD
web
site
impr
oved
and
all
com
pone
nts l
inke
d by
201
7.
• Pre
pare
info
rmat
ion
secu
rity
guid
elin
es a
nd p
roce
dure
s to
gui
de th
e co
llect
ion,
pro
cess
ing
and
diss
emin
atio
n of
in
form
atio
n;• P
reve
nt fi
sher
y se
nsiti
ve in
form
atio
n le
akin
g ou
t to
the
publ
ic;
• Cre
ate
posit
ions
for I
CT o
ffice
r in
the
Dep
artm
ent o
f Fish
erie
s.
• Info
rmat
ion
secu
rity
proc
edur
es c
ompl
eted
;• In
form
atio
n di
ssem
inat
ion
follo
w e
stab
lishe
d st
anda
rds
proc
ess;
• Cen
tralis
ed d
atab
ase
syst
em c
ompl
eted
.
VFD
, MAL
FFB,
SPC
, O
GCI
O,
dono
r par
tner
s, ot
her
part
ners
27: C
entr
alis
ed V
FD
data
man
agem
ent a
nd
data
base
s an
d lin
k to
fis
heri
es in
form
atio
n m
anag
emen
t sys
tem
;
• Com
plet
e de
velo
pmen
t of a
cen
tralis
ed d
atab
ase
syst
ems t
hat l
ink
to o
ther
dat
a;
• Man
agem
ent U
nit e
nhan
ced;
• D
igita
l rec
ordi
ng sy
stem
fully
func
tiona
l; • O
ther
fish
erie
s dat
a lin
ked
to V
UFI
MS;
• SPC
and
FFA
dat
abas
e se
rvic
es se
rve
the
need
of
VFD
;• F
isher
ies d
ata
are
visib
le in
nat
iona
l sta
tistic
repo
rts .
• Pro
gres
s the
cen
tralis
ed m
anag
emen
t of f
isher
ies d
ata;
• Lin
k da
taba
se to
the
fishe
ries i
nfor
mat
ion
man
agem
ent
syst
em;
• Inte
grat
e w
ith re
gion
al sy
stem
s of S
PC, F
FA, a
nd o
ther
RFM
Os
to in
a ‘o
ne st
op sh
op’ m
anne
r for
eas
e of
acc
ess;
• Use
stan
dard
ised
data
col
lect
ion
and
reco
rdin
g fo
rmat
;• P
rom
ote
use
of b
oth
pape
r and
ele
ctro
nic
data
reco
rdin
g lo
gs.
• Fish
erie
s Dep
artm
ent D
ata
Man
agem
ent U
nit
is in
full
cont
rol o
f all
data
base
mat
ters
and
fish
erie
s dat
a is
up-
date
d on
the
syst
em;
• Tim
ely
deliv
ery
of c
orre
ctly
form
atte
d in
form
atio
n.
VFD
, SPC
, FFA
, OG
CIO
28: I
mpl
emen
t ele
c-tr
onic
repo
rtin
g an
d el
ectr
onic
mon
itor
ing
(ER/
EM)
• Dev
elop
EM
/ER
stra
tegy
;• C
ompl
eted
tria
lling
the
units
on
Vanu
atu
flag
fish -
ing
vess
els;
• Man
dato
ry u
se o
f EM
/ER
on a
ll fla
g ve
ssel
s by
2020
;• M
anda
tory
use
of E
M/E
R on
all
fore
ign
fishi
ng v
es-
sels
by 2
020;
• Dev
elop
obs
erve
r ope
ratio
n ba
se.
• Und
erta
ke tr
ial o
f ER/
EM;
• Dev
elop
nat
iona
l ER/
EM st
rate
gy;
• Exp
and
fishe
ries i
nfor
mat
ion
syst
em to
incl
ude
all f
isher
ies
to in
form
dec
ision
s; Ex
pand
ele
ctro
nic
repo
rtin
g to
coa
stal
fis
herie
s suc
h as
by
licen
sed
fishi
ng v
esse
ls;• A
dopt
sam
e re
port
ing
in a
quac
ultu
re p
rodu
ctio
n fa
rms.
• ER/
EM st
rate
gy c
ompl
eted
and
impl
emen
ted;
• Impr
oved
repo
rtin
g on
lice
nsed
fish
ing
vess
els;
• Impr
oved
com
plia
nce
inde
x.
VFD
, MAL
FFB,
Pol
ice
Mar
itim
e W
ing,
fish
-in
g in
dust
ry, F
FA, S
PC,
tuna
-RFM
Os
29: E
nhan
ce v
esse
l m
onit
orin
g sy
stem
op
erat
ion
to m
onit
or
offs
hore
and
coa
stal
fis
hing
act
ivit
ies
• Nat
iona
l Ves
sel M
onito
ring
Syst
em P
rogr
amm
e
func
tioni
ng e
ffect
ivel
y;• 2
4/7
man
ning
con
tinue
;• F
lag
vess
el m
onito
ring
impr
ovem
ent;
• MO
U si
gned
with
PM
W im
plem
enta
tion;
• T
rain
ing
of o
ffice
rs;
• Rev
iew
of V
MS
syst
ems;
• Am
alga
mat
e th
e tw
o VM
S sy
stem
s by
2020
.
• Mai
ntai
n us
e of
stat
e- o
f-the
-art
VM
S to
mon
itor f
ishin
g
vess
els o
pera
ting
insid
e Va
nuat
u w
ater
s;• C
ontin
ue to
wor
k w
ith C
LS to
mon
itor f
lag
ve
ssel
s ope
ratin
g in
tern
atio
nally
;• S
eek
CLS
supp
ort t
o im
prov
e VM
S sy
stem
;• A
sses
s opt
ions
to e
nhan
ce a
nd in
tegr
ate
the
two
syst
ems
to im
prov
e ef
fect
iven
ess a
nd e
ffici
ency
at l
ess c
ost t
o th
e co
untr
y;
• Ass
ess o
ptio
ns to
loca
lise
man
agem
ent o
f the
nat
iona
l ves
sel
mon
itorin
g sy
stem
; • C
ontin
ue to
eng
age
with
Pol
ice
Mar
itim
e W
ing
and
FFA
in
surv
eilla
nce
oper
atio
ns;
• For
mal
ise m
emor
andu
m o
f und
erst
andi
ng w
ith V
PMW
.
• All
vess
els l
icen
sed
and
flag
to V
anua
tu in
full
com
pli -
ance
with
VM
S re
quire
men
ts;
• Am
alga
mat
ion
of th
e tw
o VM
S sy
stem
s com
plet
ed.
VFD
, MAL
FFB,
FFA
, SPC
, fis
hing
indu
stry
, tun
a-RF
MO
s
Vanuatu National Fisheries Sector Policy 2016-203134
Strategi
c objective 7: F
ishe
ries
com
plia
nce
and
IUU
fish
ing
prev
enti
on
Adv
ocat
e fo
r zer
o-to
lera
nce
in IU
U a
nd e
nsur
e al
l Van
uatu
flag
and
lice
nsed
fish
ing
vess
els a
re fu
lly m
onito
red
and
com
plia
nt
Stra
tegi
c ac
tions
Targ
etPr
opos
e ac
tiviti
esIn
dica
tors
Part
ners
30: R
educ
e an
d el
imi-
nate
IUU
fish
ing
in th
e of
fsho
re fi
sher
y th
roug
h im
prov
ed c
ompl
ianc
e
• Impl
emen
t NPO
A IU
U, N
atio
nal F
leet
Man
age-
men
t Pol
icy,
Nat
iona
l Con
trol
Pla
n, N
POA
on
shar
ks a
nd P
ort S
tate
Con
trol
pla
n;• IU
U-fr
ee c
ount
ry b
y 20
20;
• Pen
alise
infri
ngem
ents
on
time;
• Mai
ntai
n go
od re
puta
tion
in th
e Re
gist
ry;
• Fla
g fis
hing
ves
sels
earn
goo
d re
puta
tion.
