Madang In PNG Plans To Become World’s Tuna Capital ff
22 January 2008
Papua New Guinea The Fisheries Ministry is focused on making Papua New Guinea the world’s tuna capital. And the establishment of the Madang marine industrial park will enhance this objective.
The marine park will augment fisheries benefits to local fishermen, fishing groups and be a big boost to the national coffers.
Currently, PNG gets less than 40% of expected export revenue in the sector because of the lack of on-shore processing facilities.
The department wants to increase this to between 80% and 100%, thus creating more employment for locals and boosting economic growth.
Fisheries Minister Ben Semri made this remarks during a visit to Lae last week, officiating at the opening of PNG’s very own first ever fish processing and cold storage facility.
“The fishing industry is a billion kina gold mine … but we are not benefiting fully because of lack of on-shore facilities,†Mr. Semri said.
Most of our fish and fisheries products find their way to markets in Asia, particularly Taiwan and the Philippines – which is said to be the tuna capital of the world despite not having tuna stocks.
“A marine park will see catches able to be unloaded on PNG soil with the country standing to benefit more from its fish resources,†Mr. Semri said.
The department now needs to finalise a policy framework that will guide how many processing facilities will be established and properly regulate it to become the world’s tuna capital.
“Currently catches are off-loaded in high seas and in Taiwan,†he said.
Three quarters of the world’s tuna catches are caught in the central western Pacific – of which PNG is the major player, having the world’s largest tuna stock.
Mr. Semri said the aim was to build between six and seven such facilities in PNG.
Meanwhile, the Morobe provincial government has also taken steps to build a marine park, with Morobe Governor Luther Wenge revealing the purchase of land at Tikeleng village, 20km north of Lae.
He said an agreement had been signed with the owners for the land to be leased for 100 years.
The provincial government will then award 99 year sub-leases to develop and establish the marine park.
He said Morobe was ideal because of its strategic location.
The park, however, will need amenities of water, power and light to be viable.
