The meeting is being attended by Fisheries Ministers from the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) Group of States in Fiji. 

The Ministers of Fisheries will examine a five year strategic plan of action which will include collaboration with new and established partners, while also exploring the ways and means to guarantee regular and sustainable financing for the strategic plan. 

Dr. Harris explained that this meeting should boost the federation’s ability to take effective control of its fisheries resources and to benefit citizens now and in the future. 

“Here in the Federation we recognize that there is great potential to increase the overall contribution of fisheries to the social and economic development.  

Globally, fish products and aquaculture exports fetch in excess of US $150 billion annually, and have become the most valuable renewable natural resource commodity traded worldwide,” Harris said. 

FAO estimates global consumption of fish, currently at 140 million tonnes, is likely to reach 200 million tones by 2030.  The market is looking to aquaculture to provide this increased volume of fish products, acknowledging that many wild fisheries are fully exploited.  Our aquaculture fisheries are still in its embryonic stage and we will need to focus more resources in this area.