Fisheries ties continue

THE Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) aims to renew the fisheries bilateral relationship and discuss future developments with Papua New Guinea, according to the National Fisheries Authority (NFA).
NFA said in a statement that this was demonstrated by a meeting between chief representative of Jica Masato Koinuma with NFA acting managing director Justin Ilakini yesterday.
PNG through NFA and Japanese government through Jica and Overseas Fishery Cooperation Foundation of Japan had established a strong fisheries diplomacy since 2006 after the resigning of the fishing access agreements between NFA and the Japanese Far Seas Purse Seiners Association (Kaimaki).
After the resigning of the Fishing Access Agreement in 2006, it paved way for the Japanese purse seine fishing fleet to again access the PNG exclusive economic zone (EEZ) to fish.
In being granted access to PNG waters, Japan agreed to implement numerous programmes and projects in the country through Jica and the Overseas Fishery Cooperation Foundation (OFCF).
Prior to that, the National Fisheries College (NFC) was the first recipient of the Overseas Development Assistance from Japan in 1974 to setup the college that would be training students specifically for the pole and line fishery that was, at that time operating out of New Ireland. Both parties renewed and affirmed their commitments to each other in the fisheries sector on the bilateral fishing access, fisheries infrastructure development, community-based projects, fisheries institutional capacity building and training and future prospects of cooperation in the sector.
“The NFA and Jica have co-funded major town markets such Wewak, Madang and Alotau in the country under the flagship of rehabilitation of town markets and fisheries facilities programme.
“The parties intend to continue this programme to other provinces to create a conduit to promote food security, wealth creation, poverty alleviation and employment.
“A new prospect of future development was discussed with the concept of a coastal fisheries hub development.
“Manus has been identified as one of the most suitable province to host the concept.
“NFA will commence planning and conceptualising the coastal fisheries hub after the development of the NFC waterfront redevelopment.
“The concept of coastal fisheries is hugely supported by Jica.”