Minister for Fisheries and Marine Resources Mao Zeming stated in Parliament today that laws under the National Fisheries Authority (NFA) must be reviewed to cater for the increasing market.
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.
Under its Economic Partnership Agreement with the EU, ratified in 2011, PNG cannot only enter the European market duty-free but it has also been permitted to export processed fish to the EU from any vessel fishing outside its territorial waters, provided the fish is processed in PNG.
Zeming said NFA has made some changes to cater for the big market in the EU.
“This market has forced us to look carefully into our fisheries laws which need to be reviewed.
“It is important that we look at reforming all this laws.
“I assure that we will make sure that we review the fisheries laws before the next elections,” said Zeming.
Zeming thanked the government for approving some amendments made to the laws previously to cater for the increasing market in the EU.