To maximize economic and social benefits of fisheries, countries and territories must do three broad tasks:

1) Manage the fishery to ensure use is sustainable and will provide tuna now and in the future

2) Develop the fishery to harvest, process and market tuna to create jobs, income and a thriving industry

3) Monitor, control and survey the fishery to stop illegal fishing and make sure fishing benefits goes towards fishers who follow the rules of development and management set by governments.

More information about fisheries management, fisheries development and fisheries monitoring, control and surveillance activities and analysis can be found by clicking the links under 'What we do' (left). FFA assists members to carry out these three broad tasks by providing advice, information, policy recommendations, regional strategies, technical support and development opportunities. It provides support at the national and regional level.

At the national level, FFA provides support direct to countries and territories who are members of FFA. For an outline of some of these activities in each member nation, see FFA member pages.

At the regional level, FFA solicits the views of leaders, identifies consensus areas and emerging areas for debate and briefs leaders on technical and policy issues in preparation for their participation in the decision-making body on tuna management in the region – (the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission) and for negotiations about binding legal agreements (the various treaties, agreements and arrangements pertaining to fishing in Pacific). Pacific Island leaders are active in setting the agenda and priorities of FFA through their involvement in the various FFA projects and meetings and formally through the Forum Fisheries Committee.