Plan for beche-de-mer to be submitted for approval

By GYNNIE KERO
National Fisheries Authority says it has a revised beche-de-mer management plan which will be submitted to its board for approval.
Managing director John Kasu was responding to concerns raised by the Beche-de-mer Exporters’ Association on the delay by the NFA to review the plan.
“This (review) was scheduled for Feb 5 and Feb 6 but it was postponed indefinitely,” said association interim president Harry Landu said:
Landu said the reason for the delay was that there was no draft of the revised beche-de-mer management plan in place.
Kasu said: “The National Fisheries Authority has a revised draft beche-de-mer management plan which will be reviewed by the stakeholders, especially companies dealing with beche-de-mer.
“Once the draft beche-de-mer management plan is finalised, the revised beche-de-mer plan will be submitted to the board for approval.
“Once the revised beche-de-mer plan is endorsed by the board, NFA will expedite its board decision.
“All these will be addressed in a consultative process, together with NFA and stakeholders so that all issues relating to the beche-de-mer operations are addressed amicably.”
Landu said the review was critical to setting in place stricter conditions for this year’s beche-de-mer season and beyond.
The beche-de-mer industry, worth about K300 million, is the lifeline for more than 500,000 people on the coasts and in the islands.
“There are many sensitive and critical issues due for review such as the number of exporter’s licences, which was too many to manage,” Landu said.
“Even more important are awareness on production of quality beche-de-mer products, sustainable harvesting practices and issues affecting the viability of the industry.
“As interim president of the beche-de-mer exporters’ association, I am concerned that the NFA must address these issues prior to the opening of the 2019 season.
“2018 was very chaotic due to the mismanagement of the fishery and the non-implementation of the management plan. Provisions of the plan, like the restriction to citizens only, was not enforced at all. Further, there is an emerging issue of funds remittance.
“There is widespread transfer pricing with almost every company undervaluing their export invoices.
“This means we are not reporting the true value of our exports and the value of the fishery.
“This will obviously affect our foreign exchange earnings, has tax implications and etc.”