Downstream processing update

By DALE LUMA
THE Government is on track to increase the downstream processing of fisheries products to 50 per cent by 2025, according to the National Fisheries Authority.
Authority managing director John Kasu told The National that Papua New Guinea had already achieved about 23 per cent of the target.
“There are a number of (government) objectives such as downstream processing which we have to increase by 2025 – a 50 per cent production,” he said.
“We are faring very well to meet the targets and, this year, we have already achieved about 23 per cent.
“The objective is to grow the sector and invest in infrastructure, bring the cost of doing business in Papua New Guinea down so that we get a lot of business happening.”
Kasu said tuna fisheries would be the main driver and revenue gained would be used to develop other fisheries such as coastal and inland.
“That’s basically the drive for the next 10 years,” he said.
“On tuna, 70 per cent is being exported.
“The aim is to reduce that number and (have) internal processing plants.
“Rather than exporting, we can put it through the factories here.”
The PNG fisheries zone of 2.4 million square kilometres is the largest in the South Pacific.
It includes an extended reef system, numerous islands and an extensive coastline.
It poses an enormous challenge for monitoring and control.
The total market value of the PNG catch is estimated at between K350mil to K400mil on average.