Beche-de-mer buying season closed: NFA

NATIONAL Fisheries Authority head Justin Ilakini has clarified that the beche-de-mer-buying season remains closed.
He was with board members in Kimbe to look at ways to drive the non-tuna fishery sector.
“Trade and businesses have to be sustained and our people benefit from an industry or fishery that is managed sustainably,” he said.
“The decision on the buying season will depend on assessments. We are hoping to bring that assessment to the next board meeting.”
He said the board could look at that assessment in terms of the recovery of the fishery from the wild.
“If we open the fishery, the decision will be the right one,” he said.
“We don’t want to open the fishery and only to close it after six months, that would be an injustice to our people.”
Ilakini said NFA understood that people depended on fishery.
“We are doing our best to ensure that whatever decision made is in the best interest of our people.”