Further discussions on FADs (fishing aggregating devices) and refresher courses took place in April with the aim to work on a draft FAD strategy for Vanuatu and up skill fishers in FAD techniques. The talks follow up on discussions which were held at the end of 2020.

Vanuatu coastal fishers, as well as other Pacific Island communities, depend greatly on fish for income, food and cultural identity. However, high exploitation of coastal fisheries has led to increased pressure on these limited resources curtailing growth in this sector. Coastal fisheries are impacted further by climate change, the COVID-19 crisis and frequent occurrence of cyclones that affect coastlines.

Increased unemployment due to the COVID-19 crisis has led more people to engage in fishing activities for consumption which further increases pressure on reef fish. To relieve pressure, one government priority is to deploy more FADs in Vanuatu waters to capture high value species to keep maintaining food security while reducing pressure on coral reef species.

In order to expand FAD activities, a FAD strategic plan has to be set in place. Therefore, extensive in country consultation was conducted with relevant stakeholders to build important strategies in FADs for livelihoods and launching of the Vanuatu FAD Strategic Plan as the final goal.

Another component of the meeting was refresher training in manufacturing FADs with Provincial Vanuatu Fisheries Officers and Fisher Associations.

Background

Enhancing livelihoods and food security through fisheries with nearshore fish aggregating devices in the Pacific (FishFAD) is an FAO regional project. The FishFAD project seeks to strengthen the contribution of small-scale tuna fisheries to food and nutrition security and the improvement of associated livelihoods, in light of fisheries playing an important role in the provision of food and income for Pacific Island countries. FishFAD is being implemented in Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Palau, Samoa, Tuvalu and Vanuatu. The Government of Japan is providing USD 4.636 million (ST 12.248 million) for the three-year project.