A two-day workshop to address illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing within PNG waters.

The Papua New Guinea National Fisheries Authority (NFA) has involved other government agencies to address illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing within PNG waters.

A two-day workshop facilitated by NFA is underway in Port Moresby for the port measures agreement, attended by PNG Customs, National Maritime Safety Authority, PNG Ports and Department of Foreign Affairs.

It aims to identify inter-agency collaboration, corporation and information sharing to manage entry into ports, use of ports, inspection and boarding of fishing vessels and related fishing activities.

NFA deputy managing director Noan Pakop told the workshop that all measures were needed to protect our fisheries.

“It is estimated that one in five fish is part of the IUU catch,” he said.

“Because tuna caught in this way is not counted, IUU fishing makes it almost impossible to manage fishing sustainably.

“It also contributes to decline in fish numbers, species and destruction of breeding environment.

“In terms of the sustainability of our resources, Western and Central Pacific ocean tuna stocks have to be sustainably managed.

“However, there is no room for complacency as the stocks continue to decline.

“For PNG, the improvement in the number of catch within the region is attributed to PNA (Parties to the Nauru Agreement) member countries with PNG being major player in PNA.

“For example, from 2017 to 2020, there is 21 per cent increase in earnings, 23 per cent increase in production, and export volume by 39 per cent.

“That is all the more reason for us to introduce key management measures. The tools are already in place.”

This story was published at The National on 29 June 2021, reposted via PACNEWS.