The Honourable Chief Justice of the Solomon Islands Sir Albert Palmer and the Director-General of the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA), Dr Manumatavai Tupou-Roosen opened the first Pacific regional judicial symposium on the theme of Responsibility in Fisheries.
‘Globally, this area of international law is relatively new and gaining prominence and it is essential that members of the judiciary are appraised. This Symposium provides an opportunity for our region to be a pioneer in considering the attribution of responsibility in fisheries to States, international organisations, and persons,’ said Honourable Chief Justice Sir Albert Palmer.
The judicial symposium is attended by members of the judiciary from the Pacific Islands region, a judge of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, and international law experts, and will discuss in particular the responsibility of States, the responsibility of international organisations, and the responsibility of persons, in the governance of fisheries.
‘Fisheries plays a central role for Pacific Islands people – in our culture, food security and economic development. It is for these fundamental reasons that our FFA Members take their responsibility in fisheries very seriously and continue to set world-leading standards. This judicial symposium is significant – it is an expression of that commitment. It is also important that the symposium is held in the very week of our 40th anniversary. Our ongoing work honours the visionary decision of our Leaders to establish FFA,’ commented FFA Director-General Dr Manumatavai Tupou-Roosen.
