Fish market provides avenue for fishermen to sell

By EREBIRI ZURENUOC
Coastal and inland fishing cooperatives in Morobe can now supply their produce to Lae Fish Market.
The market, which has been in operation for a month now, has been selling fish supplied by fishermen and inland fish farmers, thanks to Morobe Fisheries Management Authority (MFMA).
Team leader Ralph Ryan said MFMA gave start-up capital to some fishermen in Bao and Maiama in Huon Gulf, Malasiga and Kasanga in Finschhafen and an inland fish farmer from Bulolo.
“Most of the fish brought in are mackerel, red emperor and snappers mostly from the Huon Gulf area, reef fish from Finschhafen area, and tilapia only from inland fish farmers,” he said.
“All the fish has been a sellout.
“We have retail shops dropping by to purchase more than K1000 worth of fish.
“The first bulk of fish in January was sold to buyers from Chimbu.
“Shops in Mt Hagen have also shown interest.
“Some inland farmers from Wantoat in the Markham have also shown interest in supplying tilapia.”
Ryan said transport and funding were some of the setbacks the fish market was facing, “but that should not be the reasons for us not making use of the facility, which was donated by Overseas Fisheries Cooperation Foundation (OFCF) of Japan”.
Acting provincial programme adviser for MFMA John Joseph said funding had been an issue and the market would slowly involve fishing cooperatives from both coastal and inland.
“As the fish market continues its operation during the year, and the demand increases, we will involve more fishing cooperatives and more inland fish farmers,” he said.
Ryan said the operations of the market started with a funding of K1000 from MFMA.
He said all fishing groups which had been supplying would be paid once profits were made or further funds were available.