Forum Fisheries Ministers announced the appointment of the incoming Director General of the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA), Dr Manumatavai Tupou-Roosen, at the conclusion of the 15th Forum Fisheries Committee Ministerial meeting which was held in the Cook Islands on 3-5th July, chaired by Cook Islands Prime Minister and Minister of Marine Resources, Honourable Henry Puna.
‘We are delighted to announce Dr Tupou-Roosen as the new Director General of FFA. She is very committed to the FFA’s role as a facilitator of regional co-operation on fisheries management within the Pacific region and has excellent strategies for leading the FFA into the next decade as it helps members develop their offshore fisheries,’ Honourable Puna said.
‘The best thing about it all is that the decision was by unanimous agreement of all of the Fisheries Ministers.’
Currently head of the FFA Legal Services, Dr Tupou-Roosen said that there is a clear mission to ensure the sustainable use of our offshore fishery resources increases the economic and social benefits for all Pacific people.
‘I am committed to following through on that mission,’ she said.
‘I see empowerment, communication and collaboration as critical tools to ensuring successful co-operation and to ensuring our Pacific people prosper. Strengthening our mechanisms to combat IUU fishing and enhancing social benefits will also be top of mind for me. I will be making these a priority when I take up the role.’
The selection process for the Director General was extensive and ran over a twelve-month period. Dr Tupou-Roosen takes up her new position in mid-November 2018, replacing James Movick, who has held the role since 2008.
Manumatavai Tupou-Roosen has worked in fisheries for nearly twenty years, including thirteen of those years as the FFA Legal Counsel. In this role she has been responsible for providing legal and strategic advice to the Director General on significant agency-wide issues.
She gained a Masters of Law in 1997 under a NZ scholarship with a focus on international fisheries and achieved First Class Honours. She also gained a PhD in Law in 2004 under a Commonwealth Scholarship, with a focus on International and Regional Fisheries Compliance. In pursuing her education, Dr Tupou-Roosen was always intent on returning and serving in the area of fisheries in the region.
