The Pacific Ocean is home to the largest tuna stock in the world, yet the issue of monitoring, sustainability and financial benefits have always been illusive and contentious.
To address these critical issues, the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) and its Members and partners took significant steps toward using the East New Britain Initiative (ENBi) to enhance sustainable and innovative regional fisheries development.
Endorsed by Pacific Leaders in 2023, ENBi is more than a strategy; it’s a bold vision to unlock the full value of the region’s tuna resources. ENBi is a platform to empower Members to have some control of the tuna value chain – from harvesting and processing to trade, investment, and marketing.
This gives the Members and partners the needed beneficial leverage because while Pacific nations have led the world in sustainable tuna management for decades, the economic benefits have been dismal and did not fully reflect the scale of their stewardship.
ENBi seeks to change that, weaving stronger connections across the entire tuna value chain from harvesting and processing to trade, investment, and marketing so that the wealth of the ocean benefits the people and communities who rely on it most.
At the recent ENBi Workshop in Nadi, Fiji, held alongside the 9th Pacific Tuna Forum in October 2025, Members and partners came together to gain a clearer understanding of ENBi – what it is, how it operates, and how countries can actively engage with it. The workshop also marked a shift from planning to action, encouraging Members to take concrete steps toward implementation.
This initiative represents a bold Pacific-led approach, moving beyond traditional management to foster practical, inclusive, and innovative pathways for economic growth across the region. Underpinning this is how ENBi can be used to transform and maximise the value of tuna resources for the individual members and the region as a whole.
A significant aspect of the ENBi workshop was that it was the first time Members, regional organisations, and partners such as the Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA) and the Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS) came together to discuss key regional issues relating to fisheries and map out some future directions and respective roles. The emphasis was on collaboration, including breaking down the silos that have long separated the management, trade, and development sides of the fisheries sector. This is an amazing manifestation of regional cooperation.
ENBi’s Working Group (EWG) is chaired by Papua New Guinea and supported by FFA Members, PNA countries, and regional partners. EWG Chair, Justin Ilakini described the event as a pivotal moment for the initiative.
“It’s about breaking down the silos we’ve built over the years, where each of us thought we could drive fisheries development alone. We’ve all tried to do it on our own for too long, but together we can achieve much more. Building on our strong fisheries management record, the Pacific now has a unique opportunity to turn that success into real economic and social benefits, and ENBi provides the roadmap to make that happen, as a region.”
In the broader context, the ENBi aligns with the 2050 Strategy for the Blue Pacific Continent and brings together Pacific governments, industry, and development partners under a shared vision of sustainable and inclusive growth. The initiative promotes a “hubs and spokes” model, with key processing hubs potentially located in Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Samoa, Solomon Islands, and the Federated States of Micronesia. This approach enables smaller island nations, which are linked to the hubs, to access shared infrastructure, markets, and expertise.
By bringing different perspectives around the same table, ENBi has created a space for genuine collaboration and practical problem-solving. It gives Members a clear framework to identify investment opportunities, develop the right enabling conditions from infrastructure to certification systems and forge partnerships that translate into real economic gains at home.
With this shared understanding now in place, the aspiration to retain more of the tuna value within FFA membership feels closer and more achievable than ever. It is being driven by two things we already hold in strong supply: political will and regional solidarity.
Mr Ilakini highlighted ENBi has strong political backing, with countries recognising the need to work together to not only manage tuna well, but also ensure its economic benefits are felt more widely across the region.
“We’re seeing political will like never before, with Fisheries Ministers coming together, speaking with one voice, and recognising the wisdom behind ENBi. United by a common resource—tuna—our success depends on how we work together to achieve maximum economic benefits for our people. We’ve done this well in fisheries management; now it’s time to do the same in development.”
One of the key outcomes from the Nadi workshop was the agreement to form a Technical Working Group made up of experts from Members and industry stakeholders. This group will drive the next stage of work by helping turn technical studies into real opportunities, whether value-adding, market expansion, or investment projects that support national priorities. In practical terms, it will give countries clearer options and stronger positions when engaging with partners and investors.
This shift toward implementation reflects the growing momentum and political will among Pacific Fisheries Ministers, who have consistently called for greater economic gains from the region’s tuna. Their direction, reaffirmed at the 24th Forum Fisheries Committee Ministers’ Meeting (FFC MIN 24), highlighted the need to focus on areas that deliver jobs, stimulate trade, and attract meaningful investment. This is where the work now moves – from planning to action. At the 9th Pacific Tuna Forum, Papua New Guinea’s Fisheries Minister Hon. Jelta Wong delivered a firm message.
“To secure our future, we cannot continue as before. We need to be united in a transformative approach, and the East New Britain Initiative provides the framework to revolutionise the tuna industry. When we first raised this idea 20 years ago, we lacked the political will and confidence to drive it – but now, we have both.”
Building on the momentum from the workshop, the FFA Secretariat is now moving forward with Members and partners to finalise an Implementation Strategy for ENBi, establish the Technical Working Group’s terms of reference, and deepen collaboration with the PNA on commercialisation initiatives. FFA Director-General Noan David Pakop said the ENBi discussions in Nadi were both timely and strategic.
“The ENBi workshop was significant as it was held concurrently with the Pacific Tuna Forum, which underscores the importance our leaders and Ministers place on ENBi and highlights the strong collective commitment to the initiative. The gathering was a strategic opportunity, allowing our Members and partners, including the private sector to come together, plan, and begin seriously considering how to put ENBi into action on the ground.“
At its core, ENBi’s vision is both simple and ambitious: to keep more of the value of Pacific tuna within the region. This means moving beyond merely exporting raw fish to developing local industries that process, package, and market tuna. The result? More jobs for Pacific communities, stronger support for small businesses, and economic benefits that flow directly into the islands themselves.
Participants at the workshop highlighted that ENBi opens up exciting opportunities for countries to shape their own development paths, whether by tapping into new markets, growing value-added industries, or building strategic investment partnerships – all while staying grounded in a strong, collective regional approach.
“This working group will help us fast-track outcomes,” one participant said. “When we report back to our Ministers or Leaders, we’ll be able to say, ‘Here’s what Kiribati can do, here’s what Solomon Islands can do, here’s what PNG can take forward.’ We’ll be talking business in a much more tangible way.”
In essence, ENBi is anchored in inclusivity and participation, reflecting the region’s strong commitments to gender equality and community empowerment. It ensures that the benefits of fisheries development reach everyone – women and men, youth, coastal communities, and both large and small island states alike.
But, ENBi is more than a policy framework; it represents a shared vision for regional growth and signals a shift in perspective: from seeing tuna simply as a revenue source to recognising it as a foundation for sustainable and equitable development. It encourages Members to move beyond merely selling fishing rights, toward building ownership and value across the supply chain – from ocean to shelf.
The true strength of ENBi lies in its collective spirit, by uniting political leadership, technical expertise, and regional solidarity to ensure that Pacific peoples fully benefit from the resources that define their ocean identity. The implementation of ENBi marks a new chapter for Pacific fisheries, one shaped by action, inclusion, and shared purpose, where the Pacific does not just manage its tuna well, but leads confidently into its future.
Emily V. Moli is the Communications Manager for the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) based in Honiara, Solomon Islands.
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About FFA
FFA assists its 17 Members to sustainably manage fishery resources that fall within their 200-mile Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs). FFA provides expertise, technical assistance and other support to its members who make decisions about their tuna resources and participate in regional decision making on tuna management. Find out more here: www.ffa.int