The National Fisheries Authority will host this year’s 36th INFOFISH Governing Council Meeting.
The meeting, which will take place from December 13–16, was officially opened by Minister for Fisheries and Marine Resources, Jelta Wong.
INFOFISH started as an FAO regional project in 1981, and has since made a lasting impact on the fishery industries of the region.
Minister Wong was happy to mention that as an independent Intergovernmental Organization, FAO’s range of services has widened over the years to include important areas such as aquaculture, fishing, marketing and trade, processing and quality control, including the dissemination of information through numerous publications, workshops, seminars and conferences.
“This resonates with the areas which Papua New Guinea is moving towards to, reflected in the Papua New Guinea’s recently launched Fisheries Strategic Plan 2021 to 2030.
The review of the current policies and structural requirements outlined through the Strategic Plan will see the implementation of major reforms within the PNG fisheries sector, starting with the institutional reform to better position the Government to deliver its Fisheries Strategic Plan,” said Mr Wong.
He said that NFA is pleased to have had the opportunity to lead a delegation at the recently concluded 17th INFOFISH World Tuna Trade Conference and Exhibition, held in Bangkok in October.
At the special address during the opening of TUNA 2022, a call was made for governments and the industry to work together in tackling global agenda such as the UN Sustainable development Goal 14 – life below water, blue economic development aspirations in addition to global issues on illegal unreported and unregulated fishing practices worldwide.
Shirlene Maria Anthonysamy – Director, INFOFISH said having coming out from the pandemic with borders being opened, they hope to have more activities, training programs for PNG, particularly in developing domestic markets, adding more value to the products that PNG already has in-country.
They will also look at how to assist in aquaculture development in PNG. This meeting is held regularly every year to discuss the progress of INFOFISH activities for the member countries; and usually plan what is going to be done for the member countries in the coming year.
NFA Managing Director, Justin Ilakini said this meeting is brings all 12 member countries together to discuss budget and priorities of the different member countries, and to formulate a work plan for 2023.
“As an outcome of this meeting, the work priorities of member countries will be identified and be confirmed including the kind of budget and assistance that will be provided to the member countries over the course of the next twelve months.
INFOFISH has been around for 40 years and in that time there has been significant development that have been supporting all of the member countries.
It is hoped to be around for the next 40 years with new directions and challenges.