We cannot afford not to listen

 PAPUA New Guinea’s fisheries sector has been riding a huge wave of success in the past two years.

Business has never been better with a boom of investment from international companies looking to process fish onshore.

The tuna industry is the fisheries golden egg.

Around 18% of the world’s total tuna stock is found in PNG’s 2.5 million square kilometre Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). 

The fisheries sector has grown from a dependency on access fees in the early 1980s to a more diversified sector, with significant downstream processing today.

Annually, about three-quarters of a million tonnes of tuna is caught in PNG waters. 

Most of these are landed in other countries for further processing.  

The Pacific Tuna Forum estimates the raw value of PNG’s annual catch at about US$1.5 billion per annum and says this figure could more than double if more value-added activities were implemented. 

Indeed, PNG has a long-term goal of processing in-country 100% of the tuna catch from within its EEZ.

The surge in investment has been motivated in part by the advantages of bringing the canning process closer to the Pacific’s fishing grounds.

The increased emphasis on the fisheries industry also reflects National Government priorities. 

The country’s Vision 2050 strategy makes frequent reference to the fisheries sector as an area of the economy requiring more development if PNG is to diversify beyond its oil and gas revenue base. 

The European Union, which is the main market for PNG’s tuna exports, estimates that by 2016 some 53,000 jobs will be created in the PNG tuna industry 

if planned projects go ahead.

However, there is a downside in the industry which has been of grave concern to the EU. 

Indeed, PNG faces losing its multi-million kina fish export to the EU if it fails to control illegal fishing in the next six months.

The country, which last year recorded K346.8 million fish export to Europe, is one of two nations given the “yellow card” by the EU. 

The other is the Philippines.

The EU has warned that it will impose a complete trade ban if PNG and the Philippines continued to ignore the warning to control illegal fishing. 

“The position will be reviewed in six months’ time to see if the two countries have made enough progress on action plans drawn up by the EU.”

Illegal fishing is estimated to account for 15% of the world catch annually, with the EU importing about 65% of its seafood.

Interestingly, the National Fisheries Authority had been aware of the EU’s concern on illegal fishing for the past four years but failed to take necessary corrective measures.

NFA managing director John Kasu told The National yesterday that the lack of resources was hampering their efforts to carry out patrols to prevent illegal fishing by foreign fishing vessels. 

“We have been lacking in carrying out patrols largely to do with logistics.” 

It seems the O’Neill Government and its Fisheries Minister Mao Zeming have been kept in the dark about the EU’s concern since taking office in 2012.

Kasu’s brief response to justify the NFA’s inaction in dealing with this pertinent issue raises questions about complacency and inefficiency that is the hallmark of state-owned entities and agencies. 

Despite a prior warning by former NFA managing director Sylvester Pokajam that the organisation must address the illegal fishing issue, little or nothing has been done since. 

Pokajam can be accused of passing the buck on an issue he was well aware of but ignored during his final years in office.

Nonetheless, Minister Zeming needs get on top of this issue and ensure that the NFA toes the EU line within the next six months.

The revenue earned by the fisheries sector is more than enough to enhance the NFA’s capabilities to stop illegal fishing.

Zeming should ensure the NFA is well-resourced and assisted by relevant government departments and agencies, such as PNG Customs Office, Defence Force and Police, to carry out its work.

Failure to adhere to the EU’s warning will be costly for the country.