11 September 2018
Pacific Regional Organizations, EU Sign Marine Partnership Programme Agreement
Photo by Andrzej Kryszpiniuk
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The FFA, SPC, SPREP and USP signed the Pacific-EU Marine Partnership Programme with the EU.

The programme will promote sustainable ocean management in the Pacific Region.

The EU will provide €35 million for the programme, with an additional €10 million contribution from the Government of Sweden.

5 September 2018: The Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA), the Pacific Community (SPC), the Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) and The University of the South Pacific (USP) have signed an agreement with the EU to promote sustainable ocean management in the Pacific region. The Pacific-EU Marine Partnership Programme (PEUMP) will assist the regional organizations in supporting national and regional activities throughout the Pacific.

The signing follows agreement between the EU Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development and the Secretary General of the Pacific Island Forum Secretariat (PIFS) on the partnership programme. The two agreed to develop the programme at the 2017 Our Ocean Conference, which took place in Malta.

The five-year PEUMP has a holistic, multi-sector approach to marine resources and aims to contribute to the region’s environmental, economic and social development. The programme will focus on four key areas. First, the PEUMP will support sound coastal and ocean governance with a focus on biodiversity protection and sustainable fisheries and marine resource use. Second, the programme will use a rights-based approach to encourage participation of men, women and youth in decision making, and mainstream gender equality and human rights. Third, PEUMP will mainstream climate change and environmental issues. Finally, the programme will strengthen regional, national, sub-national and local capacity to deliver sustainable fisheries management and sound ocean governance through education, training and research.

Health of our oceans has a direct impact on the lives of every person who calls the Pacific their home.

SPC Director General, Colin Tukuitonga stressed that the “health of our oceans has a direct impact on the lives of every person who calls the Pacific their home.” He said the programme aligns with Pacific Islands Forum leaders’ vision of a ‘Blue Pacific’ and will help to ensure that Pacific communities can sustainably manage and conserve their ocean resources. Jean-Louis Ville, Head of Unit for East Asia, South-East Asia and the Pacific at the European Commission Directorate General for International Cooperation and Development, recognized the essential role of oceans in “ensuring food, livelihoods, biodiversity and climate resilience” but noted that the world’s oceans face increasing threats from unsustainable management practices and the negative effects of climate change. He said the EU-Pacific partnership will address such threats and support sustainable management of the Pacific’s marine resources.

The EU will provide €35 million for the programme, with an additional €10 million contribution from the Government of Sweden. [SPC Press Release] [EU Press Release]


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