I just saw a wee snippet in Dive New Zealand:

The $2.7m NZ government-funded project draws expertise from the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA), the South Pacific community, Tonga’s government and fishing industry. The aim is to develop a well-managed, sustainable line fishery for deepwater fish in Tonga’s Exclusive Economic Zone. 

This Tongan aid programme was first announced last month by NIWA in a press release:

New Zealand helps Tongan deepwater fisheries development

“A programme to help Tonga maximise the economic benefits of commercial fishing has been launched in the country’s capital, Nuku’alofa.

Coinciding with a visit to Tonga by New Zealand Prime Minister John Key, the $2.7m NZ government-funded project draws together expertise from the National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA), the Secretariat for the Pacific Community, Tonga’s government and fishing industry.

The aim is to develop a well-managed, sustainable line fishery for deepwater fish in Tonga’s Exclusive Economic Zone.

Project leader and NIWA fisheries scientist Dr Stuart Hanchet said the project was funded by the NZ Aid Partnership Programme and partners will explore ways to maximise economic returns and develop new market opportunities.

“Biological sustainability and improved management are also key objectives,” Dr Hanchet said.

The project builds on the recently approved Tongan Deepwater Fisheries Management Plan by providing key information to support implementation of the plan.”

It is always great to see this kind of private enterprise investment in development in areas of the world that need it, in particular Small Island Developing States (SIDS) like Tonga.

According to South Pacific Business Development (SPBD), the State of Tonga requires all the sustainable development assistance it can get:

“Only 30% of Tongan women are employed and 40% of them are underemployed being engaged in subsistence farming, fishing and handicrafts. 23% of the population lives below the poverty line [us$2.11 per day is well below the poverty line]. Opportunities for salaried employment are scarce.

Sustainable development in Tonga

The Agenda 21 website provides a good overview on sustainable development in Tonga:

• Economic Aspects of Sustainable Development 
• Natural Resource Aspect of Sustainable Development 
• Institutional Aspects of Sustainable Development
• Social Aspect of Sustaianble Development

The Agenda 21 was adopted at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio de Janeiro in 1992. The Conference recommended that States consider preparing national reports and communicating the information therein to the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD) including, activities they undertake to implement Agenda 21, the obstacles and challenges they confront, and other environment and development issues they find relevant.

The Johannesburg Summit 2002 (the World Summit on Sustainable Development) organised by UN Commission on Sustainable Development focused on strategies for meeting challenges that best humanity going forward, including improving people’s lives and conserving our natural resources in a world that is growing in population, with ever-increasing demands for food, water, shelter, sanitation, energy, health services and economic security.

• Click here for the Johannesburg Summit 2002 country profile of Tonga.
• Click here for a copy of Tonga’s Strategic Development Plan 9 (2009–2013) development in conjunction with the Secretariat of the Pacific Community

Also see: NZ announces “sustainable” development assistance for Tonga

Incidentally Planet Ratings (A Global Microfinance Rating Agency) conducted a Smart GIRAFE Rating for SPBD Tonga who were granted SPBD a ‘good investment’ grade of “B+” noting a “Positive” trend.