Finschhafen fishing business thriving

LOCAL fish farmer in Finschhafen, Morobe, and Steve Fening is hoping to expand a small family business to create employment for youths.
Fening currently supplies fresh caught fish to supermarkets and restaurants in Lae such as Food Mart, Anderson’s Food Limited, and Freddy’s.
“I have started the project in 2023 with 56 fisherman from my village, all of them are youths, and with one 75 horsepower outboard motor,” he said.
“I normally pay for the fish from the local fishermen from Tami Island and Malasiga people using a scale. “After every catch is brought to the scale we grade them in the category of A, B and C. The fish in category are normally mackerel and reef fish like sniper, this fish category ranges from K5.50 to K6. Fish in category B are between K4.50 to K5, and C is between K3.50 to K4.
“I normally bring 700-kilogrammes to 800kg to Lae. Sometimes on low tide days I can bring in over 1,000 kg and make K10,000 on average every week of sale.
“At the end of the week of sale I usually pay the 56 fishermen K300 for labour depending on how well they can catch,” Fening said.
He added that this was one way he could contribute to making his community a better place, especially through empowering the youths.
“Comparing coastal villages to Highlands, coastal people are lucky because we have the open sea where we can just go in and catch fish for eating or sell for profit,” Fening said.
“I see a lot of young people in the community are doing nothing, and in the process of helping my peers, I started my business and I am hoping that Government can help me help more young people in my district and community.”