“The Nawaeb District Coastline will soon be implementing several navigational and lighting towers.”
This was made known by the Nawaeb MP Theo Pelgen during a brief awareness and consultation with several communities along the Bukawa Coastline recently
While there, he spoke with landowners of Gayahapu Village of Ward 7 & 8 and at Wideru Village at Ward 5 and gave details of the proposed project.
This project is expected to improve several things including: 1. Provide Lighting and Navigation Assistance for traveling seafarers. (Security & Safety of travelling passengers especially at night) 2.
Provide GPS assistance (echo sonar) to attract fish back for fishing activities. Pelgen said the security and the safety of the people is paramount, as he himself has experience the dangers of travelling at night.
“The lights will assist skippers to know and identify the exact locations they are travelling along the Bukawa coast.”
MP Pelgen furthermore added that the navigational system will encourage fish stock to return the coastline for locals to catch.
“The fish stocks will return to the near coastline, and this will encourage locals to catch more fish for sale and consumption.”
“This will stimulate more economic activities and enhance income for the people.”
He added that the NDDA had requested the fisheries minister for assistance. Funding for the purchase of the system has been approved with the equipment ready for shipment to Lae soon.
“From there the system will be implemented in due course, since this sort of technology has never been implemented in the area for the benefit of the people.”
The Nawaeb MP also assured the people that the issue of overfishing will be brought up in the next Parliament Session.