“Are we standing strong together? It’s a thoughtful question to reflect on as we meet this week – how do we continue reinforcing our unity and shared purpose across the region?” said the Prime Minister of Niue, Dalton Tagelagi, as he officially opened the 24th Forum Fisheries Committee Ministerial Meeting (FFCMin24) and the 6th Regional Fisheries Ministers Meeting in Alofi, Niue.
Hosted by the Government of Niue and coordinated by the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA), the meeting brings together regional Fisheries Ministers and senior officials to chart a sustainable future for Pacific fisheries.
In welcoming Ministers from FFA’s Member countries, the Prime Minister said, “I am honoured to have you here. We don’t often host such regional gatherings in Niue, but I encourage you to support us – at least one Ministerial meeting here a year. Until then, I can’t say we’re truly achieving the collective regionalism we always speak of.”
He encouraged delegates to be bold, reminding them: “We believe in what you do. Our job as leaders is to endorse, to support, and to ensure our Blue Pacific Continent is well served by all of us together.”
Outgoing Chair, Erana Aliklik of Nauru, congratulated the incoming Chair and Minister for Natural Resources, Mona Ainu’u, saying, “I now hand over the paddle of leadership to our incoming chair, Minister Mona, with full confidence that, together, we will continue steering our Pacific forward with strength, vision, and unity. Through Pacific solidarity, our voices are stronger, our actions more impactful, and our future more secure.”
Incoming Chair, Mona Ainu’u, reflected on the values guiding her leadership: “We are here for a reason – a good reason,” she said.
“In the Pacific, we are ocean people. We live in the sea. We see the impacts of climate change and Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) and the challenge is to link our traditional knowledge and modern fisheries management to ensure sustainability of our tuna resources. This week, I hope we continue our conversations and chart a way forward -not just for us, but for the young people and the whole of society, who need to understand and protect our ocean.”
In his remarks, FFA Director General, Noan Pakop, acknowledged the region’s achievements in sustainable fisheries management.
“Ministers, your leadership continues to produce outcomes that are not only regionally important but globally recognised. Our four key tuna stocks – skipjack, yellowfin, bigeye, and albacore – remain healthy. We’ve made significant progress in setting management targets and reducing illegal fishing by more than 50 percent since 2016. These results reflect the unity of purpose and strength of Pacific regionalism. We succeed when we stand together.”
The opening ceremony concluded with the launch of the latest edition of Moana Voices magazine, celebrating the stories of Pacific women working across the fisheries sector.
“This is not a beginning, but a continuation of stories that deserve to be told,” said Mona Ainu’u who is also featured in the magazine. “Behind every vessel, every export figure, every tuna on the market, are people. And many of them are women – working quietly behind the scenes in factories, inspecting fish, monitoring compliance, and leading national agencies. Tonight, we shine a light on their hands, their hearts, and their essential contributions.”
Over the next three days, Fisheries Ministers will deliberate on a comprehensive agenda covering priorities such as the Fisheries Roadmap, the Chair’s Ocean Literacy Initiative, the progress on the implementation of FFA’s Climate Change Strategy, and the East New Britain Initiative. Discussions will also include updates on fisheries development initiatives, the Independent Refresh and Performance Review of FFA, the 2050 Strategy, and the Review of Regional Architecture.
The Ministerial Meeting will conclude on Thursday, 24 July 2025, with a retreat session where Ministers will adopt the official FFCMin24 Communique – outlining agreed priorities ahead of the Pacific Islands Forum Leaders Meeting in Solomon Islands this September.
The opening ceremony, held at the Scenic Matavai Resort, was attended by regional Fisheries Ministers, representatives from Australia and New Zealand, CROP agencies including The Pacific Community (SPC) and University of the South Pacific (USP), as well as local dignitaries from Niue. The evening featured traditional dances and singing, providing a warm Pacific welcome for the delegates.
