Closed:Tuvalu Fisheries IT Consultant

Matelina Stuart  Vacancies  ,

The Tuvalu Fisheries Department (TFD), implementing New Zealand funded Tuvalu Fisheries Support Programme (TFSP), is seeking quotations from suitably qualified and experienced consultants to improve the Information Technology (IT) systems of the Department.

Download the Terms and Reference of the above assignment: Tuvalu Fisheries IT Consultant TOR

Timing and delivery

This is a part-time assignment, requiring delivery of 50-60 days in-country over a period of not more than six months, starting in or before September 2019.

Assessment of Proposals

Proposals will be assessed against the following criteria by the senior management committee of the TFD:

  • Tertiary education in computer science or other relevant disciplines;
  • At least 8 years of relevant work experience in developing countries, preferably in the Pacific Islands region;
  • Previous work experience in Tuvalu if any; or work with a Pacific regional Fisheries Agency that provides IT services to Tuvalu;
  • Experience in training and mentoring of counterpart staff;
  • Value for money.

Submission of proposals

Interested consultants should submit the following documents in support of their proposal:

a) Confirmation of the dates on which he/she will be available to start work and the proposed schedule of inputs;

b) A response to the selection criteria listed above;

c) A brief curriculum vitae of the consultant (not more than 3 pages);

d) A detailed cost estimate including fees, air travel costs, DSA[1] and any incidentals. This will form the basis of the contract.

Proposals should be sent by email to michaelb@tuvalufisheries.tv and should reach him by 5.00 p.m. local time (in Tuvalu) on Tuesday 29th July 2019. Any questions on the proposed consultancy can be sent to the same email address and will be answered within 5 working days. This request for proposals should not be construed as an offer to any consultant contacted. TFD reserves the right to reject any or all proposals and to negotiate with any bidder if the original proposal is not acceptable.

 

[1] DSA rates for this consultancy can be found at https://www.mfat.govt.nz/en/aid-and-development/working-with-us/getting-paid/per-diem-rates/

Closed:Tuvalu Inshore Fisheries Adviser

Matelina Stuart  Vacancies  , ,

The Tuvalu Fisheries Department (TFD), implementing the New Zealand funded Tuvalu Fisheries Support programme (TFSP), is seeking quotations from suitably qualified and experienced consultants to work as Inshore Fisheries Advisor with the Department.

Timing and delivery

This is a part-time assignment, requiring delivery of 100-150 days in-country over a period of not more than 12 months, starting in or before September 2019.

Download the Terms of Reference for the above assignments: Tuvalu Inshore Fisheries Advisor TOR

 

Assessments of Proposals

Proposals will be assessed against the following criteria by the senior management committee of the TFD:

  • Tertiary education (Minimum B.Sc. or higher) in fisheries management, marine ecology or other relevant disciplines
  • 10 years of relevant work experience in developing countries, preferably in the Pacific Islands region;
  • Previous work experience in Tuvalu if any;
  • Experience in training and mentoring of counterpart staff;
  • Competence in computer use – minimum MS Office products; preferably databases, GIS, mapping and web authoring products;
  • Value for money.

 

Submission of proposals

Interested consultants should submit the following documents in support of their proposal:

a) Confirmation of the dates on which he/she will be available to start work and the proposed schedule of inputs;

b) A response to the selection criteria listed above;

c) A brief curriculum vitae of the consultant (not more than 3 pages);

d) A detailed cost estimate including fees, air travel costs, DSA[1] and any incidentals. This will form the basis of the contract.

Proposals should be sent by email to michaelb@tuvalufisheries.tv and should reach him by 5.00 p.m. local time (in Tuvalu) on Tuesday 29th July 2019. Any questions on the proposed consultancy can be sent to the same email address and will be answered within 5 working days. This request for proposals should not be construed as an offer to any consultant contacted. TFD reserves the right to reject any or all proposals and to negotiate with any bidder if the original proposal is not acceptable.

