Tonga Fisheries Sector Plan 2016-2024 (TFSP).

The Tonga Fisheries Sector Plan (TFSP) is a national Plan with a sectoral approach. The timeframe of this Plan is 10 years between 2016 and 2024. The main objective of the Plan is to increase the sustainable shared benefits for the Kingdom from optimal use of its living marine resources.
This Plan sets forth that it will develop community fisheries to address food security at the local level.
To achieve a more efficient, productive and sustainable fisheries sector the Plan will ensure community fisheries and use of coastal marine ecosystems with an environmentally sustainable and equitable manner. To this end action will be taken to develop strong inclusive communities and to develop climate change adaptation and disaster risk management initiatives. Actions will be taken regarding commercial fisheries and aquaculture to make the fisheries sector more productive. The areas to be address under this goal are the tuna fishery and deep water snapper fishing. Also other important small-scale fisheries such as lobster, octopus divers, shell collectors, fish fence owners will be encouraged. Aquaculture development will be promoted.
The Plan sets forth that by developing community fisheries it aims to increase incomes and employment to address rural poverty. The most vulnerable communities and areas of special environmental value will be identified in order to prioritize target communities and areas. The TFSP will also undertake specific initiatives to empower women in fisheries, including use of existing women's organizations at community level and organizing the gleaners in associations to manage the fishing grounds to achieve and equitable solution when decreasing rural poverty. A fisher cooperatives and associations will be established which will establish product grades and standards and establish standard prices and working conditions, including health and safety standards for any permitted diving operations. All fishers, participants and vessels will be registered. Leadership training and technical assistance will be given to the all associations and cooperatives.
To achieve a more inclusive and efficient system the role of different stakeholders such as government ministries, agencies, the local authorities, small-scale fisheries and outer island stakeholders will be increased in the decision making and implementation process. The fisheries infrastructure will be developed and foreign investment will be promoted. The aquaculture sector will be expended through long-term investment by responsible entrepreneurs in suitable culture systems, including in close collaboration with small-scale fish farmers. Efficient and knowledge-based government services will be ensured. Capacity building in both public and private sectors will be provided. Actions will be taken for awareness raising at all levels, including in schools, in neighbouring communities, among commercial fishers, in local authorities and among local political leaders regarding sustainable fisheries. Profitable businesses, requiring technical skills, medium and long-term investment and secure markets will be developed and established regarding aquaculture. A master plan for the development of Tongatapu fishing port facilities and associated slipway and repair workshops will be done. The plan will form part of the existing Port Authority master plan and will also address the need for private sector financing for development of fish handling and processing facilities and cold storage in this area.
Climate change adaptation and disaster risk management will be mainstreamed in all principles and practices in community development programmes.