Fisheries ministry backs people

THE Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources will back the people of Morobe on their stance not to have deep-sea tailings placement (DSTP) in the province.
Fisheries Minister Dr Lino Tom said this in Lae last week regarding the Wafi-Golpu mining project’s option for DSTP into the Huon Sea.
The Morobe government also reiterated its position for the authorities responsible to consider alternative approaches to dumping tailings.
Tom said his ministry would push the agenda of deep sea tailings once the miner submitted its papers to the National Executive Council (NEC).
He said all stakeholders needed to appreciate the realities of the
industry, but protecting the environment and people was paramount.
Tom added that the reason Papua New Guinea was able to sell fish to international markets was because of its environmental policies and it intended to keep it that way.
“We subscribe to international conventions. If we don’t subscribe to that carefully, our market will be closed off,” he said.