National Fisheries Authority (NFA)

Community Councilor Ward 9 at Moukland, Dominic Chamilou thanked NFA and delegates for acknowledging the rural areas and the rate of poverty that has been in their society for years. With help from NFA’s and its partners, the peoples’ livelihood is sure to improve in the work surrounding cooperatives. 

The Holona Fishing Cooperative Society Ltd of Pak Island, Hahai Village Ward 2 in the Rapatona LLG of Lorengau, Manus Province has been facing issues with the Fisheries Aggregated Device (FAD) and their fisheries businesses.

The officials of NFA and invited delegates traveled rough seas to Pak Island shores to deliver a need that is hoped to impact the people for the better.

NFA Deputy Managing Director, Nowan Pakop led the Resource Team were received by ward council officials to observe the seaweed project that has been a success even though they had just started.

The Seaweed project is a community initiative with everyone engaged despite challenges faced, they remained positive to see the project grow.

Pomalieu Nangesan - Parliamentary Chairman to Natural Resource Center, said Manus has a vast sea landmass and with this development of coastal fisheries, the Manus people and provincial government appreciate and acknowledge the launching of this project and the support of the stakeholders. 
 
Ambassador of Japan to Papua New Guinea Nobuyuki Watanabe said Japan has a deep relationship with Manus especially in the agriculture field. 
 

He conveyed to the island residents of the development of ports in general, which cost about K34 or K35 million that was announced by the Government for Manus. Stating that some of these projects could support fisheries activities.

"According to officials from the ports authority, there's got to be containerized freezer capacity here. That's an area where it links fisheries activities. If we have operators who are willing to export out of Manus to other provinces, at least there is an avenue for selling frozen products to the containerized storage facility,” Mr Pakop.

They have been equipped with the knowledge and skills to provide enhanced extension services to fishers to support sustainable development of the fisheries value chain.  

The EU Funded UN Joint STREIT Programme in PNG supported the capacity development of 12 senior district fisheries officers on aquaculture and small fishing operations. The support is to further strengthen fisheries extension services at district level in the Greater Sepik Region.

The K105 million project was launched in Lae on Friday by Fisheries Minister, Dr Lino Tom, and Morobe Governor, Ginson Saonu.

The National Fisheries Authority (NFA) is planning to rehabilitate its Voco Point land holdings and properties to be a central point for fish landing, fish processing and distribution.  

During the launch, NFA managing director, John Kasu, said a facility will be established to enable large-scale fish distribution.

NFA Managing Director, John Kasu said the MoA signing by NFA and the Oro Provincial Government is of the same agreement that was signed in 2020, but could not be located.

Hence the need to re-sign the MoA, which is an important instrument governing the work of the parties in the fisheries sector development in the province.

He said with the signing of the agreement it would help channel all of its activities and programs to work together with the province in terms of management and fisheries development.

Managing Director of Maru Marines Limited, Meremi Maina is concerned that there has been illegal buying of live and gray fish tails and use of stung guns, which is damaging the corals.

He said that more than 100 fishermen in Western are using stun guns to kill turtles, dugongs, crayfish and fish. In the process, they are damaging the flora and fauna of the marine environment.

The land in Rabaul, East New Britain Province is secured for a fisheries hub where NFA in partnership with the East New Britain Provincial Association have started work on.

In terms of the project’s background, the land was sold to the highest bidder for K12 million and ENBPA paid K2 million of that amount, K5 million was from the Public Investment Program funded through Department of National Planning from a submission by NFA.