‘PNG will improve, but it will take time’

 THE processes involved to improve the country’s status with regards to it being tagged by European Union (EU) for illegal fishing might take some time, EU Ambassador to PNG Martin Dihm says. 

Dihm said PNG was not the first country to be issued the “yellow tag” (last July) for illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. 

He said regulations that the National Fisheries Authority (NFA) would come up with to improve on the status would have to be brought before the floor of parliament for approval.

Initially, the authority was initially given six months to work on that. 

“It’s a complex process … to draft the necessary legislations and then to national executive council – all of these take time,” he said.

Dihm said a meeting held between the NFA and EU officials last December resulted in a decision to further extend for another six months.  

“We (EU) enjoy a very good cooperation with the National Fisheries Authority,” he said.  

“We have started the process last year and have worked with the government and the National Fisheries Authority to strengthen the regulation and legislation so as to make sure that there is no IUU fishing taking place in PNG waters.

“We have had missions in the country who have looked through the legislations with the NFA and found all the points that needed strengthening in order to make sure that fish is not disappearing.”