The BOF-JICA Blue Economy Project held a seminar on August 7 to present the achievements of the Project, which aims to promote the sustainable development of Palau’s fisheries sector.
The event brought together stakeholders, including fishing organizations, individual fishermen, the Taiwan Technical Mission, and the Palau Visitors Authority, with presentations covering offshore fisheries business management, fisheries marketing, and resource management, as well as the results of a joint project evaluation.
Launched in April 2022 and scheduled to conclude in September 2025, the project focuses on promoting the sustainable use of offshore resources as well as monitoring reef fishing activities. By addressing priority issues such as resource management, marketing, and data utilization, it is expected to contribute to the long-term growth of the fisheries sector, while also enhancing the country’s economic stability and food security.
Key discussions during the seminar highlighted the need for data-driven management to secure future fish stocks. The data may include fish and baitfish catches, continued monitoring data, environmental parameters, changes in the sizes of captured fish, locations of fishing grounds, and trends in historical catch and environmental data. The potential dispatch of a JICA marketing expert to maximize the value of fisheries and secure sustainable markets was also suggested.
A new JICA study to formulate a fisheries development master plan is set to begin soon. A long-term vision and goals for sustainable development of the fisheries industry, incorporating synergies with other sectors such as tourism, are expected to be identified. Japan and Palau will work together as equal partners to deliver greater outcomes in Palau’s fisheries sector.