• Pre
vent
ent
ry o
f fish
ing
vess
els w
ith h
istor
ical
reco
rd o
f IU
U
into
the
Vanu
atu
Inte
rnat
iona
l Shi
ppin
g Re
gist
ry;
• Enf
orce
stric
t con
trol o
n fla
g fis
hing
ves
sels
thro
ugh
com
plia
nce
chec
ks;
• Ens
ure
that
ves
sels
leav
e th
e VI
SR w
ith c
lean
reco
rd;
• Ful
ly im
plem
ent t
he re
com
men
datio
ns o
f the
NPO
A IU
U a
nd
the
Nat
iona
l Fle
et M
anag
emen
t Pol
icy;
• R
esol
ve a
ny in
fring
emen
t by V
anua
tu fl
ag v
esse
ls sw
iftly
be-
fore
WCP
FC m
eets
;• F
ully
enf
orce
pen
alty
not
ice
on v
esse
l op
erat
ors/
owne
rs fo
r bre
ache
s.
• Incr
easin
g nu
mbe
r of s
ucce
ssfu
l in
vest
igat
ions
on
IUU
cas
es;
• Aw
ards
on
fight
aga
inst
IUU
;• IU
U re
ports
;• S
ucce
ssfu
lly w
ithdr
awn
from
ICCA
T;• A
ll inf
ringe
men
ts a
ddre
ssed
.
VFD
, MAL
FFB,
For
eign
Af
fairs
, oth
er
gove
rnm
ent l
ine
min
is-tr
ies a
nd d
epar
tmen
ts,
SPC,
FFA
, tun
a-RF
MO
s, fis
hing
indu
stry
31: L
imit
RFM
O m
embe
r-sh
ip b
y th
e Re
publ
ic o
f Va
nuat
u to
wit
hin
the
grea
ter P
acifi
c O
cean
re
gion
• With
draw
al fr
om IC
CAT
by e
nd o
f 201
6;• C
hart
er p
olic
y an
d re
gula
tion
enac
ted;
• Res
tric
t cha
rter
ing
of fl
ag v
esse
ls to
RF
MO
mem
bers
for w
hich
Van
uatu
is a
mem
ber;
• Att
end
50%
of R
FMO
mee
tings
by
2018
an
d fu
rthe
r im
prov
es th
erea
fter.
• With
draw
mem
bers
hip
to IC
CAT
and
IOTC
; • E
nact
pol
icy
and
regu
latio
n on
cha
rterin
g of
flag
ves
sels;
• P
reve
nt c
harte
ring
of v
esse
ls by
RFM
O m
embe
rs fo
r whi
ch
Vanu
atu
is a
non-
mem
ber;
• Mem
bers
hip
cont
ribut
ion
is co
st re
cove
red
from
the
fishi
ng
indu
stry
;• E
nsur
ing
indu
stry
ope
rato
rs c
ompl
y to
pay
thei
r RFM
O fe
es;
• Mai
ntai
n m
anag
emen
t of t
rust
acc
ount
s for
eas
e of
pay
men
t of
RFM
O fe
es.
• Tot
al w
ithdr
awal
from
ICCA
T;• B
ecom
ing
full
mem
ber o
f NPF
C by
201
7;• M
aint
ain
good
serv
ice
to R
FMO
s.
VFD
, MAL
FFB,
For
eign
Af
fairs
, oth
er
gove
rnm
ent l
ine
min
istrie
s and
de
part
men
ts, S
PC, F
FA,
tuna
-RFM
Os,
fishi
ng
indu
stry
32: R
educ
e an
d el
imi-
nate
IUU
fish
ing
in
coas
tal f
ishe
ries
• All
regi
ster
ed li
cens
ed b
y 20
18;
• Com
plia
nce
of sm
all f
ishin
g bo
ats
impr
oved
50%
by
2018
;• R
evise
d re
gula
tion
impl
emen
ted;
• Coa
stal
com
plia
nce
offic
ers t
rain
ed;
• Impo
rtat
ion
and
sale
of d
estr
uctiv
e ge
ar c
ease
d;
• Des
truc
tive
gear
con
fisca
ted .
