Fisheries team discusses resources in Manus

A NATIONAL Fisheries Authority (NFA) team has been to Manus to discuss how its fisheries resource can be used to drive economic growth.
Under direction from Fisheries and Marine Minister Dr Lino Tom, the team, led by NFA managing director John Kasu, recently met with the provincial fisheries authority and administration.
This was in response to Prime Minister James Marape’s priority of making Manus a special tax-free economic zone by assessing how the province could benefit from its marine resources.
Kasu said a major port infrastructure project was in line with the Government’s recent announcement for the province to be a tax haven.
The team also met with Manus Governor Charlie Benjamin for guidance and input on how NFA could capture the province’s development goals.
Kasu said NFA was considering a suit of development options including the potential of transshipment activities, fuel depot, support services, local purse seine operations, onshore processing, targeted training and capacity building, including coastal fisheries activities and small to medium enterprise opportunities where locals could participate in the fisheries value chain.
“Tuna ranching and other potential opportunities will be considered in conjunction with the fisheries port infrastructure project so as to further empower local participation, improve food security and improve the general livelihood of the people,” he said.
“These are considered to be fisheries contribution that can be secured towards this anticipated port economy that will be underpinned by this major infrastructure project.”