Authority announces open season for beche-de-mer harvest
THE beche-de-mer (BDM) buying season for 2020 has commenced following the issuance of licences to buyers this week.
According to the National Fisheries Authority (NFA), the 2020 open season would be based on total allowable catch (TAC) for each coastal province but not specific to time period as in the past.
Acting managing director Johnson Dotson in a statement said licence validity would be from Aug 31 to end of December this year.
“This year’s season may not be long because due to TAC caused by heavy fishing pressure from the previous years,” he said.
“Once a province reaches its TAC, fishing in that province will cease and all the products in storage must be declared so reprocessing and curing can occur to meet export quality.
“But all products kept in storage must be exported before or by Dec 31.
“There will be no more harvesting, selling or buying of BDM once TAC is reached.
“NFA will advise all the licensed operators and general public through a notice in the daily papers once a province reaches its TAC for fishing, buying, selling to cease immediately.”
Dotson said BDM fishery contributed significantly in terms of export revenue for the country and income generation for more than half a million Papua New Guineans.
“The fishery is the second biggest fisheries export earner for PNG after tuna and contributes US$50 million (K171.64mil) of export revenue and about US$27 million (K92.68mil) goes directly to coastal and island communities annually,” he said.
“In fact, BDM is the biggest revenue earner in coastal fisheries for fishermen in PNG.
“PNG exports an average 630 tonnes of BDM annually to markets in Hong Kong, China, Singapore, Vietnam and Malaysia.
“Of those BDM products exported to other markets other than China, over 60 per cent are re-exported to mainland China.”
He said before the opening season, NFA, through a Government directive, managed to complete most of the surveys in the maritime provinces to establish the current revised TAC based on the standing stock biomass that was presented during the issuance of licences.
“The NFA has taken a new approach in the issuance of licences to successful BDM licensed applicants compared to business as usual in the past, where officers carry licences and issue them to the companies in the provinces,” he said.
“This new approach provides an opportunity to raise awareness on the conditions of licences, management plan, TAC calculations, audit and certification process and requirements and compliance issues to the licensed operators.
“It is also an opportunity for the NFA and licensed operators to network and collaborate in disseminating correct information to the fishermen and the general public on the management of this important fishery.”
3 comments
Is night harvesting for fisderma allowedby NFA and appropriate authorities. If no then who is to see that this regulation is being observed
Chris, fyi.Under the 2016 BDM management plan; (e)Prohibitions (ii) The use of under water lights or surface lights for the fishing of sea cucumbers at night is prohibited.
Unfortunately the authority has not policed this area well enough.On the other hand it’s the fisherman to play the game by tbe rules set out in the plan.Howrver, we all know very well that the the colour of money is brighter than this rule. One would have thought common sense should prevail if the NFA include the LLG in the planning and implementation inorder to protect this industry.
This is one industry that directly benefits the coastal and island communities. However, NFA is lacking to fully implement its compliance monitor and surveillance .Money laundering is alive and well in this industry Tbe so called reserved business for PNGeans is only a lip service by the authorities. Matter of fact is that our nationals apply for license and are financed by their asian partners.Many of these partners retain the export earnings abroad and only remit what is due to the partner IRC only applies its tax against what is remitted or earned on record.What about monies left abroad by this foreign partners.We are been denied maximum benefit of this industry.IPA and IIRC should be a pre requisite for companies applying for license.Planti paper companies are playing the game and not complying in fulfilling their annual tax return obligations .The responsible agencies fail to protect the interest of the people and the State. One of the reason for the lack of foreign currency is poor monitoring and policing of such industry. Not to mention corruption that goes with it.
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