PNG action plan on illegal, unreported fishing activities ‘robust’

PAPUA New Guinea is one of the countries in the Pacific that has a robust national plan of action on illegal, unreported and under-reporting of fishing activities, says Minister for Fisheries and Marine Resources Patrick Basa in a statement.
Basa said the Government has made meaningful investments in fisheries management tools such as the fisheries information management system, vessel monitoring systems, observer programme, catch documentation scheme and audit and certification.
He said the integrated fishery information and management system is one of the most elaborate fishery-based data collection system which uses live web-based electronic gadgets to impute data from fishing vessels to the database in real time.
“These management tools are essential in supporting the management of tuna and other fisheries, and also in combatting illegal, unreported and under-reporting activities,” Basa said when delivering the keynote address at the world tuna trade conference in Bangkok, Thailand, last week. The conference, themed “Braving challenges: Towards a traceable and sustainable tuna industry”, was at the Shangri-La Hotel, and attended by more than 500 participants from around the world.
“The sound management of the tuna resources underpins PNG’s drive to promote investments in the tuna industry.
“We will continue to support the six tuna processors operating in PNG and welcome additional investors into the sector.”
“We are currently working towards the establishment of a major dedicated fisheries wharf as well as the development of a marine industrial zone,” he said.
“These investments will contribute to achieving economies of scale for PNG-based tuna processors.”
Basa said the Government is also working within the Parties to the Nauru Agreement to develop policies that encourage cross-border investments, labour mobility and build on its comparative advantage.
“It will, therefore, be appropriate to expect concurrent opportunities for increase cooperation among the tuna industry as well as the major markets to support the development of sustainable tuna industries within the coastal States,” Basa said.