Illegal trading extends into Gulf

By CLIFFORD FAIPARIK
THE illegal trading and exploitation of marine resources between Papua New Guineans at the border and Indonesians have extended into Gulf from Western, South Fly police commander Supt Brian Kombe says.
“Indonesians have been doing this illegal trading in the Western province,” he claimed.
“But they have now gone into the Gulf province. That is the extension of the trading and harvesting of the most sought jewfish for its mau (bladder), barramundi for its air sac and stomach and shark fins,” he said.
“The parts of these fishes are a delicacy in Asian restaurants and can fetch up to US$400 per kg.”
Kombe spoke during the ground-breaking ceremony of a fish processing plant at Katawa village, Western.
The plant is owned by local company Fimirose Marine Resources.
“So I’m urging the people to stop selling their marine resources to the Indonesians because such activities are contributing to a foreign economy,” he said.
“The local people have to create business in order to manage their own resources.
“When we have more local businessmen, we will indirectly stop Indonesians from coming over here. I also appeal to community leaders to combat the illegal trading of these marine resources.”
Meanwhile, Kombe said they were still waiting for the Tureture village councillor to surrender after he led his villagers to fight police in October.
“Tureture villagers led by their councillor attacked five police officers and freed two Indonesians who were arrested for illegally entering PNG and illegally buying Jewfish mau.
“The police officers were in the village after receiving a tip-off about the Indonesian presence.”
Kombe said police were looking for the councillor who had fled to Merauke City in Papua Province of Indonesia.