The Prime Minister, Julia Gillard, today announced that Australia will help the Pacific Island states to improve their food security and economic development by boosting funding for fisheries programs.
Ms Gillard said today that Australia will provide an additional $4.7 million to help Pacific Island countries maximise their returns from fish resources while safeguarding stocks for future food security.
The funds will support sustainable fisheries for inland and coastal communities in the Pacific and will be provided over four years.
Australia's support will improve the monitoring and assessment of snapper stocks. The funding will also strengthen the monitoring of the region's tuna stocks to support their effective management.
Ms Gillard said it is vital we conserve and sustainably manage coastal fisheries to ensure the food security of the region.
For many Pacific Island populations, 70 to 90 per cent of animal protein comes from fish, principally from subsistence and small scale coastal fishing. Offshore fishing is also a critical part of many Pacific Island economies, accounting for an estimated 10,000 jobs and contributing around US$244 million to the region's Gross Domestic Product.
A strong, economically stable Pacific region is important and Australia should do its part as the largest economy in the South Pacific region.
Australia will work with Pacific island states to support strengthened fisheries management and combat the illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing that poses a real threat to the sustainability of the region's fish stocks.
This latest funding forms part of Australia's commitment in 2009 to increase Pacific fisheries assistance by $23.5 million over four years. It builds on Australia's ongoing support for regional fisheries organisations including the Forum Fisheries Agency and the Secretariat of the Pacific Community.
Ms Gillard is in Auckland for the 43rd Pacific Islands Forum.