• Lic
ensin
g of
all d
omes
tic fi
shin
g ve
ssel
s; • E
nfor
ce lic
ense
con
ditio
n to
ens
ure
com
plia
nce;
• Est
ablis
h ap
plic
able
cat
ch d
ata
reco
rdin
g sy
stem
on
tabl
et;
• Enf
orce
licen
se c
ondi
tion
on p
roce
ssin
g lic
ense
hol
ders
;• S
treng
then
com
plia
nce
at p
orts
and
airp
ort c
heck
poi
nts;
• Wor
k w
ith p
artn
ers t
o im
prov
e co
mm
unity
com
plia
nce;
• Ass
ist fi
sher
ies a
utho
rised
offi
cers
to c
olle
ct a
ccur
ate
info
rma-
tion;
• B
an im
port
and
sale
of d
estru
ctiv
e fis
hing
gea
r; • C
onfis
cate
illeg
al fi
shin
g ge
ar.
• Loc
al v
esse
ls op
erat
ing
viab
ly;
• No
mor
e im
port
atio
n an
d ille
gal s
ale
of d
estru
ctiv
e
fishi
ng g
ear;
• No
mor
e de
stru
ctiv
e fis
hing
gea
r in
the
coun
try.
VFD
, pro
vinc
es, f
isher
s as
soci
atio
ns, c
omm
uni-
ties,
Polic
e
33: S
tren
gthe
n m
an-
agem
ent o
f Van
uatu
fla
g fis
hing
flee
t
• Ces
satio
n of
the
vess
el m
onito
ring
sy
stem
serv
ices
con
trac
t by
2018
;• F
isher
ies D
epar
tmen
t ass
umes
full
resp
onsib
ility
of f
leet
man
ager
by
2018
; • G
ood
rela
tions
hip
is m
aint
aine
d
with
indu
stry
ope
rato
rs.
• Rem
ove
fleet
man
agem
ent c
ontra
ct w
ith th
e pr
ivat
e en
tity
and
disc
oura
ge su
ch c
ontra
cts i
n fu
ture
; • F
ully
ass
ume
role
of f
leet
man
agem
ent;
• Stre
ngth
en fl
eet m
anag
emen
t dut
y of
the
Fi
sher
ies D
epar
tmen
t;• B
uild
clo
se c
oope
ratio
n w
ith th
e fis
hing
indu
stry
ope
rato
rs;
• Pro
vide
effi
cien
t and
relia
ble
serv
ice
to v
esse
l ope
rato
rs.
• Ves
sel M
onito
ring
Syst
em S
ervi
ces c
ontra
ct c
ease
d;• V
FD a
ssum
e fu
ll re
spon
sibilit
y fo
r fle
et m
anag
emen
t.VF
D; M
ALFF
B, S
LO,
Tuna
Fish
ing
Vanu
atu
Ltd,
tuna
-RFM
Os
35
34: I
mpl
emen
t cat
ch
docu
men
tati
on s
chem
e in
all
flag
vess
els
• Cer
tific
atio
n st
anda
rds i
nstit
uted
;• S
eafo
od V
erifi
catio
n Ag
ency
cer
tific
atio
n pr
oces
s co
mpl
eted
by
FFA;
• EU
cer
tific
atio
n co
mpl
eted
;• C
atch
cer
tific
atio
n ap
plie
d to
all V
anua
tu fl
ag v
esse
ls fo
r fish
exp
orts
ann
ually
.
• Fin
alise
nat
iona
l con
trol p
lan
with
FFA
; • Im
plem
ent n
atio
nal c
ontro
l pla
n;
• Con
duct
food
safe
ty a
nd C
DS
insp
ectio
n on
ves
sels;
• In
depe
nden
t mon
itorin
g an
d ap
prov
al b
y FF
A;
• Com
plet
e EU
cer
tific
atio
n of
the
Seaf
ood
Verif
icat
ion
Auth
ority
; • Is
sue
catc
h ce
rtifi
catio
n to
flag
ves
sel t
o ac
cess
EU
and
oth
er
mar
kets
; • P
artic
ipat
e in
neg
otia
tions
on
fishe
ries t
rade
.
