NFA to conduct awareness on beche-de-mer fishery

The National Fisheries Authority will publish and carry out awareness on the new management plan, the licensing criteria and requirements for participating in the beche-de-mer fishery in the coming weeks.

Minister for Fisheries Mao Zeming said trials would be conducted in Milne Bay province next month (December).

“The NFA will try out the opening of the fishery under the new management plan utilizing Milne Bay province as a test case. This is basically to try out processes and systems under the new plan. We want to ensure strict monitoring and effective data systems are implemented well,” he said.

“As a government, we are satisfied that the new management plan is the best way forward. It protects the fishery and its ecosystem, while ensuring the coastal communities that depend on it for survival continue to benefit.”

Milne Bay, Manus, New Ireland, Bougainville, West and East New Britain, Western, Central, Madang, East Sepik and Morobe are involved in the fishery.

They collectively produce 340 metric tonnes of beche-de-mer annually, with Milne Bay topping with 118, according to NFA records.

The records show 33 species of sea cucumber harvested in the provinces.

Author: 
Freddy Mou