Photo credit: RNZI / Johnny Blades
Ango Wangatau, head of the National Fisheries Authority, said at the two-day National Tuna Fishing Sector consultation that inclusive government and private partnership investment is needed to strengthen the fisheries industry.
In his keynote talk, Mr Wangatau stated that the key to growing and increasing demand in the fishing industry is to be inclusive by collaborating with the private sector.
He pointed out that with the strategic plan in place, infrastructure is one of the important strategic sectors identified.
“We believe that there is a problem for our village people to come and sell their fish,” he said.
“Cost of exporting fish is very expensive so no one does that and participate in the industry.
Fuel prices are so expensive, so competitive.”
Mr Wangatau believes that the strategy plan, as well as legislative measures proposed at the NFA level, would pave the way for the establishment of a large hub quarantine with people from all over the country.
“We will talk with our internal revenue friends, Customs, Water PNG, PNG Power, National Planning, Commerce and Industry and all other key government agencies to get a place where we can quarantine for the fishermen,” he said.
“The benchmark that we have selected is Philippines and Thailand because they say that Thailand is the capital of Tuna.”
He is very interested in finding ways for the country to compete with other countries.
Reference: Tom, Ptrick. Post-Courier (1 March 2022). “Fisheries Industry Needs Investment”.