 

DSA rates for this consultancy can be found at https://www.mfat.govt.nz/en/aid-and-development/working-with-us/getting-paid/per-diem-rates/

Post-harvest & sea safety refresher training

Matelina Stuart  Operations & Development  , , , ,

20 participants, comprising fishermen from the Fishermen of Funafuti Association (FOFA) and their wives, had the advantage of learning at an in-country training on post-harvest as well as a refresher training on sea safety, conducted on the 27 and 28 of May, 2019 at the Tuvalu Fisheries Department (TFD) office.

The training was jointly organized by the Fisheries Department’s Operation and Development section and a technical expert from the Overseas Fishery Cooperation Foundation of Japan (OFCF), Mr. Keizo Takahashi.

The training was an Operation and Development milestone in the TFD Annual Work Plan for this year, and was part of the support that the Fisheries Department provides fishermen and women in strengthening food security in Tuvalu.

Mr. Keizo said, “This training is important to fishers and women because usually 80% of the fishermen in Funafuti and their wives sell all their catches and only 20% of them processed the discarded fish and preserve them.”

He said the most significant thing is for the Government of Tuvalu and the Government of Japan to join and operate in concert to strengthen these types of processing and preservation of fish when the Fish Market is ready.

During the two-day training, morning sessions were dedicated to refresher training on sea safety and the using of grab bags for fishermen, while the afternoon sessions focused on the post-harvest training for women.

The post-harvest training, facilitated by Mr Keizo and Mr Neli Seniola, the Fisheries Assistant Training & Development Officer, trained the women on how to make tinned fish using glass bottles as well as smoked fish and packaging using a vacuum sealer.

Mr Viliamu S Petaia, the Fisheries Training & Development officer commented that not all the fishers and their wives attended the training and he urged that in future, fishers and especially their wives, attend this sort of training as it is important for them.

Mr Keizo added that they have also conducted this post-harvest training at Vaitupu Island during their visit in the last two weeks.

A Letter of Congratulation from the SILLA Company., Ltd.

Matelina Stuart  Uncategorized  , ,

The Tuvalu Fisheries Department (TFD) truly appreciates the thoughtful donation from one of its fishing partner the SILLA Company., Ltd., in supporting its first World Tuna Day this year. The TFD received a letter of congratulation from the SILLA Company., Ltd. on Tuesday the 7th May 2019 after the World Tuna Day event. Mr Lee, President of the SILLA Company., Ltd. thanked the Director of Fisheries, Mr Samasoni Finikaso and his staff for achieving the important event, especially as this was the first World Tuna Day to be held in Tuvalu.

In summation, Mr Lee said in his email that, “SILLA is really happy to hear that their contribution was helpful and successfully accomplished the World Tuna Day in Tuvalu”. Mr Lee also added that SILLA hopes this event and the day will be celebrated and remembered in future years.image

Tuvalu celebrates World Tuna Day 2019

Matelina Stuart  Admin  , , , ,

WTD 2019 Photo taken by Matelina STuvalu has successfully celebrated World Tuna Day this year for the first time. 2nd May has been celebrated in some countries since 2012 and was recognized internationally in 2016 by the United Nations.

The Fisheries Department organized a range of activities for the public to mark this important event, which included: a Futsal tournament; a raw tuna dish competition; a fishing contest; boat racing; competitions in speeches, drawing, poems and essay writing on the subject of tuna; and a song competition.

These awareness activities were coordinated by the TFD in order for the public to engage and to recognize the importance of Tuna to our lives individually, to our families, our communities, our islands and especially to our country as a whole.

The programme for the world tuna day started on Monday the 29th April and ended on the 2nd of May – which is the day itself.

The Futsal tournament was the first activity that started the event. There were mixed teams from each of the eight islands competing, with the young boys and girls playing for their islands.

