NATIONAL REPORT-VANUATU
Report submitted to during the 4th Regional Steering Committee Meeting, Apia, Samoa,
17th-18th October 2008.
Robert Jimmy.
Background:
This report summarizes the involvement of Vanuatu in the various activities funded
under the GEF project through the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) and the
Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA). Major achievement through the project was review and
completion of the national tuna management plan incorporated through the
ecosystem approach, review of the memorandum of agreement for financing the
national data coordinator for Vanuatu, training of the national observer coordinator
and the national legislative framework review.
The national tuna management plan (TMP) after going through a wide range of
consultation with the private sector, the provincial government authorities and various
government authorities concerned has finally been completed. Based on this, a
number of minor legislative reviews has also been undertaken to enable full
implementation of the TMP by 2009, however, financial assistance will be sought for a
comprehensive legislative review has to be undertaken to facilitate new measures by
the WCPFC.
This has been timely in view of two domestic fish processing plants which will come into
effect between January and April of 2009 to accommodate fishing vessels that are
licensed by Vanuatu. The TMP has also been instrumental in the approval of the New
Fisheries Departmental structure by the Public Service Commission that should be
budgeted for and in effect by January 2008.
Funding assistance granted towards financing the national data coordinator is assisting
Vanuatu immensely in providing up to date reporting of tuna fishery in Vanuatu as well
as ensuring Vanuatu's compliance to the WCPFC. In this regard, arrangements are now
underway to have the TUFMAN installed in Vanuatu by November 2008. However,
assistance will be sought from the SPC for an attachment of two Vanuatu Fisheries
Officers hopefully in November prior to the TUFMAN being installed in the country. Other
benefits through financing the national data coordinator has been the involvement of
the Coordinator in a recent SPC/FFA Sub-regional observer training course in Santo,
Vanuatu between mid October-November 2008 where the Coordinator had been able
to contribute towards assisting local participants identified for Observer training course
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which is currently underway in Vanuatu. Due to funding constraints, there may be a
need to request funding assistance from the project to finance a data entry clerk for
2009 until budget is sought from the national government for 2010.
As a result of the observer coordinators training which Vanuatu participated, the
participant which undertook this training is currently coordinating the national
participants attending the current west sub-regional observer course in Vanuatu of
which Vanuatu has entered 7 participant with the view to establish a national observer
program by the end of the year prior to the operation of the above mentioned fish
processing facilities.
As project focal point, I take this opportunity on behalf of the Government of Vanuatu
to express Vanuatu's sincere appreciation to GEF for providing funding assistance
through the SPC and the FFA to meeting the national development aspirations of
Vanuatu. Due acknowledgement to the UNDP for funding this programme, the FFA
Director General and the dedicated staff of FFA, the GEF Project Coordinator and to
the Director General of SPC and the SPC-OFP Team for the assistance granted to
Vanuatu through the GEF Project.

VANUATU COUNTRY REPORT

National outcomes
Key Outputs
1.1 Fishery Monitoring, Coordination and
Data coordinator MOU revised for
Enhancement
Vanuatu
-
Review of contract for national
data coordinator, Mr Tony Taleo.
1.2 stock assessment
Observer debriefing and debriefer training
-
Mr John Mahit participated in the
observer coordinator participation
in Palau workshop.

In country EAFM consultation with
stakeholders
-
in Port Vila to review the Tuna
Management Plan using Vanuatu
as a case study
1.3 Ecosystem Analysis
EAFM workshop in Port Vila, Vanuatu
-
First consultation with government
officials for the draft review of the
National TMP. The plan is now
completed and finalized and ready
to be implemented in 2009.
Development of national plan of action
for sharks.
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2.1 Legal reform
Legislative review for Vanuatu
-
ongoing process to review fisheries
regulations
2.2 Policy reform
EAFM stakeholders consultation Vanuatu
-
Second consultation of the draft
TMP with the Vanuatu Fisheries
Department Officers(including
Provincial Officers)
2.3 Institutional reform
Provincial Stakeholders consultation
-
for TAFEA/SHEFA in Vila and
PENAMA/SANMA/TORBA in Santo
for the third and final consultation
of the TMP.
2.4 Compliance strengthening
Vanuatu has participated in most of the
regional meetings and workshops funded
by GEF and have been fortunate to also
send a participant to the Evidence and
Prosecution course held in Keviang , PNG
in August 2007.


Challenges
Vanuatu Archipelago is made up of many islands where fishing is a part of life and will
be directly affected by new measures to be introduced by the TMP. One of our main
challenges is to do a nation-wide awareness of the TMP prior to its implementation. It
will be a costly exercise and Vanuatu would seek assistance in co-funding the exercise.

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