National Fisheries Authority

The Executive Manager for Aquaculture, Jacob Wani, led the team of officials. The trip was to understand what challenges and needs the farmers face daily to becoming able to farm fish.

NFA Managing Director Noan Pakop was with the team of officials for the visit. He said it was better for the management to be there in person in the rural areas to talk to the small fish farm operators and see whether their policies are making changes in their day-to-day living.

In November 2018, the NFA renewed its support to technical and vocational institutions conducting fisheries courses around the country through the signing of a second Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Education Department.

Today marked that occasion once more as NFA extends that support in formalising training courses in fisheries via a third MoU signing.

The signing between the department and NFA will strengthen the pathway to educate young Papua New Guineans, grooming them to be part of the fisheries sector.

The Minister said this during the opening of the Alotau Town Market and Fisheries & Jetty Facility on August 21st 2020.

He said the coastal fisheries sector provides to the daily needs of over 2.5 million people of the coastal and island communities in terms of food, income, and culture and ecological uses.

Minister Tom said historically, the focus of the government has been on commercial fisheries, in particular, tuna.

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.

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.

This is consistent with the recently concluded Joint Supervisory Body Meeting as per the peace agreement.

A total of K15 million will be handed over to the ABG tomorrow during a very important public ceremony at the Bel Isi Park.

This is also part of the draw down of powers between the National Government and ABG.

This makes fisheries the fourth sector to be drawn down after public service, education and mining.

There are over 20 powers in the Bougainville Peace Agreement.

This follows issues encountered during this year’s open season. 

Following the uplifting of the moratorium on beche-de-mer by Government, the National Fisheries Authority opened the harvesting season this April.

Coastal provinces grabbed the opportunity and raced out to fish for sea cucumbers, as they generate good money.

However, because of sustainability, NFA as the regulating body put in place Total Allowable Catch or TACs for each province.

According to the NFA managing director, John Kasu, all provinces have already reached their TACs.

This is to enable SMEs involved in the fishing industry, to prepare, process and export their products to the market.

The announcement was made yesterday by the Minister for Fisheries, Patrick Basa, when officiating at the Pacific Seafood and Technology Exposition 2017.

He said this will be captured in NFA’s program and budget for the next 3 years, commencing in 2018.

Basa noted the struggle of local seafood companies in developing and bringing products to their markets to meet the demand, or consistency, in their supply.

After years of participating in international expositions, a more reasonable step has been taken to bring international visitors into the pacific.

This has resulted in the first ever Pacific Seafood and Technology Exposition 2017, currently underway in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.

The event has brought together local, regional and international companies involved in the fish business.

The National Fisheries Authority is a self-financing government authority that generates its funding through statutory and access fees from the fishing industry and like all other State owned entities, the NFA is required to pay dividend to the government.

Since 2001, the National Fisheries Authority has paid a total of K396.25 million to the national government.

From 2008 to 2011, NFA ceased paying dividends as per the National Government directions for the surplus funds to be invested in impact fisheries project.