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.

TFD detained Purse Seine Fishing vessel Micronesia 101 for official custody

Matelina Stuart  Oceanic  , , , , ,
image
FV Micronesia 101

The Tuvalu Fisheries Department detained the purse seine fishing vessel name Micronesia 101 due to the violation of section 63 of the Tuvalu Marine Resources Act 2006 (and the Marine Resources (Amendment) Act 2017). One of the FV Micronesia 101 crew dumped broken winch cable into the lagoon while transhipment in the Funafuti port.

The monitoring observer of the fishing vessel reported the incident  to the Tuvalu fisheries department. The incident occurred on the 10th of September 2018 at 10:45 am.

The fisheries department issued the company of the FV Micronesia 101 with the Notice of Violation and the Agreement Fine Settlement Agreement. The company agreed to pay the specified fine of $50 000 by the 26th September 2018 as provided under the Agreement Fine Settlement Agreement.

Section 63 of the Marine Resources Act and as amended by the section 35 of the Marine Resources (Amendment) Act 2017 now provides a maximum fine of $2 000 000 for any violation of this offence.

The Oceanic staffs of the fisheries department, as part of their duties always reminded the vessel captain of the requirements of transhipment laws of Tuvalu and the captains of each vessel that undertake transhipment in Tuvalu are reminded to follow the Marine Resources Act and any other relevant laws.

“Cooperation is needed from the public, to report any of these sorts of incidence to the Fisheries department office. The Fisheries Department will enforce the Marine Resources Act, and companies of any foreign fishing vessel transhipment in Tuvalu are also kindly reminded to inform their vessels to follow and respect the laws of Tuvalu,” an officer of the Fisheries Department said.

Closed:Expression of Interest : A Mid Term Review Consultant (14/09/2018)

Matelina Stuart  Admin, Vacancies  , ,

The Tuvalu Government has received financing from the World Bank toward the cost of the Pacific Islands Regional Oceanscape Program (PROP) and the project intends to apply part of the proceeds for consultancy services. The services required at this time is for:

A Mid-Term Review Consultant to review the Tuvalu PROP project.

The Term of Reference for the above assignment can be obtained from the Tuvalu PROP Office OR click on the above text of services required.

Interested consultants/firms are invited to provide information indicating their qualifications to perform the assignment, including (brochures, description of similar assignments, experience in similar conditions, and availability of appropriate skills among other things) together with their Curriculum Vitae (CV) to the Director of Fisheries on the above address or email.

The successful consultant/firm for the above assignment will be selected under the Consultant Qualification Selection (CQS) in accordance with the procedures set out in the World Bank’s Guidelines: Selection and Employment of Consultants by World Bank Borrowers (January 2011 edition).

The closing date for Expression of Interest is at 4 pm – 14th September, 2018.

Administration Group

Matelina Stuart  Admin  , ,

The Administration section of the Department is responsible for a range of activities, including:

  • Advising the Minister, Cabinet and Parliament on fishery policy issues and high-level developments within the sector;
  • Negotiating fishery access agreements with distant water fishing nations, associations, fleets and companies;
  • Economic analysis of fishery development and management options;
  • Ensuring consistency between fishery revenue information held by the TFD and the Treasury Department of MFED;
  • Promoting and managing fishery joint ventures and other commercial activities in which the Government of Tuvalu has an interest, including support for NAFICOT;
  • Ongoing review of Tuvalu’s fishery legislation to ensure it remains compliant with international treaties and arrangements to which Tuvalu is a party;
  • Assisting the Attorney-General’s Office and other relevant government departments in regard to incidents of non-compliance with Tuvalu’s fishery laws;
  • Providing access to information on Tuvalu fisheries, including through the development and maintenance of a Fisheries Department library and website;
  • Production of public information materials on the work of the Department, and the Tuvalu fisheries sector in general;
  • Representing Tuvalu at high-level fishery discussions and negotiations; and
  • Managing and keeping records of departmental expenditure, travel, training and personnel issues.

