Fishing industry association gets certificate

The National Business

THE Papua New Guinea Fishing Industry Association’s (PNG FIA) purse seine skipjack and yellowfin tuna fishery has received a marine steward council (MSC) certification.
This was announced last Tuesday by the Marine Steward Council following its full assessment.
President and chairman Sylvester Pokajam said they were pleased with the announcement.
“The announcement on Feb 26 by the MSC is an important milestone for the PNG FIA and its members.
“We are elated and excited about this prospect and the positive impact it will have on development of our domestic tuna industry.
“The domestic tuna industry represents the onshore processing plants, supported by Papua New Guinea flagged vessels and locally-based foreign fishing vessels (LBVF),” Pokajam said.
The ultimate certification will enable PNG FIA members to manage and operate the domestic tuna industry under MSC standards, which are science-based with strong emphasis on eco-labeling and verifiable practices.
Attaining the PNG Fishing Industry Association’s MSC certification for the tuna fishery was the first step towards eventually pursuing MSC certification for other national fisheries such as the prawn fishery, crab fishery, lobster fishery, beche-de-mer and many others.
Fishing industry association’s now aims to set higher standards for Fishing industry’s in the region.
The immediate benefits to PNG include:

  • improving robustness of the PNG’s national governance framework;
  • opening new markets for PNG made products, which will result in expansion of the domestic tuna industry production base, thereby affecting increased employment and foreign exchange receipts; and
  • promoting a global image for PNG as ‘clean-green-sustainable’ while adding value to PNG as a country that promotes well-managed fishery resource.

There is interest from distant water fishing nations’ fleets expressing interest to immediately join the scheme.
“The collaboration and support between Papua New Guinea Fishing Industry Association’s and the National Fisheries Authority (NFA) has enabled us to proceed to this stage,” Pokajam said.
“I acknowledge the leadership of the Minister for Fisheries and Marine Resources Patrick Basa, the support from the managing-director and staff of NFA in the preparatory work through the submission of technical data and requested information, which have culminated in this announcement.
“We have now proceeded to the real challenge to verify and justify to the test of assessment against the MSC’s prescribed principles,” Pokajam said.