Confidence in fisheries

 INVESTMENT by private sector in the country’s fisheries reflects the confidence that investors have in PNG, National Fisheries Authority managing director John Kasu says.

He said two new project agreements would result in two new canneries by Dong Wong of Korea and Halisheng of China at Malahang in Lae soon.

Kasu was speaking during opening of an ice plant built and to be operated by Philippines company, General Santos (GS) Marine Ltd, at Voco Point in Lae, last Friday. 

The plant was established to serve demand for ice by local fishermen in the province who come into town to sell their catch. 

“The Government is committed to ensuring that the full potential of these fisheries investments is reached by initiating developments within Voco Point to become a hub for small to medium fisheries businesses and supporting Morobe provincial government with the Wagang Dedicated Fisheries Wharf. 

Better facilities for offloading of fish would have a direct impact on the volume of fish available for processing in Lae.

“The Government through NFA has invested vast amount of resources towards supporting sustainable coastal fisheries development in PNG,” he said.

Kasu said the success of these programmes were however limited to addressing food security issues. “We have not seen growth in the number of active fisheries corporative groups or small to medium fisheries businesses,” he said.  

“NFA is now working with partners to improve that.

“I am therefore, pleased to see this investment by the private sector and want to us working together to get some successful fishing corporatives or small to medium fisheries enterprise.”