Mao Zeming

He made the call to Fisheries Minister, Mao Zeming, today in Parliament House following the seizing of illegal fishing vessels and the confiscation of a sizeable quantity of beche-de-mer.

Wesley said recent discoveries in the illegal collection of the bech-de-mer has raised suspicions of alleged collusion between an NFA officer (named) and operators of the illegal vessels.

He raised a number of factors, which he said raised suspicions and they include:

He said this during, Parliament session today, when calling for an investigation into alleged collusion between National Fisheries Authority officers and illegal fishing vessels in his province of Milne Bay.

Wesley said the moratorium was not working as many illegal fishing vessels accessed their sea to harvest beche-de-mer.

He said Samaria–Murua had the biggest maritime zone and was used by many locals for economic benefits before the moratorium seven years ago.

Around 18% of the world’s total tuna stock is found in PNG’s 2.5 million square kilometre Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

Annually, about three-quarters of a million tonnes of tuna are caught in PNG waters.

Much of the growth in the fisheries sector is taking place near Lae, where four new plants are planned for Malahang, with broad support from the provincial government and landowners.

Milne Bay Governor Titus Philemon in a Question without Notice to the Fisheries Minister Mao Zeming in this morning session of Parliament asked him if he was aware of illegal fishing in Milne Bay waters.

Philemon said there had been sighting of six illegal Asian fishing boats catching sea cucumbers in the past few weeks.  

There is currently a ban in place stopping the fishing of sea cucumbers in the country.

 “I am not aware of this illegal fishing activity,” Zeming said.

Zeming in a statement said the suggestion by the Deputy Opposition Leader of moving a vote of no confidence in the Prime Minister at this sitting of Parliament was simply a waste of valuable time.

“Every single time the Parliament sits, the Opposition say they will try a vote of no confidence, and every time they do this the Opposition are embarrassed,” Zeming said.

“This is a waste of time that could be used for the Parliament to discuss legislation that is needed for the nation.

“Our National Parliament is not a place for Sam Basil to play foolish games. 

Fisheries Minister Mao Zeming revealed this at the launching of the Pacific Marine Industrial Zone (PMIZ) today in Madang.

Once fully developed PMIZ will house 10 tuna processing plants.

 "There will be a new policy next year where all fish caught in PNG waters must be processed on shore," Zeming said.

He added that currently fish taken overseas for processing denied Papua New Guineans employment.

 Currently the country loses revenue for tuna caught in the exclusive economy zone valued in the billions.