Bougainville fisheries authority put at top of list

The National Business

THE establishment of a Bougainvillean fisheries authority will be a priority among several projects undertaken by the Department of Primary Industries and Marine Resources in the next three years.
This will set in place the Bougainville Fisheries Marine Authority (BFMA) to oversee the implementation of memorandum of understanding between the National Fisheries Authority and the Autonomous Bougainville Government.
Department secretary Thomas Betitis says the establishment of the BFMA is critical to ensure that fisheries powers and functions are drawn down from the national Government to the ABG.
“Under the MoU, there are projects that must be implemented and the Bougainville Marine Fisheries Authority is the most important one,” Betitis said.
“The BFMA will be the authorised body that will enable the ABG
to exercise its full responsibilities over fisheries matters in Bougainville.
“This includes the responsibility to negotiate with the national Government on the formula for revenue generation from the tuna catch within three nautical miles in Bougainville waters.”
Other projects that the department will be implementing over the next three years include:

  • Capacity and infrastructure for the fisheries sector;
  • Buka jetty and shore base facilities;
  • Sea boundary delimitation survey;
  • Tuna cannery feasibility studies;
  • Completion of the Kieta cool room;
  • Sea cucumber facilities;
  • Seaweed shed;
  • Coastal and fisheries development support;
  • AROB breeding and supply centre;
  • Duncan Hatchery-agriculture and livestock; and
  • Forestry native species nursery.

Betitis has called on the people of Bougainville to be patient and to allow the ABG through the department to carry out its work.
“I ask the people of Bougainville to understand that these projects will be implemented through the processes stipulated in the MoU,” he said.