The Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources and its stakeholders marked World Tuna Day with the theme “Our Tuna, Our Future”.
The celebration also coincides with the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Tuna Industry in Solomon Islands.
World Tuna Day was first declared by Ministers of the Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA) in 2011 as a significant day for those involved in tuna fishing, conservation, and management, to celebrate the importance of tuna with communities around the World.
It was then declared by the United Nations as an important day following its resolution to recognize and celebrate Tuna as important Oceanic Resource, in their General Assembly Meeting in 2016.
The celebration in Honiara was marked with a talkback show at SIBC, followed by an official program at the Ministry of Fisheries.
Speaking during the event, Minister Nestor Ghiro says the tuna industry continues to contribute significantly to the national economy and has the potential to do more.
“In Noro, thanks to NFD, Live and Learn and Soltuna for processing and exporting 25,000 to 30,000 metric tonnes of Tuna overseas. According to records from the Ministry, the export of Tuna by end of the year does not meet the 90,000 metric tonnes of Tuna that Solomon Islands is capable to harvest annually.”
“This is where the Bina Tuna Processing Plant becomes a government priority. The Bina Tuna Project once complete, Solomon Islands is expected to reach those 90,000 metric tonnes of Tuna to export to domestic and overseas markets annually,” he said.
Although main contributors to the country's economy were affected during the covid-19 pandemic, the Tuna Industry was somehow resilient.
Recent reports from the World Bank confirms, that although operations were shut down during the pandemic, the industry remained resilient, and picked up again following the reopening of borders.
Meanwhile, Minister Ghiro also announces the government’s commitment to manage tuna resources in the country, and to work with its stakeholders.
” As the Ministry responsible for the development and management of tuna fishery, we have taken approaches to ensure our tuna resources are well managed.
“We will always work in collaboration with all relevant stakeholders to ensure Solomon Islands reaches its maximum economic and social benefits from its Tuna stocks.”
Source: Press Release