In a small but significant ceremony this morning, Sir. Chris Haiveta, Governor for Gulf Province lead a delegation from the Gulf Provincial Administration to sign a Memorandum Of Understanding (M.O.U) with the management of National Fisheries Authority (NFA) represented by Jelta Wong – Minister for Fisheries and Marine Resources, NFA Chairman Laurie Williams and NFA Managing Director Mr Justin Ilakini.
Mr Ilakini further reiterated that the Provincial MOU’s have proven to be the single most effective mechanism for service delivery in the provinces, “I am excited about the signing of this MOU between the Gulf Provincial Administration and the National Fisheries Authority. Gulf Province is a resource rich province, and our people in Gulf are well aware of the potential of Fisheries and have been avid participants in the industry throughout the years.
While 80% of our people are spread throughout the length and breadth of the rural areas, we are certain that 100% of the resources are within the province”.
Sir Chris concurred stating that commercial fisheries has been in place in the province for over 50 years through organized prawn trawling and shared his experience of the industry in the Province, “The Gulf fishing grounds are well established, the studies in our province are extensive and the baseline data is already there. Gulf fishing waters spread from Bells point, across the mouth of the Fly, Torres Straits, through to Central and encompasses popular reefs like Eastern Fields, Andora and Paska”.
Sir Chris stated that Gulf fisheries resources include Prawns, Beche De Mer, Crabs and Fish Maw and the province is looking to NFA to provide the regulatory guidance and enforcement assistance to protect and grow the industry sustainably in the province.
Sir Chris shared his concerns with activities that are currently taking place in the Province, and shared openly his reluctance to sign previous MOU’s due to a mistrust he shared with the authorities in relation to the non-detention of illegal fishing vessels found in his province.
Sir Chris also asked to work with the Fisheries Minister to relook at the Torres Strait Treaty which he believed in its current format does not serve the interest of the people and the state.
Jelta Wong – took on board the concerns of the Governor and offered his commitment to ensuring licensing issued to companies who apply to operate within the waters of Gulf be issued only with the endorsement of the PEC.
“Our role at National Fisheries Authority is simple. It is to work with the Administration and the people to sustainably develop Fisheries in the province, and this MOU is the key. We have a lot of plans for the Gulf Province and are looking to introduce fishing programs that promote sustainability”.
Minister Wong shared the vision of the Marape-Rosso Government captured through the Medium Term Development Plan (4) to ensure that all resources including Fisheries and Marine resources are transitioning towards 100% on shore processing and that the Authorities that regulate these industries are supporting this policy with the appropriate interventions.
From a Fisheries perspective, licensing must be issued to companies that show a genuine willingness to farm and process onshore. “We have big plans to make Gulf the Prawn fingerling hub of the country and create an unrealized revenue stream in the province.
If Saudi Arabia can export prawns out of the desert, what is stopping us utilizing our abundance to sustainably maintain a revenue stream for the people of Gulf” Minister Wong stated.
Sir Chris, shared his concerns on an emerging trend where children are leaving school to partake in fishing activities.
He was concerned about the Integral Human Development and Social implications that this creates.
He asked the National Fisheries Authority to consider Mangrove Habitat Protection programs and awareness to ensure the protection and sustainability of the industry in the province.
Overall Sir Chris and his representatives were satisfied with the intent of the MOU, reflected that it was an improvement on the previous MOU’s that he had cited and expressed a willingness to work with the Minister, Chairman and MD and his administration to ensure that all parties deliver on the agreements captured within the confines of the MOU.
“Gulf people will enjoy oil revenues for a long time to come – but the more income the people generate themselves is more sustainable.
Not all people of Gulf will directly benefit from those revenues, so the Provincial government is committed to putting our financial resources into this MOU, and even committing more – to satisfy our SME programs which will be more far reaching”.