Corporate Plan 2017/2019 of the Fisheries Department.

The Corporate Plan of the Fisheries Department is a national policy with a cross-sectoral approach. The timeframe of the Plan is 3 years between 2017 and 2019. The main purpose of this Plan is to maximise social and economic returns to the people of Tuvalu through the sustainable management and wise use of Tuvalu’s living marine resources. The objectives of this Plan are (i) sustainable management of the tuna fishery in Tuvalu waters, (ii) increasing sustainable economic benefits from the tuna fishery, (iii) improved management of coastal fisheries in order to maintain livelihoods, food security and dietary health, (iv) supporting the sustainable economic development of Tuvalu’s small-scale fisheries, and (v) public awareness and education.
Local food fisheries will be supported to provide local food security and supply local needs. Dietary health will be provided through consumption of seafood as a major source of protein.
Employment opportunities will be provided as crew on board fishing vessel operating in Tuvalu waters, through training and licence conditions. Inshore fisheries will be managed in order to support livelihoods. The relationships between the Fisheries Department, fishers and other stakeholders will be strengthened. The establishment and enforcement of local conservation areas and other management mechanisms will be supported. Small-scale fisheries will be supported through the provision of technical assistance, training, and maintenance of fish aggregation devices.
Fisheries activities will be carried out in compliance with the provisions of the international fishery treaties. Tuvalu’s national rights and interests will be protected and secured through regional tuna fishery management arrangements. The National Fishing Corporation of Tuvalu will be reformed as a vehicle for the Government’s commercial fishery interests. Fishery licensing and data collection systems will be maintained for vessels fishing in Tuvalu waters, and their activities will be monitored through data collection programmes. Monitoring, control and surveillance of fishing activities will be strengthened to ensure compliance with license conditions, and to deter, detect and penalize illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing. The requirements of overseas market states will be met in regard to IUU fishing and fishery product food safety. Food safety certification and sanitary control arrangements will be established for fish caught by Tuvalu vessels in order to meet the food safety requirements of market states. The joint-venture arrangements will be developed between the Government of Tuvalu and selected foreign fishing companies with emphasis on shore-based development. Fishery resource assessment and monitoring will be conducted to provide the information needed for management. Management plans will be developed for beche-de-mer, sharks and other resources that are prone to extreme overfishing. Furthermore, environmental monitoring will be conducted to assess and mitigate adverse environmental impacts, including waste management, coastal development and ciguatera fish poisoning.