• Sea
food
stan
dard
s gaz
ette
d;• S
eafo
od re
gula
tion
gaze
tted;
• FFA
trai
ning
pro
cess
com
plet
ed;
• SFV
A ce
rtifi
ed b
y EU
;• F
ish e
ntry
to E
U a
utho
rised
by V
anua
tu.
VFD
; MAL
FFB,
SLO
, tun
a-RF
MO
s
35: S
tren
gthe
n fis
heri
es
law
enf
orce
men
t and
pr
osec
utio
n
• Com
plet
e at
tach
men
t with
Pro
secu
tion
Offi
ce;
• Dev
elop
and
sign
MO
U w
ith P
rose
cutio
n O
ffice
; • C
omm
ence
pro
secu
tion
of fi
sher
ies c
ases
;• R
ecru
it m
ore
com
mun
ity fi
sher
ies
auth
orise
d of
ficer
s .
• Stre
ngth
en e
nfor
cem
ent o
f fish
erie
s reg
ulat
ions
; • C
oope
rate
with
Pub
lic P
rose
cutio
n O
ffice
on
capa
city
bui
ld-
ing;
• Impr
ove
adm
inist
rativ
e pe
nalty
regu
latio
ns a
nd e
nfor
cem
ent;
• Stre
ngth
en in
spec
tion
at m
arke
t out
lets
, res
taur
ants
and
sh
ops;
• Und
erta
ke in
vest
igat
ion
and
pros
ecut
ion
train
ing
of fi
sher
ies
auth
orise
d of
ficer
s; • S
treng
then
enf
orce
men
t on
impo
rtat
ion,
sale
and
use
of
dest
ruct
ive
fishi
ng g
ear.
• Fish
erie
s pro
secu
tor a
dmitt
ed;
• MO
U si
gned
;• 5
cas
es su
cces
sful
ly p
rose
cute
d .
VFD
; MAL
FFB,
SLO
, Ju
stic
e M
inist
ry, P
ublic
Pr
osec
utio
ns O
ffice
, tu
na-R
FMO
s
36: P
rogr
ess
fishe
ries
ob-
serv
er a
nd p
ort s
ampl
ing
to fu
ll co
st re
cove
ry
• Obs
erve
r Pro
gram
me
achi
eves
hal
f cos
t rec
over
y by
202
3;• P
ort s
ampl
ing
to b
e fu
lly c
ost r
ecov
ered
by
2023
;• O
bser
vers
fully
cov
ered
on
trips
;• C
ompl
ete
train
ing
of m
ore
obse
rver
s.
• Dev
elop
nat
iona
l fish
erie
s obs
erve
r and
por
t sam
plin
g to
be
com
e a
full
cost
reco
very
pro
gram
me;
• Equ
ip a
ll ob
serv
ers w
ith sa
fety
gea
r, in
clud
ing
unifo
rm a
nd
prot
ectiv
e ge
ar;
• Ful
ly in
sure
obs
erve
rs w
hile
at s
ea;
• Sup
port
two
de-b
riefe
rs to
com
plet
e th
eir t
rain
ing
to a
ssist
qu
ality
con
trol o
f nat
iona
l obs
erve
rs;
• Pro
gres
s int
o el
ectro
nic
mon
itorin
g sy
stem
; • E
xten
d ro
le o
f obs
erve
rs to
cov
er c
oast
al fi
sher
ies a
nd a
qua -
cultu
re.
• Obs
erve
r pro
gram
me
full
cost
reco
vere
d by
203
1;• P
ort S
ampl
ing
achi
eves
full
cost
reco
vere
d by
203
1;• O
bser
ver n
umbe
rs re
ach
50 b
y 20
31.
