Tuna Fisheries Strategic Plan 2017-2021.

This Strategic Plan identifies strategies to consult industry and all stakeholders involved, develop policy, improve institutional capacity, support the creation of locally-based tuna operations and development of a national monitoring control and surveillance plan. The vision aims at achieving an ecologically sustainable fishery providing seafood for local and tourist markets, opportunities for high end recreational fishing and positive economic returns through local employment, local processing and a profitable domestic fleet. The Strategic Plan defines three outcomes: bycatch and mortality; national food security supported through sustainable and regular tuna supply available for all Palauans and the tourism industry; positive social and economic returns for the people of Palau. The Strategic Plan details the following actions: tuna management framework compatible with Palau’s conservation and sustainable fishery objectives in the marine sanctuary planning process; development of institutional capacity within the Ministry of Natural Resources, Environment & Tourism; development of a tuna fishery management plan to meet fishery objectives, support locally based fleets, enhance recreational fishing opportunities and minimise bycatch of non-commercial species; supporting the development of locally based fishing operations with local participation fishing, port unloading, processing and sale of fish; development of a national monitoring control and surveillance strategy that includes the Palau National Marine Sanctuary and the fisheries sector;