Project partnership to improve marine habitats

 A PROJECT between the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the National Fishery Authority will improve the condition of fisheries and their habitats in the Arafura-Timor seas region.

The project aimed to have an economically and ecologically sustainable marine fishery in the Arafura-Timor seas for the benefit of communities through conservation and the sustainable management of marine-coastal ecosystems.

The region has some of the most biologically-diverse marine ecosystems. 

But it has been increasingly under threat due to unsustainable fisheries activities, pollution and oil spills.

The project is expected to help recover and sustain fisheries, restore degraded habitats for sustainable provision of ecosystem services, reduce land-based and marine sources of pollution, protect key marine species and adaptation to the impacts of climate change.

That would help preserve some of the diverse marine ecosystem which were under threat due to increase human activities.

United Nations resident coordinator and UNDP resident representative Roy Trivedy said:  “As part of our work to assist in implementing the sustainable development goals, UNDP is delighted to support the sustainable management of coastal and marine resources in Papua New Guinea in partnership with the National Fisheries Authority.

“This work will contribute to improving the quality of lives of the people living in coastal regions and helping to protect and preserve the country’s marine and natural resources.

“This is an important project that will also help to address climate change and to protect marine species.” 

The project is a regional collaboration between Australian, Indonesia, Timor Leste and Papua New Guinea, the countries which share the boundaries over Arafura and Timor Seas. It will greatly benefit these countries.