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New projects to up
fishery income
By BAEAU TAI
PAPUA New Guinea’s fisheries sector has the potential to earn K1 billion
annually from its marine exports if the National Fisheries Authority’s (NFA)
eight priority economic impact projects get off the ground between now
and 2010.
Minister for Fisheries Ben Semri made these comments at the signing of a
memorandum of agreement for a fisheries credit facility with the Rural
Development Bank and a K10 million dividend payment from NFA to the
State at Airways Hotel last Friday.
The projects are:
*Construction of Wewak fish market and jetty
at the cost of US$8 million (K25 million) with funding from the Japanese
government;
*Establishment of Nago Island research centre
in Kavieng with US$10 million (K31.35 million, with possible funding
support from a donor agency;
*Development of Vidar marine industrial park
in Madang with US$15 million (K47 million), with initial funding from
both the government and industry stakeholders;
*Strengthening of Lombrum as a fishing
operations service centre with US$10 million investment from Fair Well
Fishery Company in Taiwan,
*Construction of offshore master tuna
processing facility in Wewak with US$20 million (K62.70 million)
investment from offshore masters of Thailand,
*Construction of slipway facilities with US$12
million (K37.62 million) investment in Wewak by Frabelle Fishing Corp of
the Philippines,
*Rehabilitation of provincial fisheries
facilities in Kupiano, Kokopo and Madang with US$2 million (K6.3 million
by Overseas Fisheries Corp Foundation (OFCF) of Japan; and
*Expansion of cannery from 150Mt/day to
200MT/day plus the establishment of another 200Mt/day tuna loin plant
with US$30 million investment from RD Tuna Fishing and Processing of
Philippines.
Between 2000 and 2005, a total of 279,864mt of fish and fishery products
were exported valued at US$420 million (K1.4 billion).
NFA makes over 90% of its revenue from charging access fees to foreign
fishing purse seine vessels that fish for tuna in PNG waters.
Mr Semri said continued sustainable fisheries management and full
operation of additional onshore processing facilities should increase
export levels, both in terms of volume and value in the next five years.
“Instead of earning through exports of K1.0 billion over a period of
five years, PNG can earn more than K1 billion within one year,” he said.
NFA has identified the eight economic projects as main contributor to
economic development in the fisheries sector.
These projects are to be funded through grants totalling U$20 million
(K62.5 million), foreign direct investment U$72 million (K225 million)
and soft loans U$8.0 million (K25 million).
Mr Semri said PNG is a leader in tuna fishery management which can be
seen in the ongoing arrangement between NFA and the PNG Defence Force,
where K1 million is spent for 10 surveillance trips per year. Since
2002, 35 patrol rounds have been made.
“The success of the programme in apprehending illegal fishing vessels is
evident and can be seen in NFA generating K5.6 million from prosecution
of illegal vessels,” said Mr Semri.
For 2007, NFA has budgeted K1 million to implement fisheries management
and support programmes with provincial fisheries divisions.
 
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