ACP2 Workshop to Train MCS Officer in Designing National MCS Strategies and Implementation Plans

This ACP FISH II project facilitated the preparation of guidelines for the devising of national MCS strategies and implementation plans, and an associated training module based on existing MCS training materials based on an analysis of information gathered from consultations with government agencies involved in fisheries MCS and enforcement, the fishing industry, other fisheries stakeholders in Pacific ACP States and wider best practice in developing national MCS plans and strategies that would be consistent with the Regional MCS Strategy.  The primary purpose of the Regional Monitoring, Control and Surveillance Strategy (RMCSS), agreed in July 2010, is to "support compliance with fisheries management frameworks and associated measures at national, sub-regional, regional and Commission levels to ensure the long term sustainability of oceanic fish stocks and associated economic benefits flowing from them to Pacific Island Countries". Given the shared nature of the oceanic fish stocks in the Pacific, effective national implementation of the RMCSS is crucial to achieving a robust and effective MCS operational framework at the regional level.

While much of the MCS 'architecture' necessary to achieve effective MCS of oceanic fisheries is in place in the Pacific region, its implementation is often limited by resourcing and other challenges at the national level. This study responded directly to those challenges by training MCS Officers from Pacific ACP States to develop and update their respective national MCS strategies and implementation plans consistent with the RMCSS.

The guidelines and training materials were utilised during a training workshop held at Honiara, Solomon Islands from 15-19 October, 2012 attended by 15 selected MCS Officers from 8 Pacific ACP States,

Beneficiary countries are the Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu and Timor-Leste.