Pacific Island Fisheries Ministers to meet in Honiara next month

**23rd Annual Ministerial Forum Fisheries Meeting in Honiara last year (Image: Supplied)**

Next month, all Pacific Island fisheries ministers will gather in Honiara, Solomon Islands, to push forward discussions aimed at mobilizing fisheries resources across the region.

This was announced by Prime Minister James Marape following his return from Palau last Friday.

Prime Minister Marape said the upcoming meeting reflects a strategic initiative aimed at uniting Pacific nations to harness their fishing resources more effectively.

He underscored that the meeting is part of a broader government plan to strengthen the region's fisheries sector.

"We have a strategic intent," Marape said.

Marape said the government’s focus is to build a power bloc around Pacific fisheries, combining efforts from several nations.

He highlighted that Papua New Guinea [PNG], the Solomon Islands, and Micronesian nations are all deeply engaged in these ongoing discussions.

Fisheries Minister Jelta Wong, who accompanied Marape on his trip, plays a key role in advancing this initiative.

Marape noted that Wong is working closely with Minister for International Trade and Investment Richard Maru to ensure the region capitalizes on its fisheries potential.

"The central goal of the upcoming meeting is to mobilize the Pacific’s abundant fishing resources and focus on processing these resources locally to create jobs and drive economic growth," Marape said.

Prime Minister Marape said that the development of downstream fisheries processing in PNG is a critical component of the plan.

He said Medellin Maritime and Pacific Maritime Zone [PMIZ] are two projects to kick start this initiative.

Additionally, they are looking into other coastal regions like Rabaul, Kiata, and Lae as potential sites for fisheries-related infrastructure projects.

This collaboration among Pacific nations marks a significant step toward strengthening the region’s control over its natural resources, creating economic opportunities for local communities, and enhancing the sustainability of fisheries in the Pacific.