NFA acts on warning

 By SHIRLEY MAULUDU

THE National Fisheries Authority has stepped up in its efforts to comply with the recent ‘yellow card’ issued by European Union to Papua New Guinea relating to illegal fishing in our waters.

Last Thursday, the authority launched its inshore patrol craft Gabut in Vanimo, West Sepik, to protect the country against illegal fishing. 

The boat would be jointly used by the NFA and Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF) to provide security. 

PNGDF national working agency committee working team representative major Peter Waiaki said: “With the limited resources that are available to us, we will ensure that our waters are protected so that only those that have license to fish can operate in our waters.”

NFA monitoring, control and surveillance acting executive manager Gisa Komangin said Papua New Guinea had to step up in its efforts to protect its marine resources.

“They (EU) tagged Papua New Guinea with yellow card. They said we are promoting illegal fishing,” Komangin said.

“Maybe we allow illegal fishing to happen in our water because we have not been managing our policies properly even though we have better management tools in place. 

“But EU said we have fallen short in terms of planning that’s why we were given yellow tag. 

“Yellow tag is a warning. But locally, what can you do to combat such issues in Papua New Guinea.

West Sepik acting governor Paul Negai said “We have a bigger market in Europe. 

“European Union has given us a warning that if we don’t combat illegal fishing in our country, Papua New Guinea will lose the tuna market.”