Tonga National Tuna Fishery Management and Development Plan 2018 - 2022.

The Tonga National Tuna Fishery Management and Development Plan establishes a comprehensive framework to ensure the sustainable management and development of the country’s tuna resources, recognizing their critical role in economic growth, food security, and livelihoods. It prioritizes the application of ecosystem‑based, precautionary, and rights‑based approaches, ensuring that tuna catches remain within sustainable limits while maximizing economic returns. The Plan also emphasizes generating revenue through foreign fishing access, promoting the development of domestic and locally based fishing enterprises, encouraging responsible investment, and strengthening governance, institutions, and stakeholder collaboration, all while meeting Tonga’s regional and international obligations.
To achieve these objectives, the Plan sets out key actions focused on managing fishing effort and licensing, strengthening compliance and enforcement systems, and aligning national measures with regional fisheries management requirements. It promotes industry development through infrastructure improvements, value‑adding opportunities, and investment facilitation, while enhancing monitoring, control, and surveillance to combat illegal fishing. In parallel, the Plan supports improved data collection, research, and adaptive decision‑making, alongside stronger institutional coordination and stakeholder engagement, ensuring that tuna fisheries are managed effectively and deliver long‑term economic, social, and environmental benefits.