Processing plans

 THE Government has recognised tuna as an asset for the country and aims to attain 100 per cent in the country for processing, a senior officer says.

National Planning Department’s first assistant secretary for macro planning Alfred Mokae said the fisheries sector had been a source of revenue through export of processed and unprocessed fish and other marine products, particularly tuna. 

“Tuna is a strategic asset and therefore government’s long term objective is to attain 100 per cent in country processing of the tuna catch from within its EEZ (exclusive economic zone),” Mokae said last 

Friday when acknowledging the sponsors of the 2015 Pacific Tuna Forum to be held in Fiji next month. It had been estimated that the country loses about K1.7 billion annually when tuna caught in Papua New Guinea waters was being sold and processed overseas.    

Mokae said under National Strategy for Responsible Sustainable Development (StaRS), the fisheries sector had been classified as a strategic asset and was expected to be one of the drivers of growth in the new economy going forward.

He said sustainable management of the sector was needed so there is regeneration capacity of the resources and its ongoing contribution to economic growth is maintained. 

“However, it would be thoughtless of me not to commend the National Fisheries Authority for adequately managing our marine and fisheries resources for the benefit of our country,” Mokae said.

He added that National Planning had given K40,000 towards hosting of the forum.

“I have confidence that the assistance provided by the Government agencies together with other industry players and private sectors in the form of sponsorship for the 2015 Pacific Tuna forum will go a long in integrating and promoting the principles of responsible sustainable development and ensure that we maximise 100 per cent of the value of our strategic tuna resources,” Mokae said.