Marshalls hiresPacific top fisheries expert
The Marshall Islands Marine Resources Authority (MIMRA) has signed on one of the Pacific region’s top fisheries experts provide it legal advice.
The authority’s director, Glen Joseph, confirmed that a contract was reached hire Transform Aqorau as the fishery department’s legal advisor.
Mr Aqorau, a former deputy director at the Forum Fisheries Agency in the Solomon Islands and more recently the first chief executive officer of the Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA) office in Majuro brings a wealth of regional experience to MIMRA, said Mr Joseph.
He headed the Majuro-based PNA office from 2010-2016.
Vessel day scheme
Mr Aqorau presided over the full implementation of the PNA’s Vessel Day Scheme management system for the purse seine fishery during his tenure, which has seen fisheries revenue for the member countries, including the Marshall Islands, skyrocket from US$60 million (FJ$122 million) in 2010 to nearly US $500 million (FJ$1,016,822,733.20) last year.
The MIMRA’s commercial fisheries revenue has changed dramatically because of participation in PNA, increasing from US$2 million (FJ$4.07 million) a year in the 1990s a record $34.6 million (FJ$70 million) in 2019.
Mr Joseph expressed delight at hiring Aqorau.
“We need people like him,” said Mr Joseph.
“He’s been here so he knows the situation.”
Strengthen fisheries management
Mr Aqorau is being hired through a World Bank-funded regional fisheries programme involving MIMRA, which is known as Pacific Islands Regional Oceanscape Programme that is working to strengthen fisheries management.
In the legal area, Mr Aqorau joins Laurence Edwards, II, who has been the Majuro-based fisheries agency’s legal counsel for many years.
Mr Joseph said the volume of legal work at MIMRA in both its oceanic and coastal programmes had escalated to the point that “we’re drowning.”
Because of the border closure in the Marshall Islands due to COVID-19, Mr Aqorau will for the meantime be working from his home in the Solomon Islands, said Mr Joseph.
Mr Aqorau has spent most of his professional life in fisheries.
Founding director
After leaving the PNA five years ago, he became chief executive officer of iTuna Intel and a founding director of Pacific Catalyst.
His book narrating the history of the PNA, “Fishing For Success: Lessons in Pacific Regionalism,” was published last year.
In a widely-publicised development, Mr Aqorau was tapped in mid-2019 by the Solomon Islands government to become its new Permanent Representative to the United Nations.
But, Mr Aqorau said, a contract and related details were never forthcoming from the government after the Cabinet made the appointment.
18 months
Mr Aqorau spent three weeks on a fishing trip of the FV Lojet purse seiner in 2015.
“After 18 months of waiting since I know when Cabinet made the decision (July 2019), I decided that I cannot wait while there was disinterest in facilitating the posting,” said Mr Aqorau.
“I look forward to working for MIMRA, to be working for the Marshall Islands my second home, to serve the people of Marshall Islands, to give back to them for the confidence that they have shown in me.
“But more importantly to team up with a dynamic team at MIMRA with whom we can work together to shape international fisheries, while at the same time build up the excellent capacity that already exists there.”
Looking forward
Dr Aqorau added: “The headquarters of the PNA is in Marshall Islands,
and so it would be great to be joining MIMRA in time for the new leadership at the PNA.
“This is also something that I look forward to, rejoining the group who
have been key drivers of the fishery these past few years.”