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Business |
Fisheries to boost growth
PAPUA New Guinea could expect its
marine resources taking the centre stage in future economic
development.
Eugene Pangilinan, spokesperson of the Partners in Nauru Agreement
and deputy director of the National Oceanic Resources Management
Authority (Norma), made this observation during a recent meeting
with fishery delegates from the Pacific region.
Mr Pangilinan described PNG as a leader in on-shore fish
processing which saw the recent opening of the Frabelle (PNG) Ltd
on-shore processing facility.
The International Food Corp, producer of “Besta “tinned fish, also
announced its plan to venture into full-time tuna processing
during the year.
RD Tuna Canners Ltd, which enjoys big markets in Europe and in the
US, has pioneered fish processing in the country through its
popular canned tuna products “Diana” and the later, “Dolly”.
Mr Pangilinan said he had visited many fishery facilities in
developed countries and noticed that PNG has not been left behind
in fishery development because it has come up with what he
described as the “perfect formula” for developing the industry in
the region.
He was referring to the current scheme under the fisheries credit
facility now being trialled in Morobe, in which local fishing
groups have ventured into the fishing business with help from the
Government and the private sector.
The PNG approach suits the needs of PNA-member countries which
have access to the world’s largest fishing zone, Mr Pangilinan
said.
He said smaller PNA member-countries like Palau, Tuvalu and Samoa
lacked land and financial capacity to venture into such
activities.
However, Mr Pangilinan said, these countries are following the
progress of the Frabelle’s on-shore facility scheme with interest.
He said partnerships among national and local governments, private
sectors and resource owners are vital in realising the full
potential of PNA’s vast tuna stocks.
“We are looking at PNG as to how we can be partners in developing
PNA fishing industries with more benefits remaining in the
region.”
PNA is composed of Palau, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Tuvalu,
Solomon Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Nauru and PNG.
 
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