Where the Pacific meets the Arctic
This week in Reykjavik, Iceland, Pacific fisheries and ocean experts took part in a two-day exchange to explore the
similarities between these two extreme regions of the planet.
Cook Islands Prime Minister H.E. Henry Puna and Kiribati’s Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources Development
(MFMRD) Hon. Tetabo Nakara led a delegation of 16 representatives from the Cook Islands, Solomon Islands, Kiribati, the
Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, the Pacific Community (SPC), Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency, Marae Moana and
the Polynesian Voyaging Society.
The inspiration for the exchange (11-12 October) came from former President of Iceland and Conservation International
Distinguished Fellow Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson and had three themes:
• how a small nation (with a population of 144,000 people at the time) has become one of most advanced countries
in the world (companies visited were all founded with just one small boat but have become global leaders in their
industries)
• how modern high-tech management of vessels and catch has completely revolutionised operations and transformed
fisheries into a prosperous industry (eg, there is 100% use of fish, including for medical products)
• how small island developing states (SIDS) can combine efforts to create an ‘ocean defense’ organisation (the
EEZs of the 10 smallest SIDS is 20% larger than the combined EEZs of USA, Russia and China)
“Iceland’s progress has involved sacrifices - fishing boats lost, people drowned at sea, trade embargoes and
retaliations - the road to prosperity for Iceland has not been a smooth ride,” says President Grímsson. “We were
regarded as a developing country until the 1970s but we have grown from one of the poorest to one of the richest
countries in the world in terms of income per capita because of the success of our of fishing industry. We have much we
can share.”
Prime Minister Puna says he welcomes how much common ground there was between Pacific Island countries and Iceland -
both are large ocean states with an extraordinary dependence on fisheries: “We may come from different oceans but we
face the same challenges and hard choices, such as how do we best manage our fisheries so that we can feed our families,
enrich our economies and defend ourselves against the intensifying effects of climate change.
Iceland’s path to sustainability is inspiring and innovative, and I am very grateful to the Iceland Government and the
Arctic Circle Assembly for so openly sharing their knowledge and expertise.”
Hon. Minister Nakara says he is looking forward to bringing Icelandic experts to the region to share their extensive
knowledge of fish processing and global fish markets, particularly in identifying possible new products based on
skipjack tuna.
“Introducing more people in the Pacific to Iceland’s success story should help many Pacific Island countries appreciate
that our best path to prosperity is better utilization of our tuna resource. It’s not about catching more, it’s about
being smarter and developing high value products to sell.”
Conservation International, the Arctic Circle Assembly, the Government of Iceland, Conservation Equity, and the Emerson
Collective sponsored the fisheries exchange which preceded the 2017 Arctic Circle Assembly (13-15 October).
ENDS
Arctic Circle http://www.arcticcircle.org/
The Arctic Circle is the largest network of international dialogue and cooperation on the future of the Arctic. It is an
open democratic platform with participation from governments, organizations, corporations, universities, think tanks,
environmental associations, indigenous communities, concerned citizens, and others interested in the development of the
Arctic and its consequences for the future of the globe. It is a non-profit and nonpartisan organisation.
Chairman: Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, Former President of Iceland and CI Distinguished Fellow.
Conservation International
Conservation International (CI) uses science, policy and partnerships to protect the nature people rely on for food,
fresh water and livelihoods. Founded in 1987, CI works in more than 30 countries on six continents to ensure a healthy,
prosperous planet that supports us all. Learn more about CI and its groundbreaking "Nature Is Speaking" campaign, and follow CI's work on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.
Our work in the Pacific -