Photo Credit: National Fisheries Authority
The absence of a sectorwide strategic plan detailing the sector's future roadmap has been a significant flaw in the transformation.
Chairman of the National Fisheries Authority Ango Wangatau made this comment during the introduction of the NFA's 10-year strategic plan.
While annual development programs were driven primarily by the parameters of annualised budget planning, he claimed the tuna processing industry operated primarily as a rent-seeking revenue stream from the Vessel Day Scheme and underperforming tuna processing plants that sought disproportionate rebate support from the state.
True progress, he added, should be judged not by GDP but by the degree to which people are given the chance to participate in the betterment of their own lives.
“The founding fathers recognised that we had abundant natural capital that can be converted into economic wealth and they warned that the process should not be done through careless irresponsible actions but through responsible sustainable means,” Wangatau said.
“These founding principles of development are still very relevant today as they were more than 40 years ago.
“Unfortunately, in our short history, we have moved away from these noble principles and followed a road map that is inconsistent with our own Melanesian beliefs of inclusivity and sustainability.
“The result has been the unsustainable overexploitation of our natural resources, over-dependence on the export of raw materials and denying ourselves maximum export earnings on the value of exports, the marginalisation of our people, overdependence on rent-seeking modes of development and creation of a culture of dependency in our communities.
“Clearly, this is not the development road map that our founding fathers envisioned.
“Correcting it has therefore become necessary in all sectors of our economy.
The fisheries sector is no exception.”
Despite numerous changes, he added, there are still problems in translating reforms into tangible broad-based prosperity that includes ordinary Papua New Guineans and their significant contribution to progress.
As a result, he explained, the strategic plan would focus on creating enabling infrastructure and improving the industry's operating environment.
“This will involve investment in dedicated fisheries development and transportation infrastructure such as wharves, ports, jetties, slipways and onshore facilities to enhance the competitiveness of the industry.”
Reference: Yafoi, Melisha. Post-Courier (27 August 2021). “Resources Important For Growth”.
