Chairman wants Voco Point facilities reactivated

The National Business

Newly-elected chairman of Morobe Fishermen’s Cooperative Society (MFCS) Sasa Zibe is determined to reactivate fisheries facilities at Voco Point and Lae Main Market depots to meet increased demand in Lae.
The main market depot was
built by Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) in partnership with National Fisheries Authority (NFA) and Morobe Fisheries Management Authority (MFMA) recently remain inactive, likewise to Voco Point facilities over time
“Our (MFCS) job is to catch fish and supply these two facilities to serve increased consumer demand in Lae and elsewhere, including factories” Zibe said.
“In Morobe, we have ample marine resources with three fish canneries in Lae, and yet local fishermen are unable to sell their catch to the canners because we’re unable to manage ourselves.”
Zibe, chairman of Muwo Fishing Group in Bau village, Morobe Patrol Post, was elected on October 27 to replace outgoing chairman Paul Kegai.
Board members are Gainga Jonah (deputy), Moses Bere (treasurer) and Wape Mangom (secretary) and three other committee members.
The handover was held on Tuesday, with Kegai not present to present operational reports of past years.
Zibe noted no bank accounts, letter head and project reports presented to them.
MFMA programme manager John Joseph, Lae City Council commerce manager Jeffery Biayaha and Bob Thom, chief executive to provincial fisheries chairman Philemon Tomala, witnessed the occasion.
MFCS started with 18 local fishermen groups in Morobe, Salamaua, Labuta, Finschhafen, Sialum, Wasu and Siassi in 2010.
This has reduced to 12.
“The 12 groups proved all odds wrong with a local content tuna project with a loan of over K700,000, which was repaid in three years and brought in K2.3 million in revenue” Zibe said.
Joseph said the inception of MFCS was purposely to involve and deliver to doorsteps of rural coastal villages because MFMA’s extension work was not effective.
“Understanding principle obligations and management of cooperative groups is crucial,” he said.