Lack of support for fisheries devt

By PETER KORUGL
ALTHOUGH the fisheries sector brings in K300 million in export earnings each year, still majority of the country’s provinces don’t get involved much with the sector for lack of support from the provincial governments, a fisheries conference was told yesterday.
The National Fisheries Authority (NFA) said provinces were usually bogged down with shortage of funds, qualified staff and the facilities to effectively develop the fisheries industry.
John Kasu, the executive manager for corporate services with the NFA, told the national fisheries in Lae that less attention had been given to the sector in the provinces during the past several years.
Mr Kasu, who spoke on behalf of the managing director Sylvester Pokajam, said NFA, however, recognised the importance of this sector.
He pointed out that to succeed any fishery development efforts required an integrated approach involving the NFA, provincial governments and relevant stakeholders.
“It is widely recognised that some of the provincial governments lacked the experience and capacity to effectively fulfill the functions of fisheries extension, business development, management and conservation, surveillance and monitoring, certification and audit and project implementation,” Mr Kesu said.
His observation was confirmed later by Western province acting deputy provincial administrator Markavai Ovasuru.
Mr Ovasuru said Western is one province where fisheries development is not a priority as far as the provincial government was concerned.
However, the provincial fisheries office continued to carry out awareness.