Monitoring framework for social and economic development contributions from Pacific tuna industries

At the 2020 Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Committee meeting (FFC114) Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) member countries’ Ministers of Fisheries requested FFA to commission a study to develop a social and economic indicator framework for tuna industries in the Pacific region – including processing and ancillary services as well as fishing. 

The purpose of the framework is to enable member countries to measure and track the range of social and economic benefits generated from their tuna resources. A team of researchers from the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) began the project in December 2020 and submitted the final report and draft framework in June 2021.

Following that FFA and the Papua New Guinea (PNG) National Fisheries Authority (NFA) decided to pilot implementing the framework, by collecting data on indicators in the framework, and analysing the sustainable development benefits from tuna industries. The PNG pilot started in October 2022 and has continued throughout 2023. We are investigating factors such as job numbers, types, remuneration, human resources development, gender equity, provision of food, generation of spin-off businesses and so on.

Chief investigators:  Professor Kate Barclay, Dr Nicholas McClean

Partner investigators: 
Dr Federico Davila (UTS: Institute for Sustainable Futures)
Dr Megan Bailey (Dalhousie University)
Dr Keren Winterford (UTS: Institute for Sustainable Futures)
Dr Ciara Willis (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute and Massachusetts Institute of Technology) Professor Alistair McIlgorm (University of Wollongong); Dr Rachel Nichols (University of Wollongong)

Funding body: Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA)