NFA closes Western harvest

THE National Fisheries Authority (NFA) has declared an immediate closure for the beche-de-mer (BDM) fishery buying season in Western as it has reached the three-ton total allowable catch (TAC) for this year.
Acting managing director Noan Pakop said the closure was in accordance with requirement of the National Fisheries Beche-de-mer management plan 2018 to all fisheries, buyers and exporters, and the public engaged in bech-de-mer fishery in Western.
“Western is the first to have reached its TAC and NFA has now declared that the harvesting of sea cucumber in the province will cease immediately as of Sept 17,” he said.
“Fishermen who have in their possession of any dry BDM must sell their products to a licensed buyer by Sept 25.
“Any buyers and exporters buying after the official fishery closure date, which is Sept 25, will be deemed illegal and perpetrators will be prosecuted and may lose their licence,” Pakop said.
“All licensed buyers and exporters must declare their products by 5pm on Fri, Sept 25, using the export declaration form that has been supplied.”
The beche-de-mer (sea cucumber) season opened on Aug 17.
Meanwhile, according to the NFA website, growth in the beche-de-mer industry has gradually increased over the last few years.
There was also an increased number of participants, as well as the type of trade activities and multiple financing arrangements between locals and non-citizens.
The overall export has levelled off to more than 400,000kg (dried) annually, a result of the weaker kina against the US dollar, at about K21 million.
According to the BDM Exporters Association president Harry Landu, PNG’s main export market was China.
But Landu also said other markets were opening up in countries such as Australia and New Zealand.
He said the most expensive species was sand fish which would fetch up to US$400/kg (K1,373/kg) in the export market.
“Two species are being closely monitored for conservation purposes,” he said.
“These two are the white teat fish and black teat fish.
“Both of which these species are also highly demanded.
“White teat fish can sell as high as US$250/kg (K858.50/kg) and black teat can sell for nearly US$200/kg (K686.80/kg).”