VFD
; MAL
FFB,
FFA
, SLO
, Ju
stic
e M
inist
ry, P
ublic
Pr
osec
utio
ns O
ffice
, tu
na-R
FMO
s
37: R
evie
w v
esse
l lic
ens-
ing
proc
ess
and
reco
rd-
ing
syst
em
• Effi
cien
t lic
ensin
g sy
stem
for f
orei
gn v
esse
ls
and
IATF
;• M
aint
ain
up to
dat
e re
cord
of l
icen
ses a
nd IA
TF;
• Pro
vide
regu
lar u
pdat
e of
licen
ses a
nd
fee
colle
ctio
n.
• Mai
ntai
n ef
ficie
nt p
roce
ssin
g of
lice
nses
;• L
iaise
with
ope
rato
rs w
hen
proc
essin
g lic
ense
s;• In
trodu
ce o
nlin
e ap
plic
atio
n an
d pr
oces
sing
of li
cens
es.
• Effi
cien
t iss
uanc
e pr
oces
s;• G
ood
appr
ecia
tion
by c
lient
s;• C
ompl
eted
onl
ine
licen
se
• App
licat
ion
proc
ess;
VFD
; MAL
FFB,
FFA
, SLO
, tu
na-R
FMO
s
38: I
ntro
duce
long
line
vess
el d
ay s
chem
e (V
DS)
or
quo
ta m
anag
emen
t sy
stem
(QM
S)
• Rev
iew
legi
slatio
n to
acc
omm
odat
e VD
S or
QM
S fo
r im
plem
enta
tion
by 2
019;
• See
k as
sista
nce
from
FFA
.
• Wor
k w
ith F
FA to
des
ign
VMS
impl
emen
tatio
n po
licy;
• Wor
k w
ith N
ew Z
eala
nd M
inist
ry o
f Prim
ary
Indu
strie
s on
advi
ce o
n Q
MS
syst
em fo
r dec
ision
mak
ing;
• Ado
pt e
ither
of t
he tw
o.
• VD
S or
QM
S ad
opte
d.VF
D, M
ALFF
B,
FFA
, SPC
, SLO
,tu
na-R
FMO
s
Vanuatu National Fisheries Sector Policy 2016-203136
Strategy
objective 8: Bu
ildi
ng p
artn
ersh
ip a
nd n
etwo
rkin
gSt
reng
then
par
tner
ship
, col
labo
ratio
n an
d ne
twor
king
with
line
Dep
artm
ents
, ind
ustr
y, a
nd a
lso
enco
urag
e es
tabl
ishi
ng
new
one
s for
vis
ibili
ty, t
rans
pare
ncy,
par
ticip
ator
y an
d in
clus
ivity
Stra
tegi
c ac
tions
Targ
etPr
opos
e ac
tiviti
esIn
dica
tors
Part
ners
39: F
orm
alis
e co
llabo
ra-
tion
wit
h lin
e de
part
-m
ents
and
sta
keho
lder
s th
roug
h M
OU
s an
d M
OA
s
• Fish
erie
s Dep
artm
ent t
o st
reng
then
net
wor
king
an
d pa
rtne
rshi
p w
ith re
leva
nt st
akeh
olde
rs su
ch
as li
ne o
r rel
evan
t gov
ernm
ent d
epar
tmen
ts, t
he
prov
ince
, com
mun
ities
and
pub
lic in
urb
an/r
ural
co
mm
uniti
es, F
FA, S
PC, t
una-
RFM
Os,
dono
r pa
rtne
rs, N
GO
s and
oth
ers.
• For
mal
ise c
olla
bora
tions
with
stak
ehol
ders
thro
ugh
an M
OU
an
d or
MO
As;
• For
mal
ise M
OU
s with
line
and
gov
ernm
ent D
epar
tmen
ts a
nd
gove
rnm
ent e
ntiti
es, c
o mm
uniti
es a
nd c
ivil
soci
ety
grou
ps;
• The
se a
rran
gem
ents
wou
ld fo
rm th
e ba
sis fo
r col
labo
ratio
n;• E
ncou
rage
join
t im
plem
enta
tion
unde
r MO
U;
• MO
Us a
nd M
OAs
are
to b
e a s
sess
ed b
y St
ate
Law
Offi
ce
whe
re n
eces
sary
for c
onsis
tenc
y an
d le
galit
y iss
ues.
