National Fisheries Authority (NFA)

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.

In the lead up to this forum organized by INFOFISH and the National Fisheries Authority (NFA), a media workshop is currently being facilitated in Kokopo, East New Britain Province for media personnel who will be covering the forum in September.

The workshop is currently underway at the Kokopo Beach Bungalow.

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.

The cheque was presented to the Goroka Show Society by Jonathan Manieva, NFA Executive Manager of the Provincial Support and Industry Development Unit (PSID).

“It is important that our money reaches the community grassroot level. Through our Corporate Social Responsibility program. It remains a focus of us to maintain consistency in how we disperse support, and through supporting ground level events like this, we hope to maintain a strong link between our work in Port Moresby and positively impacting our people in the provinces,” said MR Manieva.  

The NFA aims to clarify the facts behind its position and the division of responsibilities between fishing vessel companies, processing companies, and government regulatory bodies.

This study is aimed at collecting valuable information on how tuna fishing and processing, ranging from small-scale informal activities to large corporations, contribute to various aspects of sustainable development in local communities.

As part of this effort, the survey is currently being conducted in Wewak, with data being collected from various sources within the community. 

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

Rabaul Harbour has become the busiest transshipment hub in the Pacific Region, making it crucial for the NFA to adopt the most advanced and robust surveillance tools to ensure the safety and continuity of fishing vessels using the port.