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The Vanuatu Fisheries Department (VFD) will host a programme retreat on the island of Espiritu Santo at Turtle Bay Lodge. The participants will inlude include VFD directors, managers and senior staff; provincial fisheries development officers  representatives from the Pacific Pathways and FishFAD projects; stakeholders from the Sanma Secretary General and East Santo Area Council; and village chiefs and fishers.

Coinciding with World Ocean Day, ocean surveys to map ideal locations prior to deploying fishing aggregating devices (FAD) were conducted on June 8, 2020. Conducting proper surveys prior to deploying FADs at any new sites is crucial. Surveys provide accurate depth information and reveal the topography of the seabed. This work is carried out using a vessel equipped with a depth sounder.    

Teams from the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries of Samoa will deploy FAD’s in strategic locations around Upolu and Savai’i in Samoa. A total of six FAD’s will be deployed in Falefa, Poutasi, Salailua, Asau, Safotu, and Leulumoega/Faga. The project is an initiative of MAF and the deployment costs financially supported by the Government of Japan and managed by FAO. 

Fishermen associations and interested fishermen  participate in a one-day workshop to learn about the FAO Japan project to support artisanal fisheries. The workshop, hosted by the Coastal Fisheries Division under the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources Development, closely followed a regional work shop held in Fiji explaining the aims and outputs of a FAD program.

An inception workshop for the project was held in Nadi, Fiji (3-6 February) and brought together around 45 participants comprised of representatives of national fisheries agencies and fishers from countries under the project, as well as project partners.

A signing ceremony between the Government of Japan and FAO. The Exchange of Notes is an agreement between Japan and FAO regarding regional funding for a project for enhancing livelihoods and food security through nearshore fish aggregating device fisheries in the Pacific.