On Tuesday the 30th  April was the fishing competition. The prize for the biggest tuna was won with a yellowfin tuna of 65 kgs. The prize for the most fish was won with a catch of 14 skipjack tuna.

The judges had a hard time deciding on the winners of the raw tuna dish competition, that same afternoon, due to the very high quality of the food prepared. Second prize was shared between three competitors.

On Wednesday the 1st of May was the speech competition with speeches in Tuvaluan by Form 5 and Form 6 and English language speeches by Form 7 and USP Foundation students. The boat racing that afternoon drew a large crowd to the main wharf.

The programme highlight was on World Tuna Day itself: Thursday 2nd of May. Winners who competed in all the activities were awarded their prizes that day. The song contest was the final activity and this event entertained invited guests with original songs about tuna. The program of the World Tuna Day event ended at 2 pm with entertainment from dancing groups from Motufoua secondary school and Fetuvalu High school, as well as the Underkavas live band.

The Director of Fisheries, Mr Samasoni Finikaso, who was master of ceremonies on the 2nd, revealed plans to celebrate world tuna day every year, with an urgent need to extend the programme to the outer islands once there is enough support. Minister for Education and Sport, Hon. Fauoa Maani, representing the Government, noted the importance of tuna for Tuvalu. He thanked the sponsors of a number of prizes and acknowledged the hard work of the staff of TFD and the Ministry in putting together a successful program.

The Table below shows winners, second and third places for those who competed in all the World Tuna Day activities.

Winners, 2nd & 3rd places of World Tuna Day Activities
Futsal Tournament Competition Name(s)
1st Prize Tofaga (Vaitupu) Football Club
2nd Prize Manu Laeva (Nukulaelae) Football Club
3rd Prize Tamanuku (Nukufetau) Football Club
Best Player Male Ameti Seneta from Manu Laeva FC
Best Player Female Salilo Petaia from Tamanuku FC
Top Scorer Ameti Seneta again from Manu Laeva FC
Raw Tuna Dish Competition (General)
1st Prize Frank Likaveke
2nd Prize Temukisa Hauma
2nd Prize Miriama Taukiei
2nd Prize Fuaitai Isala
3rd Prize Taupule Leopald
Fishing Competition (General)
Winner/amount (catches) in Kilograms Faatasi (Niulakita)
Winner/Most amount of Fishes (pieces) Uatioa (Muliava)
Winner / the biggest fish Faatasi ( Niulakita)
Boat Racing (General)
1st Prize(speed 3min & 13 seconds) Fiamalu Manatu
2nd Prize (speed 3min & 21 sec’s) Lopati Iakopo
3rd Prize (speed 3min & 23 sec’s) Tianamo Lusia
Speech Competition – Tuvaluan
1st Prize Lupesa Nai – Motufoua Fm 6
2nd Prize Roling Pugameau – Fetuvalu Fm 5
3rd Prize Velma O’Brien – Fetuvalu Fm 6
Speech Competition – English
1st Prize Fagasele Kiatoa – USP Foundation
2nd Prize Susi Motufoua – Motufoua Fm 7
3rd Prize Lilipeti Suiti – USP Foundation
Drawings (Year 1 & 2) category
1st Prize Makitou Tehoa
2nd Prize Lanyretta Iese
3rd Prize Akesa Falepou
Poems (Year 3 & 4)
1st Prize Winisa Tulimanu from Nauti Primary Sch.
2nd Prize Nua Kaualiki from Nauti Primary Sch. (NPS)
3rd Prize Iafeta Ioane Halo from SDA Primary Sch.
Poems (Year 7 & 8)
1st Prize Anisha Katoa from SDA Primary Sch.
2nd Prize Shaniece Kenieti from Nauti Primary Sch.
3rd Prize Serina Fepuali from Nauti Primary Sch.
Essay Writing (Year 5 & 6)
1st Prize Halofaki Uhila from SDA Primary Sch.
2nd Prize Tega Leupena from Nauti Primary Sch.
3rd Prize Esekia Tehoa from Nauti Primary Sch.
Essay Writing (Form 3 & 4’s)
1st Prize Esther Eterina Maheu from Fetuvalu High Sch. (FSS)
2nd Prize Nuanua Nikolasi from NPS
3rd Prize Eseki Raymond Tasitusi from FSS
Song Competition ( General)
1st Prize Tapuleoti. Lisale
2nd Prize Fagogo Malipolipo
3rd Prize Fomalive (Group)

