Stakeholders and key government officials from Fisheries organisations around the Pacific region will converge at the Sofitel Fiji Resort & Spa for the 2015 Pacific Tuna Forum today.

This two-day forum will be attended with the aim to strengthen the fisheries sector.

The Regional Tuna Industry and Trade Conference will be opened by the Minister for Fisheries & Forests, Osea Naiqama today.

It is the fifth in a series of highly successful biannual forums since 2007.

The event has attracted more than 200 participants from the public, private sectors and non-government organisations throughout the Pacific, Asia, Europe and the USA.

The Pacific Tuna Forum has enabled regional organisations such as the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) to better appreciate the importance of the Forum.

This is in gathering policy makers, fishers, processors and traders in discussing significant issues affecting the sustainable management and development of the tuna fisheries in the Pacific.

The Forum will also see participants discussing key issues affecting the fisheries sector.

They will also aim to find a way forward to overcome the current challenges together with detecting potential new opportunities in the Pacific region.

Fiji is hosting this year’s Forum to allow for a greater level of ownership of this premier event by the region.

This is with the aim it can be incorporated into the formal work programme of a regional organisation such as the Forum Fisheries Agency.