By MATTHEW VARI
THE Minister for Trade, Commerce and Industry Richard Maru has revealed plans by him through the department to push for a cease in the issuance of licenses to foreign fishing companies fishing in PNG waters.
He added that once the Pacific Marine Industrial Zone was completed- there should be a requirement put in place to have processing plants in the country to process sought after fish like tuna.
“Once we get the construction done in Madang I will be pushing through NEC (National Executive Council) for no more licenses for fishing should be given for any company that does not have a processing plant in Papua New Guinea,” Maru said.
“We should move away from supplying our fish to countries like Thailand, who do not have one tuna in their waters but continue to bring our unprocessed fish to Thailand and continue to be the Tuna Capital of the World.”
“Papua New Guinea in Madang should be the tuna capital of the world and that is what this project is about, and we make no apologies for saying that.”
He even commented on countries like the United States, which he said the PNG should be moving away from the Tuna Treaty so that the country sees more value for its resources.
“If they are going to invest in fisheries industry well they must come and build in Madang Marine Park, we give them the land and not the license to come and fish our waters,” the Minister said.
“We should give notice to the US, Japan, and everybody that if you do not have a processing plant in PNG you simply cannot come and fish in our waters.”
“Our country is investing a lot of money to build the marine park, and we expect countries who want to fish in PNG waters that this is your last opportunity to come and take up the opportunity to build canneries and processing plants in Papua New Guinea.”
He said that if they are not willing to invest directly into the downstream process in the country then they should never be allowed to fish in PNG waters.
“Our resources should not be raped and we create work and employment for other countries, and I want that message to be conveyed,” he concluded.
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