Vanuatu National Deep-Bottom Fish Fishery Management Plan 2016.

This Plan shall apply to all fishing vessels and those involved in the artisanal and commercial harvesting, buying and selling of the deep-bottom fish fishery in Vanuatu. The overall policy goal of this Plan is to guarantee the social and economic benefit of present and future generations of Vanuatu citizens through the sustainable management and development of the deep-bottom fish fishery. The collaboration between the Vanuatu Fisheries Department and the relevant provincial governments, fishers’ associations, individual fishers and communities will be strengthened for the effective implementation of this Plan. Data collection mechanisms will be upgraded to develop a sustainable fishery. To this end, data shall involve catch and effort reporting by licensed fishers, and the sampling of fish catch by fisheries officers, authorized officers or observers. All artisanal and commercial fishing vessels involved in the deep-bottom fish fishery will be licensed to prevent IUU fishing. A stock assessment programme will be developed for this fishery by the Vanuatu Fisheries Department in collaboration with partners and stakeholders. Institutional capacity building will be strengthened to guarantee that the management and development of the deep-bottom fish fishery is effectively controlled and monitored to ensure sustainability and maximization of returns. Strategies will be developed to identify appropriate fishing vessels or vessel designs, taking into account sea worthiness, adaptability and economics. Rural market infrastructure will be developed by establishing rural fish market outlets, providing services for safe and adequate transportation of catch to urban and suburban market outlets, and equipping vessels of rural fishers with proper storage facilities. In order to ensure the contribution of rural fishers to the national social and economic growth, training in science, management and development activities related to deep-bottom fish fisheries will be advanced as well as research will be conducted to identify various quality control measures or methods. The Vanuatu Fisheries Department shall be responsible for the development and implementation of an effective monitoring and evaluation system within six months of the date of approval of this Plan.