• Coo
rdin
atio
n an
d w
ell-r
esou
rced
wor
ks o
n fis
herie
s and
aq
uacu
lture
;• M
OU
with
Pol
ice
Mar
itim
e W
ing
Com
plet
ed;
• MO
U w
ith A
ir Va
nuat
u co
mpl
eted
;• M
OU
with
Chu
rche
s com
plet
ed:
VFD
, Coo
pera
tive
and
Indu
stry
Dep
t, pr
ovin
cial
go
vern
men
t cou
ncils
, N
GO
s, co
mm
uniti
es a
nd
civi
l soc
iety
40: F
orm
alis
e co
llabo
ra-
tion
wit
h re
gion
al in
ter-
gove
rnm
enta
l par
tner
s th
roug
h M
OU
s an
d M
OA
s an
d SL
As
• Rev
iew
FFA
Ser
vice
Lev
el A
gree
men
t (SL
A) fo
r 20
19 o
nwar
ds;
• Rev
iew
SPC
JCS
and
ensu
re is
sim
ilar w
ith F
FA;
• Dev
elop
SLA
type
arr
ange
men
t with
SPR
EP a
nd
othe
r reg
iona
l par
tner
s.
• Est
ablis
h fo
rmal
arra
ngem
ents
thro
ugh
an M
OU,
MO
A of
SLA
w
ith re
gion
al in
terg
over
nmen
tal o
rgan
isatio
ns;
• Tec
hnic
al a
ssist
ance
targ
et a
ctiv
ities
iden
tifie
d in
the
MO
As
or S
LAs;
• Fish
erie
s Dep
artm
ent i
s re s
pons
ible
in th
e im
plem
enta
tion
of M
OAs
;• P
riorit
y ac
tiviti
es in
thes
e ag
reem
ents
refle
ct n
atio
nal p
riori-
ties;
• Req
uest
for t
echn
ical
ass
istan
ce to
be
chan
nelle
d th
roug
h th
e of
ficia
l pro
toco
l.
• FFA
SLA
succ
essf
ully
impl
emen
ted;
• SPC
Join
t Cou
ntry
Stra
tegy
succ
essf
ully
impl
emen
ted;
• Impl
emen
t at l
east
ano
ther
1 S
LA w
ith a
noth
er in
terg
ov-
ernm
enta
l par
tner
by
2023
.
FFA,
SPC
, USP
, SP
REP,
IRD
, oth
ers
41: P
artn
ersh
ip w
ith
othe
r ext
erna
l par
tner
s• B
y 20
20 V
FD w
ill h
ave
MO
Us w
ith a
ll re
leva
nt
stak
ehol
ders
and
line
Min
istrie
s as w
ell a
s int
erna
-tio
nal N
GO
s, do
mes
tic N
GO
s and
com
mun
ities
.
• Enc
oura
ge o
ther
ext
erna
l par
tner
s to
ente
r int
o M
OA
for
the
serv
ices
they
inte
nd to
pro
vide
;• E
ngag
emen
t with
ext
erna
l par
tner
s on
prio
rity
area
s of
natio
nal i
nter
est;
• Enc
oura
ge p
artn
ersh
ip a
nd c
oope
ratio
n th
at e
nhan
ce a
nd
adva
ncin
g pr
iorit
y w
orks
on
fishe
ries;
• Incl
ude
in th
e ag
reem
ent d
eliv
ery
of re
sear
ch in
form
atio
n on
com
plet
ion
of p
roje
ct;
• Pro
ject
s to
fund
new
pos
ition
s to
the
exist
ing
stru
ctur
e.
• Mor
e pa
rtne
rs se
cure
d an
d ac
tivel
y se
rved
pur
pose
s of
adva
ncin
g do
mes
tic fi
sher
ies a
nd a
quac
ultu
re su
stai
nabl
e m
anag
emen
t and
dev
elop
men
t.
VFD
, oth
er
gove
rnm
ent
line
min
is-tr
ies a
nd d
epar
tmen
ts,
SPC,
FFA
, FAO
, SPR
EP,
othe
r par
tner
s