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

2. 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.

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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)

7. 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.

8. 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

9. 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

10. Fakafetai lahi.