MFMR conducts 8a validation workshop of the Provincial Fisheries Policy Paper for WP

Honiara, 18 Feb 2024: A team comprising officers from the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources, and a legal personal have concluded a validation workshop of the Western Provincial Fisheries Policy Paper at the Western Provincial Capital Gizo this week.

The main goal of this mission is to initiate the preparatory phase for developing a tailored fishery policy paper specifically crafted for the Western Province. The essence of this effort lies in validating findings from a community consultation report conducted in 2022, and involving a process of verification, substantiation, and necessary adjustments.

The consultation involve two sessions and participants were able to provide commendations which will form part of this validation process.

The overarching objective is to customize the consultation process to address the specific concerns of the Provincial Executive Government and other stakeholders including the non-government organisation.

From this consultation, a Provincial Government Fishery Policy Paper will be finalised and presented to the Provincial Executive Government for consideration.

This initiative underscores the unwavering commitment of the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources to collaborative governance and sustainable fisheries management in the Western Province.

Through active engagement with local stakeholders and government entities, the Ministry aims to ensure that the resulting policy aligns with the needs and aspirations of the community while upholding the highest legal and regulatory standards.

Meanwhile, the team led by the Ministry of Fisheries Economist, two fisheries officers and a legal person also paid courtesy visits to the Premier of Western Province Hon Billy Veo and his fisheries Minister Hon Frederick Alepitu.

Both the premier and his fisheries minister have expressed their desire to see the fisheries sector in the province develop.

Francis Pituvaka

Communication Officer