Fisheries facility launched

 A K1.2 million post-harvest facility for the fisheries industry in Manus has been launched.

The facility was funded by the Overseas Fisheries Cooperation Foundation (OFCF) of Japan in partnership with National Fisheries Authority (NFA).

It consists of an ice-making machine, fish cold storage units and a power generator. 

NFA has also funded similar facilities under OFCF projects in other maritime provinces in Papua New Guinea since the signing of the bilateral agreement between governments of PNG and Japan in 2007.

NFA deputy managing director John Kasu handed over the keys of the facility to Manus Governor Charlie Benjamin during the opening ceremony recently.

“The occasion signifies the government’s commitment through the NFA towards the rehabilitation and restoration of coastal fisheries facilities that would assist small fishermen.”

Kasu has urged the fishermen to organise themselves into community-based cooperatives and participate in income-earning opportunities to benefit from the harvest and management of their coastal fisheries and other marine resources,” Kasu said.

Resident representative Katsuji Fukuda said OFCF had rehabilitated four ice-making facilities and set up other projects in various maritime provinces around the country.

He said this kind of assistance would enable the two countries to work together as development partners in contributing towards the development of the fisheries sector. 

NFA has set up similar projects in Madang, East Sepik, New Ireland, East New Britain.

West Sepik would be the next to benefit under similar arrangement. 

Benjamin thanked the NFA for setting up the impact project, saying that the people of Manus are thankful for NFA’s continuous support in the development of local fisheries.