Focus on other products: Officer

OTHER fisheries markets are falling behind because of the over regulation of the tuna market, the National Fisheries Authority (NFA) says.
NFA legal officer Nancy Taka made reference to coastal fisheries, which she said was a market for Papua New Guineans but was lacking efficient management plans.
“Coastal fisheries, which we set aside for Papua New Guineans, is the area we need to enforce and set better management plans, for the conservation of our resources as well as ensuring that our people gain the maximum benefit,” she said.
“Fisheries regulations constantly change if the market for a particular type of fish is good, especially in the international arena.
“Due to market requirements that need to be met, PNG through NFA, regularly reviews their legislations.
“Which is why a mechanism is put in place, where new measures are gazetted as and when they come out,” Taka said.
“One of the main reasons the Fisheries Management Act was amended in 2015, was to adhere to the market requirements of the EU (European Union) in order to continue trading.
“Ninety-five per cent of fisheries products, specifically canned tuna, are exported to the European Union.
“If we want our fish products to continue to be exported to EU countries, then we must have comparable measures.
“As such, the NFA continually strives to ensure that they implement measures passed at the EU level within PNG, through the Fisheries Management Act.
“We also have the state agreements signed by NFA on behalf of the government and the tuna positing facilities based in Lae, Madang and Wewak.”
In response to a question regarding participation of Papua New Guineans in the canned tuna business, Taka said “canned tuna is produced and exported by RD Tuna, owned and managed by Philippine nationals.”
Taka said the majority of Papua New Guinean business owners involved in the fisheries industry, deal with crab, lobster and fin fish, exporting mainly to countries in Asia.
“The European market is currently only for tuna, the reason being that under the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), only tuna currently qualifies for duty free tariffs.
Taka said working with legislation was a challenging job.