Change to fisheries law lauded

THE amendments to the national fisheries laws introduced in parliament last Friday has been welcomed by the governors and MPs from the coastal provinces.
Governor for Milne Bay John Luke, Manus MP Job Pomat and Western Governor Dr Bob Danaya applauded the government’s effort to have the provinces control fisheries powers.
Luke, who raised a point of order to allow parliament to debate the amendment before it was passed, said the National Fisheries Authority in Port Moresby was run by crooks and the amendment was good news for the fishermen and the coastal provinces.
Danaya said the amendment might be too late as fish and other marine products had been depleted by overfishing. He said there were many flaws at the NFA because the managing director was in charge of everything and was the most powerful man.
The Bill when passed in the February session should put a stop to the corruption taking place at the NFA.
And it was important that the fisheries law be controlled by the provinces so that all revenues collected would assist the provincial governments.
Pomat said Manus people had suffered under the current laws and the transfer of power was a big relief so that the people could manage their marine resources which had been abused over the years.