Tuna fisheries in the Pacific region will be monitored. (Photo: NFA)

Deal signed with SPC to monitor tuna stocks

PAPUA NEW GUINEA
Tuesday, August 23, 2011, 23:50 (GMT + 9)

Papua New Guinea's Government has inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) to monitor tuna fisheries in the Pacific region.

Sylvester Pokajam, chairman of the Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA) and managing director of the PNG National Fisheries Authority (NFA), and director general of SPC Dr Jimmie Rodgers signed the deal.

The MoU describes the collaboration between PNA and SPC in the management and monitoring of tuna fisheries under the PNA, Post Courier reports.

“Information plays a big role in the formulation and implementation of conservation and management measures to sustain the highly valued tuna stocks shared by the PNA sub-regional grouping,”  Pokajam stressed, The National reports. “NFA has taken the initiative to work closely with SPC on a number of programmes, including the PGK 3 million (USD 1.3 million) tuna tagging programme and review of aquarium fisheries.”

He commended SPC for its close relationship with the PNA in the development of the fisheries industry.

Rodgers also expressed his gratitude to Pokajam for choosing SPC to strengthen sustainable fisheries management.

Regarding the NFA, he said its strategies could lead the way.

“NFA leads in fisheries in the Pacific and ACP states could follow NFA’s strategies in the management of fisheries industry,” Rodgers added.

The National Maritime Safety Authority (NMSA), in the interim, has continued to fortify measures to tackle shipping-related marine pollution risks in PNG waters. Working closely with the PNG Ports Corporation Ltd, NMSA is taking on the first-ever National Marine Pollution Risk Assessment for PNG, conducted in response to greater shipping activity itself driven by expanding resource projects in PNG, and the development of new industries like offshore oil and gas and deep sea mining.

The risk assessment considers potential spills of oil and other pollutants into PNG waters from places like ships and offshore platforms.


Related article:

- EU helps Pacific countries develop global role 

By Natalia Real
[email protected]
www.seafood.media

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