Market set up for fish in Madang

 By STEPHANIE ELIZAH

FISHERMEN in Madang will no longer have to travel to the nearest fish market to sell their produce, thanks to the recent establishment of a market entity, the Madang Fishing Co-orperative Society (MFCS).

MFCS with its aim of supplying fish from rural resource owners to established markets within the country has the capabilities to store and transport fish in large quantities from the province’s six districts after the society was presented with K934,000 worth of equipment last week.

The equipment included an ice making plant, a pick-up freezer truck and a Utility vehicle, two banana boats and engines, chest freezers, coolers and generators.

The gifts marked the successful completion of a joint partnership project between the Japanese aid agency, Overseas Fishery Cooperation Foundation (OFCF), Madang provincial government and National Fisheries Authority (NFA) in establishing the MFCS which is expected to be a role model for fisheries co-orperative societies.

NFA chairman Tau Vali said the occasion indicated the government’s commitment in assisting small fishermen in maritime provinces to organise them into fishing co-orperative. 

“The government believes that this is the vehicle for industry and business development in our communities. NFA has embarked on this project with support of the department of commerce and industry and seek to implement this project this year,” Vali said.

He added that a total capital outlay of K1.9 million had been budgeted to fund the establishment of fisheries co-orperative societies.

Vali challenged the executives of MFCS to organise the operations of the society so that there was maximum benefit for the members of the society.

Madang Governor James Gau in thanking NFA and OFCF said it was a challenge and commitment for the provincial government through the fisheries branch and MFCS to ensure the facilities and equipment were managed properly to service the rural fishing communities.