The acting Secretary for Fisheries and Trade, Falasese Tupau, today signed a Grant Funding Agreement with New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (NZ MFAT) for a major new project – the Tuvalu Fisheries Support Programme Phase 2 (TFSP 2).
Under the project, NZ MFAT is providing funding to the Government of Tuvalu’s Fisheries Department to support activities that align with their corporate plan for 2020-22. They will provide just over NZD $3.4 million of direct support during the next five years, as well as technical assistance which is paid separately.
The goal of this work is to ensure that Tuvalu derives increased economic and food security benefits from sustainable fisheries that enables its people to lead happy, healthy, productive lives. The expected outcomes include:
o Increased benefits from oceanic fisheries due to sustainable management;
o Improved understanding and commitment to the sustainable management of coastal fisheries;
o An improved enabling environment for fisheries development through investment in the Tuvalu Fisheries Department.
The project builds on a successful first phase of TFSP, as well as New Zealand’s investment in regional fisheries organisations FFA and SPC.
“It is great news that the Project has been agreed before the end of the year. Project activities can now start early in 2021” said Acting Director of Fisheries Tala Simeti. The project will be implemented by the Senior Management Team of the Fisheries Department.