NFA attends Commonwealth meet

THE National Fisheries Authority (NFA) contributed to the Blue Charter at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Kigali, Rwanda, managing director Justin Ilakini says.
The NFA was represented by Dr Jeff Kinch, the acting principal of the National Fisheries College, and Jerome Tioti, the acting manager International Fisheries Affairs.
The Blue Charter, endorsed at the 2018 CHOGM in London, is an agreement by the 54 Commonwealth countries to solve ocean-related problems and meet commitments for sustainable ocean development.
Ilakini said the Blue Charter recognised the importance and development of cultural values of coastal people.
It also acknowledges the significance of the Paris Agreement’s goal of keeping global average temperatures to well below 2 degrees Celsius above per-industrial levels.
The Commonwealth Secretariat advised in December 2020 that PNG should consider joining one of the 10 Action Groups.
PNG, therefore, joined the Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and the Sustainable Blue Economy.
It worked with the Commonwealth Secretariat to ensure its membership of the groups.
Other government agencies requested to be involved include the Conservation and Environment Protection Authority.