Welcome to the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency
The Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) strengthens national capacity and regional solidarity so its 17 members can manage, control and develop their tuna fisheries now and in the future.
Based in Honiara, Solomon Islands, FFA's 17 Pacific Island members are Australia, Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.
FFA was established to help countries sustainably manage their fishery resources that fall within their 200 mile Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs). FFA is an advisory body providing expertise, technical assistance and other support to its members who make sovereign decisions about their tuna resources and participate in regional decision making on tuna management through agencies such as the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC).
Since 1979, FFA has facilitated regional cooperation so that all Pacific countries benefit from the sustainable use of tuna – worth over $3 billion a year and important for many people’s livelihoods in the Pacific.
Vision Statement
The joint aim of members of the Forum Fisheries Agency is captured in its Vision Statement, which states:
“Our people will enjoy the highest levels of social and economic benefits through the sustainable use of our offshore fisheries resources.”
FFA’s Corporate Mission
For staff and management at FFA’s regional headquarters, their work is guided by the Corporate Mission Statement, which states the mission of the organization is:
“To drive regional cooperation to create and enable the maximum long term social and economic benefit from the sustainable use of our shared offshore fishery resources.”
Strategic Plan 2020-2025
The Strategic Plan provides strategic guidance to the Secretariat and members in terms achieving its Vision and Mission. (Link)
FFA’s Statement of Intent (SOI)
The Statement of Intent provides an outline of the Secretariat's operating intentions towards achieving its strategic outcomes and goals in the FFA Strategic Plan. It is also used as a basis for allocating resources under the Annual Work Programme and Budget (AWPB) as well as the basis for reporting in the Annual Report. It is a three year living document that is amended each year to include a new third year.
Country Service Level Agreement (CSLA)
As a result of the independent review of FFA carried out in 2010, FFA developed CSLAs with members. This is a non-binding instrument intended to provide direction on the delivery of the FFA Secretariat services for each member. CSLAs are two-way instruments that also set out the expectations of each member and the Secretariat in respect of priorities. The CSLAs are one of the key drivers for member priorities in the SOI and AWPB. CSLAs have been signed with:
- Cook Is
- Fiji
- FSM
- Kiribati
- Marshall Islands
- Nauru
- Niue
- Palau
- Papua New Guinea
- Samoa
- Solomon Is
- Tokelau
- Tonga
- Tuvalu
- Vanuatu
FFA’s Annual Reports
FFA's Annual Report for the fiscal year can be accessed by clicking on this link.
FFA Director General & Spokesperson
The current Director General and chief spokesperson of FFA is Dr Manu Tupou-Roosen. For more information on the Director General's appointment, see here
How FFA works
Approximately 80 staff at the regional FFA headquarters in Honiara support their national contact points in departments of foreign affairs and fisheries in each member jurisdiction. FFA focuses its work on:
Fisheries management – providing policy and legal frameworks for the sustainable management of tuna
Fisheries development – developing the capacity of members to sustainably harvest, process and market tuna to create livelihoods
Fisheries operations – supporting monitoring, control and surveillance of fisheries as well as treaty administration, information technology and vessel registration and monitoring.
Corporate services - supporting the organisation's work through administration, human resources, budgeting and other corporate functions.
The founding document of the Agency is the South Pacific Forum Fisheries Agency Convention. The Forum Fisheries Committee meets annually to consider regional policies and the budget and work programme of FFA.