Former Prime Minister and Member for Ialibu-Pangia, Peter O’Neill made this call after the prices of fuel rose in recent days. He said people in island communities rely on outboard motor fuel, Zoom, to travel further afield to fish to feed their families and earn a living.
On Karkar Island where fishing is the main source of protein, Zoom is now prohibitively expensive at over K6 per litre.
The high price means only fishing grounds close to shore are fished and the normal outer reef fishing has slowed significantly or stopped.