The Administration section leads and supports the operations of the entire Department. It provides the critical links between the Department and domestic, national and international agencies.  It also provides the links between the three major sections within the Department (the Oceanic Division, the Operations & Development Division, and the Coastal Division) and its activities cut across the Department’s annual work plan.  The Management Team consists of the Director, the Deputy Director, Technical Advisors, Legal Officer, Fisheries Economist, Fisheries Media Officer, and all Heads of Sections. In order to improve the monitoring and evaluation of the Department’s daily activities, the administration section is tasked to provide the necessary support to all staff in their efforts to carry out their duties and responsibilities.

Monitoring & Reporting of the 2018 Work Plan

Matelina Stuart  Admin  , , , , , ,

Smoke fish Training with Funafuti Women

Monitoring of Work Programme implementation and delivery will primarily be through the monthly meetings of the SMC.

In addition, quarterly progress reports will be produced by the TFD, both for internal purposes and to respond to the requirements of the Government of Tuvalu (Planning Department, Ministry of Finance and Economic Development) as well as NZAP, World Bank and UNDP/ GEF, the Department’s major external development partners.

The Department will also continue to produce Annual Reports for submission to and approval by Cabinet.

FFA assists Fisheries staff and Government Departments to boost their perception on US Treaty

Matelina Stuart  Admin  , , ,

IMG20180718111818 (2)Mr Kaburoro Ruaia, the US Treaty Manager and Ms Kasipo M Teo, the legal officer from the Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) office, conducted a US Treaty workshop at the new Fisheries building conference room this month. The consultation was run from 18th to 20th of July 2018.

The consultation was made to assist Fisheries staff, and the departments of Finance, Foreign Affairs and the Attorney General’s Office in the ratification of the Amendments to the Treaty on Fisheries between the Governments of certain Pacific Island States and the Government of the United States of America.

Mr Ruaia, presented to the stakeholders who attended the workshop, the status and an update on the treaty and the status of its ratification. He further looked at the benefits that the treaty has provided to the Tuvalu Fisheries Department and the Tuvalu Government as a whole.

Ms Kasipo stressed the importance of ratifying the amendments to the US Treaty for the region and to Tuvalu in particular. This included the benefits that the Treaty provides to Tuvalu and the region as a whole.

The Pacific Island States and the government of the United States of America agreed to the US Treaty on 6th December 2016, concluding it on the 6th December 2016 in Nadi, Fiji. Since that time, the Treaty has operated on a provisional arrangement under a Memorandum of Understanding signed by the Pacific Island states (except for Fiji and Australia) whilst pending ratification by all Pacific Island states and the US.

Save our ocean and beat plastic pollution!

Matelina Stuart  Admin, Coastal  , , , , , ,

P60800718The Tuvalu Fisheries Department (TFD) took awareness on a healthy ocean and the issue of plastic pollution to the islets of Funafuti last week on a field trip as part of the Environment Week celebrations. This year, international Environment Week was themed as “25 years of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) safe-guarding Life on Earth” and “Beat plastic pollution”.

TFD’s main focus was ‘Save our ocean and living creatures, and beat plastic pollution’ which targeted Form 2 students from Nauti Primary School and the Seventh Day Adventist Primary School.

The field trip took place at Fualopa islet, one of the islets within the Funafuti Conservation Area (FCA), and participants were transported to the islet on the RV Tala Moana.

A hundred and twenty four people participated, including Form 2 students, teachers, officers of the Ridge to Reef Rroject (R2R0, staff from the departments of Agriculture, Waste, and Environment, the NAPA II Project, a member of the Funafuti Kaupule (Island Council), fisheries officers and a member from the Flower Power group.

At the islet, Form 2 students were divided into three groups, namely: Marine, Terrestrial and Beach, for an educational activity facilitated by Mr. Teleke Peleti, Mr. Tito Isala, Ms Miriama Taukiei and Ms Lilly Nafatali.

The main idea of these educational activities is for our children and especially the public to know how dangerous plastic pollution is to every living thing around us, especially in the sea, where fish is our daily source of intake.

During these activities, Ms Taukiei said that “The sea is not a dumping site for plastics and we should all work together to stop littering plastics on land, on the beach and in the sea”.

One student compared Funafuti to Fualopa islet. She said that “Fualopa is much cleaner than the main land especially the water and the fresh air”.

After all the activities, lunch was served prepared by the Fisheries Department. Participants ended the day’s activities with collecting rubbish on the islet before heading back to the mainland.

This field trip was fully funded by the Fisheries Department.