The Eighteenth Special Meeting of the Pacific Island Parties (SPIP18) convened in Wellington on Monday 4th May, marking the start of pre-official’s discussions ahead of the 142nd Forum Fisheries Committee (FFC142) meeting.
Opening the meeting, FFA Director-General Noan David Pakop expressed appreciation to the Government and people of New Zealand for hosting SPIP18, the pre-FFC meetings, and the upcoming Annual FFC Officials meeting scheduled for 11–15 May 2026.
“The objective of this meeting is to provide an update to FFA Members on the administration and implementation of the Treaty between the United States and the Pacific Islands Parties, and to prepare for the 2026 Annual Consultation with the United States, scheduled for late June here in Wellington,” Pakop said.
Pakop confirmed that the distribution of the balance of the U.S Government’s second payment of US$60 million (2025 payment) and the U.S fishing industry’s first payment for 2026 was made in late April 2026.
Discussions at SPIP18 covered a range of key issues, including the report of the Administrator, the schedule of U.S payments, the proposed comprehensive partnership arrangement, and other technical matters such as illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, licensing and registration systems, and observer-related issues.
The Pacific Island Parties are also preparing for the 2026 Annual Consultation with the U.S, scheduled for late June 2026, in Wellington ahead of the FFC-Ministerial meeting.
Senior fisheries officials from FFA’s 17 Member countries and territories are attending this week’s meeting, which sets the stage for the Annual Officials FFC142 meeting next week.
