Tokelau Country Presentation 2nd SPC Regional Technical Meeting on Coastal Fisheries 12-15 November 2018 Noumea, New Caledonia

Introduction Tokelau Fisheries was once amalgamated under the umbrella of the Tokelau department of Economic Development, Natural Resources & Environment (EDNRE). When our General Fono approved the fisheries reforms in 2016, the Fisheries Management Agency (FMA) was born but it was only established in December 2017 with new staff recruited well into April 2018.

Intro. cont Tokelau fisheries is managed and governed according to the Tokelau Fisheries ‘Policy’ which clearly sets out Tokelau fisheries into two policy settings: 1. Offshore Fisheries (EEZ) – revenue generation, 2. Inshore Fisheries (TW’s & Inland waters) – food security/community wellbeing

Our national priorities will focus on: the sustainable management of all inshore marine resources, the restocking of depleted stocks (clams on Atafu & Fakaofo) detecting adverse changes to avoid further depletion of current and or high-risk marine resources, maintaining marine resources at sustainable levels to continue providing for the on-going food security and nutritional health of the village communities development of draft and review of current inshore marine resource village by-laws improving and strengthening the monitoring & enforcement of village by-laws

Ntnl priorities cont. improving data collection for better monitoring of marine resource use and harvesting potential use of marine resources for economic development initiatives provided it follows conditions and requirements set out in the Fisheries Policy (carry out an Environment Impact Assessment & Economic Impact Assessment) creating an enabling environment to allow for both village-coordinated and private enterprises

Current activities FFA VMS in-country training completed- August SPC TAILS & TUFMAN2 in-country training completed- August FAD deployment work underway with 2 completed deployments, In-country micro canning training for villages completed (canning surplus inshore fisheries catches)

Current activities cont. Continuation of data collection Review of Village Inshore Fisheries Plans for consultations towards end of this year Various trainings have been carried out since the beginning of 2018 but were only specific to offshore fisheries. Tokelau is looking on to request training assistance and support from SPC for her IFO’s.

Main issues/challenges faced Newly established Agency with new staff Tokelau’s location, isolation, infrastructure and transport systems Offshore Fisheries resources are managed in partnership with NZ whilst Inshore Fisheries resources are managed by the Council of Elders of each village/island

Issues/challenges cont. Lack of support and coordination due to lack of financial/human/technical resources and capacity within the FMA Tokelau has very limited fisheries scientific, management or MCS capability. However New Zealand, FFA, SPC, TVM and PNAO provide fisheries services to support Tokelau meet its fisheries obligations both Inshore and Offshore

Fakafetai lahi.