The National Fisheries Authority has refuted a statement claiming NFA officials have confirmed that sea waters and fish around Madang Province are safe for public use and consumption respectively.
NFA’s Managing Director (MD), John Kasu, said NFA is aware of the slurry spill and is conducting an independent analysis, of which a report and an ensuing announcement would be forthcoming from the office of the Minister for Fisheries and Marine Resources or the NFA managing director’s office. Kasu says this will take place once the results of the independent analysis are received.
“Such statements are misleading and undermine the analysis the National Fisheries Authority is currently undertaking,” Kasu stated.
He said the analysis on the samples taken from the affected area is incomplete and therefore, it is premature to make any statement at this stage.
(The affected area near the Basamuk processing plant in Madang)