FOFA receives grant aid from Japan

Matelina Stuart  Admin, Operations & Development  , , ,

Mr Genta Yamada & Mr Ioapo Tapu signing the grant contracts for the construction of the FOFA fish marketThe Fishermen on Funafuti Association FOFA, has received grant aid for the amount of $117,415 American dollars (which is $149,435 Australian dollars) from the Government of Japan.

This grant aid is for the construction of the FOFA Fish Market including equipment needed in the fish market – water tanks and freezers – that FOFA requested to help their operations of retailing and processing; and to provide their members with a sanitary place to sell and process their fish.

The First Secretary of the Embassy of Japan, Mr Genta Yamada and his team facilitated the signing ceremony in the presence of the Director of Fisheries, Mr Samasoni Finikaso and TFD Operation and Development staff and their technical adviser, Mr. Toma Hayashi. Also represented were the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport, the principal of Fetuvalu high school, Mr Penehuro Hauma and the FOFA President, Mr Ioapo Tapu.

The grant aid project contract was signed and handed over by the First Secretary of the Embassy of Japan Mr Genta Yamada, representing the Grass-Roots Human Security Projects (GGP) programme, to the President of the FOFA, Mr Ioapo Tapu. The signing ceremony was held at the Tuvalu Partnership House, Vaiaku, at 2: pm Tuesday, 5th March 2019. Also signed at the same time was the contract for the provision of the school bus for Fetuvalu high school with the Principal of Fetuvalu high school, Mr. Penehuro Hauma.

Group photo taken during the signing of the two grant contracts between Japan & FOFA & also the Ministry of Education youth & SportsTuvalu Government has been working in cooperation with the Government of Japan since the year 1992. Mr Yamada said that “according to the GGP history there were 45 projects in total that have been implemented by Japan with the amount that has been spent approximately 3 million American dollars”.

The signing ceremony ended with a few speeches of expression of gratitude from Mr Tapu and Mr Hauma to the Government of Tuvalu and as well the Japanese Government for the great assistance that they have received and witnessed that day.

TFD has been working cooperatively with FOFA in the area of resource management in the collecting of fisheries data (both pelagic species & reef fish) caught and sold by local fishermen on Funafuti Island with the intention that this will contribute to the prevention of overfishing and better fisheries management.

New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister unveils plaque at the new TFD office building

Matelina Stuart  Admin  

IMG_0819New Zealand Deputy Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Winston Peters and his delegation, together with the Minister of Natural Resources, Hon. Puakena Boreham and the Minister of Finance Hon. Matia Toafa, paid a visit to the Tuvalu Fisheries new office building last Saturday, March 2nd 2019.

The visit was part of the New Zealand delegation’s programme, visiting projects that were funded by the Government of New Zealand. TFD new office building was one of the projects funded by the New Zealand Aid Programme with furniture also supplied under the Tuvalu Fisheries Support Programme (TFSP) of New Zealand aid.

Deputy Prime Minister Rt. Hon. Winston Peters unveiled the plaque, announcing for the first time the recognition that the building that was built in partnership by the governments of New Zealand and Tuvalu.

The DPM and his delegation spent 2 hours within the TFD office building. During their visit, they had the opportunity to visit each section of the Fisheries Department. Firstly, they visited the Vessels Monitoring System VMS room, then the Operation & Development section to examine sea safety equipment and the Coastal laboratory.

