Millions lost to illegal fishing

 PAPUA New Guinea loses approximately K65 million annually due to illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing in our waters, the European Union says.

EU Ambassador Martin Dihm (pictured) stressed that the economical aspect of the fisheries industry was one thing.

But, he added that preservation of fish stocks for the future was another important aspect of the industry.

Responding to questions posed by the paper on yellow card, head of corporation Elisabeth Gotschi said: “The ‘yellow card’ is in the context of problem caused from illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and that’s important because in Papua New Guinea you have very rich and significant fish stocks, particularly tuna. 

“Many rural coastal communities in Papua New Guinea depend on subsistence fisheries. 

“At the national level you (PNG) have laws that nobody comes and steals all the fish, profit without your communities and government benefiting at all.” 

Dihm said: “We (EU) have strict regulations in Europe that any fish that’s imported into our union is traceable … that we know that it has been fished under sustainable circumstances.

“Here in Papua New Guinea, we see that it’s a natural richness in your country – tuna. You have one of the largest tuna stocks in the world. 

“It is something that needs to be preserved and should be valued for future generations.”