Third SPC Regional Technical Meeting on Coastal Fisheries

Third SPC Regional Technical Meeting on Coastal Fisheries COASTAL FISHERIES AND AQUACULTURE: REGIONAL GOVERNANCE FRAMEWORK, INFORMATION FLOW AND DECISION-MAKING INFORMATION PAPER 1 DR ANDREW SMITH, FAME DEPUTY-DIRECTOR (COASTAL FISHERIES)

Purpose • Outline the new regional governance framework, information flow and decision-making processes for Pacific coastal fisheries and aquaculture • RTMCF 3 is the first phase of this new, still evolving, governance framework • Identify, discuss and agree on clear priority coastal fisheries and aquaculture technical issues and opportunities – specific actions • RTMCF 3 will submit to the 12 th SPC Heads of Fisheries Meeting in March 2020 for consideration and action

Background • Concerns about coastal fisheries and aquaculture issues at the regional level being considered: • RTMCF 2 (Nov 2018): IP 1: ‘A strong and coordinated approach to coastal fisheries management – the Big Picture’ • Ho. F 11 (Mar 2019): WP 6: ‘Heads of Fisheries Meeting – purpose, priorities and direction’ • Regional frameworks and strategies for coastal fisheries adopted by Leaders: • ‘A New Song for Coastal Fisheries – Pathways to Change: The Noumea Strategy’ (2015) • ‘The Future of Fisheries – A Regional Roadmap for Sustainable Pacific Fisheries’ (2015) • Still limited pathways at the regional level to proactively engage in building a strong and coordinated approach to addressing coastal fisheries management challenges, gaps and priority areas

Regional governance and decision-making framework • Annual Heads of Fisheries (2 -year trial – Ho. F 11 decision) to focus on: • Guiding FAME’s strategic direction and work-plan priorities • Consider strategic regional fisheries policy and governance issues • Emerging issues of concern • RTMCF: Address coastal fisheries and aquaculture technical issues • Endorsed by SRFMM and 49 th CRGA (June 2019) • Indicative flow of information and advice on coastal fisheries and aquaculture issues at the regional level, and any key decisions required, will be from: • RTMCF to the Ho. F Meeting to the Regional Fisheries Ministers’ Meeting to the Forum Leaders • Still an emerging process – How to include communities, private sector, CSOs/NGOs?

Regional Technical Meeting on Coastal Fisheries • Re-established in 2017, with meetings in November 2017 and November 2018 • Purpose is to bring together coastal fisheries and aquaculture scientists and technical experts in the Pacific to discuss important technical and scientific gaps, needs, challenges and opportunities • Outcomes to be presented to Ho. F: 1. Outcomes not requiring Ho. F approval for implementation will be presented at Ho. F meeting for noting 2. Outcomes needing Ho. F support and approval for implementation will be tabled for Ho. F discussion and approval 3. Outcomes needing Ho. F support and approval, and high-level endorsement, will be tabled for Ho. F discussion and approval, with recommendations for transmitting to the RFMM

Coastal Fisheries Working Group • 2016 Leaders’ request “…to coordinate with National Fisheries Agencies, CROP agencies and regional and national community groups, to strengthen support and resourcing for coastal fisheries management” (para 10, 47 th Leaders Communique) • 2017 SPC FAME established CFWG after consultations with Ho. F 10 and FFC Ministerial • Then Ho. F was every 2 years and no RFMM, so reported annually to the Leaders via the Forum Officials Committee’s Specialist Sub-Committee on Regionalism (SSCR) • Now annual Ho. F and RFMM, so Ho. F 11 (Mar 2019) and SRFMM (Jun 2019) directed review. SRFMM Communique: • “…expressed concern regarding its lack of accountability to member Governments. …recommended to SPC that the CFWG be disbanded and that other options be considered for giving effect to the Leaders’ decision in 2016 in relation to coastal fisheries”

Heads of Fisheries Meeting • Only regional forum for discussion and priority-setting for coastal fisheries and aquaculture, for the joint consideration of oceanic and coastal fisheries, and where all 26 SPC Members participate • Provides an important opportunity for FAME staff and stakeholders to engage in planning and developing regional strategic approaches to Pacific fisheries • Now annual and will focus on: • Guiding FAME’s strategic direction and work-plan priorities • Consider strategic regional fisheries policy and governance issues • Emerging issues of concern

Regional Fisheries Ministers Meeting • Fisheries Ministers have the primary role in providing sectoral oversight of regional fisheries issues • Fisheries Ministers report to Forum Leaders under the Standing Item on Fisheries: • On progress against the Regional Roadmap for Sustainable Fisheries • Providing advice and recommendations on fisheries issues requiring Leaders’ attention • In June 2019 a Special Regional Fisheries Ministers Meeting established the Regional Fisheries Ministers Meeting (RFMM). Consider, discuss and take decisions on: • Coastal fisheries issues, including aquaculture, of regional significance and/or high importance • Broader oceans management and governance issues (e. g. CC, marine pollution, food security) • Any fisheries implications arising from wider regional policy processes

Priority technical issues and opportunities • RTMCF 3 is the first phase of this new, still evolving, governance and decision-making framework • Participants identify, discuss and agree on clear priority coastal fisheries and aquaculture technical issues and opportunities, including specific follow-up actions • RTMCF 3 agreed outcomes submitted to Ho. F 12 (Mar 2020) for consideration and action: 1. Outcomes not requiring Ho. F approval for implementation will be presented at Ho. F meeting for noting 2. Outcomes needing Ho. F support and approval for implementation will be tabled for Ho. F discussion and approval 3. Outcomes needing Ho. F support and approval, and high-level endorsement, will be tabled for Ho. F discussion and approval, with recommendations for transmitting to the RFMM