A K5 million jetty and shore base facility is currently being constructed in Buka, the Autonomous Region of Bougainville.
The project is an initiative of the National Fisheries Authority.
NFA’s provincial support coordinator, Bolton Towok, gave an overview to Loop PNG during a recent field trip.
“This is the Buka Jetty and shore base facility. It will cater for fishermen to land and market their fish,” Towok explained.
“It will contain a fish market, cold storage facility, processing and office space on the top for the Autonomous Region fisheries.
“The total cost is about K5 million, the causeway is about K2 million and the shore base infrastructure is about K3 million.”
NFA envisions that a private partner will get on board to sustainably manage the facility once complete.
“At the moment you see a lot of fishermen selling all over the place, at least with this project we’ll have a shore market, helping coastal fisheries in the region,” expressed Towok.
On the 23rd of January, the National Fisheries Authority officially signed a memorandum of understanding with the Autonomous Bougainville Government to transfer its powers and functions to the island nation in the lead up to referendum 2019.
K15 million was also handed over as capital to establish the Bougainville Marine Fisheries Authority.