Ice-making facilities for coastal fishers

 THE National Fisheries Authority, with technical support and assistance from the Overseas Fishery Cooperation Foundation, has embarked on programmes which will among other things, supply and install ice-making machines.

Madang Governor John Gau recently opened the Madang ice-making facility which cost close to K1 million as a partnership between in  NFA and the OFCF. 

Under the 2009-10 project agreement, the project started in New Ireland, East New Britain, Madang and extends next year to Milne Bay and the rest of the maritime provinces. 

The project included the supply and installation of ice-making machines, building construction and renovation, procurement and supply of equipment including freezer car, pick-up car, two 23-foot dinghies, two 40hp Yamaha engines, chest freezers, cooler boxes, generators and office equipment 

The programme began after the renewal of the annual bilateral access agreement with Japan Far Seas Purse Seine Fishing Association and the PNG government through the NFA in 2006. 

This complements the efforts of the NFA to empower coastal fishermen and fish-farmers to venture into small-to-medium scale fisheries businesses through the co-operative business model. 

The fisheries co-operatives programme, and rehabilitation and restoration of fisheries facilities programme, are undertaken by the NFA to develop coastal fisheries in PNG with a specific focus on “wealth-creation, poverty-reduction and food security”.

The overall objective of the project is to contribute to sustainable coastal fisheries development and management in PNG. 

The NFA is now placing emphasis on supporting the provinces through the establishment of basic marketing infrastructures through the rehabilitation and restoration of fisheries facilities to provide readily available market access for local fishermen.