Minister: Fisheries plan almost complete

FISHERIES and Marine Resources Minister Dr Lino Tom says a 10-year strategic plan (2020-2030) for major changes in the fishing industry has been finalised.
“The plan aims to transform PNG from a coastal state to a fishing industry state,” Tom said in an interview on Thursday.
“Currently, the country is faced with issues like illegal fishing and with foreign-own fishing industries operating in the country.
“We have to do better.
“Most of the issues bogging down the industry are because cost of utilities involved in doing business.
“We are unable to compete in the international arena.
“To negotiate those issues, the ministry and the National Fisheries Authority (NFA) need to set up infrastructures like jetties, market facilities and others to support the industry at the provincial level.”
Tom said the NFA Act review was completed to go in-line with the plan and was ready to go before the Parliament for National Executive Council (NEC) approval.
“We want to revive the industry and make it workable for the country and make sure this industry brings in maximum benefits to the people,” he said.
Meanwhile, Tom announced that the NFA had signed a memorandum of understanding with six maritime provincial governments to set up frameworks for partnership in developing fishery facilities.
“The provinces had their own projects planned,” he said.
“The provincial fisheries office together with the administration are responsible for the type of projects that they want in their provinces.”
NFA and the ministry will assist to ensure those projects were implemented to support the fishing industry, giving fair chances for local fish farmers to be more involved in the industry.