The programme ended with lunch and a brief presentation from the Secretary to Finance Mr Talavai Iona and the Secretary to Natural Resources Mr Niko Apinelu. TFD staff provided souvenir gifts for the Deputy Prime Minister and the delegations as a sign of appreciation of their visit.

It was a very busy week for TFD staff. Even though there was a training course on water quality monitoring and consultation on crewing they also made an effort to prepare for the short visit of the Deputy Prime Minister of New Zealand and his delegation.

Tuvalu Fisheries Department on the move to draft the crewing Policy & Regulation

Matelina Stuart  Admin, Legislation  , ,

cREWING POLICY & REGUALTION CONSULTATION 2019.. photo taken by Matelina StuartThe Tuvalu Fisheries Department TFD organized a consultation with stakeholders together with the help from the Forum Fisheries Agency FFA, to put in place a crewing policy and regulation. Mr Mike Betty the new Fisheries Adviser, Mr Isala Tito Isala the TFD legal officer and Mr Tion Nabau with Leonard Rodwell, consultants from FFA facilitated this consultation.

The draft crewing policy and regulation discussion was initiated in order for Tuvalu in future to have a crewing policy, crewing regulation and a standard contract of employment for Tuvaluan crew. This policy and regulation will enable Tuvaluans to be trained and employed as crew on Purse Seine, Bunker and Reefer vessels licensed by Tuvalu. It will ensure Tuvaluan crew are employed on fair terms and conditions including pay. This is the first time to conduct such a discussion.

This crewing policy and regulation will cover Tuvalu crew to work onboard Tuvalu flag vessels, and foreign flag ships that Tuvalu licenses to fish in our waters.
Mr Tion Nabau said that “this regulation is like the automatic condition of a fishing license”. Vessels that are not willing to employ Tuvalu crew will pay a crew waiver fee as part of their license fees.

The first discussion happened at the TFD office building in the first week of February this year while the second discussion was held at the Funafuti lagoon Hotel in late February this year. Currently, Mr Leonard and Mr Nabua, and the TFD legal officer are working together with the Tuvalu Attorney General’s office in finalising the draft regulatory framework.

The draft policy and regulation are meant to be ready by April this year, once approved by the Tuvalu Government Cabinet. The plan is for this crewing policy and regulation to be implemented on the 1st January 2020, and it needs to be ready before Tuvalu starts to negotiate access arrangements for 2020.

Closed: Expressions of Interest: 3 Vacant Position

Matelina Stuart  Vacancies  , ,

The Tuvalu Fisheries Department is inviting applications for three temporary vacancies which are available within the Fisheries department for a period of 12 months contract. These vacancies include:

Please click on the above-highlighted texts or links to obtain full details of Terms of References for the above vacancies. Hard copies for these vacancies can be obtained from the Tuvalu Fisheries Department at Teone OR the PROP office.

All applications should address to the: Director of Fisheries, Ministry of Natural Resources, Private Mail Bag, Funafuti and can be delivered to the Fisheries Department office at Teone or email to proptuv@gmail.com OR proptuv@tuvalufisheries.tv

The closing date for applications is the close of business on 14th February 2019. Late applications will not be considered

Closed:Expression of Interest: The Manager for the TUSA Fishing Company Limited

Matelina Stuart  Vacancies  ,

GOTThe Ministry of Natural Resources under the Government of Tuvalu is inviting a suitably qualified Tuvaluan citizens to fill in the vacant post of a;

Manager for the TUSA Fishing Company Limited.

Please click on the above high-lighted text or link to obtain full details of Terms of Reference and Job descriptions of the position, OR contact the Ministry of Natural Resources Headquarter at the telephone number 688 20160, Government Building Vaiaku OR the Fisheries Headquarter at the telephone number 688 20343 for further information.

Applications for this position should address to the Director of Fisheries, Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Natural Resources, Teone, Funafuti.

The closing date for applications is the close of business Friday 1st of February, 2019. Applications after this time will not be considered.