Fisheries

The Managing Director for The National Fisheries Authority (NFA) managing director, Justin Ilakini says these meetings/dialogues have assisted countries in the region to come together and develop common positions and strategies to ensure the sustainable management of tuna in the region.

In hosting the 8th Pacific Tuna Forum (PTF) 2023, NFA has collaborated with INFOFISH, to bring together Pacific Island Leaders, including six fisheries ministers from Niue, Nauru, Fiji, Solomon Islands, Palau, and Kiribati.

The theme of the forum is, “Strengthening tuna sustainability and industry development in the Blue Pacific Continent through increased innovation, partnership, and participation”.

Present to launch the forum was Deputy Prime Minister (DPM), John Rosso.

Host province Governor, Michael Marum and provincial government officials welcomed the first group of leaders and delegates starting on Saturday evening. The rest of the meeting parties arrived Sunday morning in Kokopo.

Two meetings will take place in Kokopo: the Forum Fisheries Committee meeting to discuss the United States Treaty regarding funds distribution and the East New Britain (ENB) Initiative.

The delegation currently in East New Britain is headed by Henry Baraka - Director PMU, Office of the Deputy Chief Secretary Operations Department of President & Bougainville Executive Council (BEC) and Horta Boskey - Strategic & Liaison Officer to the Chief Secretary, Department of President and BEC.

Gulf Governor, Sir Chris Haiveta, led a delegation from the Gulf Provincial Administration to sign off the MOU with Minister for Fisheries and Marine Resources, Jelta Wong, witnessed by NFA Chairman Laurie Williams and Managing Director, Justin Ilakini.

Mr Ilakini said the MOU have proven to be the single most effective mechanism for service delivery in the provinces.

This was highlighted during a MoU signing for a Joint Venture Fishing Company to be established in Madang approximately four years from now.

The MoU signing took place between the state and the RD Corporation in Port Moresby on Friday 14^th July, 2023.

With plans currently underway for the establishment of the biggest fishing business that will create employment and ensure fish is process within the country, question is are we ready given the non-existence of the fishing domestication policy.

This follows the launching of the ENB Fisheries Micro Small Medium Enterprise support recently at the Provincial Fisheries Station in Rabaul town.

The support comprises of outboard motors, dinghies, deep freezers and eskies worth K250, 000 that will assist the local people in making fishing a viable small business venture.

ENB Provincial Fisheries Coordinator, Dickson Kondaul said this initiative by the provincial fisheries sector will be piloted in the province with counter-funding support from the National Fisheries Authority (NFA).

Prime Minister James Marape made the announcement on Thursday, May 25^th, when meeting with Lae’s private sector.

Marape thanked employers for remaining loyal to PNG for the past decades despite the deteriorating business environment.

“Those incentives will be announced very soon, in fact, within the six months going forward before the 2024 budget is brought in,” he stated. “We will announce certain incentives that we will be giving to the manufacturing sector and more so, agriculture, forestry and fisheries based here in our country.”

To date, the Fisheries Sector through the regulatory arm, the National Fisheries Authority (NFA) has made many notable achievements to date that includes;

Yet in decision-making processes, their needs often come second to large corporate interests, and they are generally excluded from policy decisions that disproportionately affect their lives and livelihoods.

Without solid action now, the Lisbon conference threatens to further undermine community interests.