The National Fisheries Authority (NFA) has successfully launched its groundbreaking Fisheries Automated Resources Information System (FARIS), a comprehensive Single Window Software Solution designed to revolutionize fisheries management in Papua New Guinea (PNG).
The National Fisheries is proud of this significant achievement that emanated from the MTDP IV (2023 – 2027) in strategic priority area 8 on Government’s policy directive to become a digital Government, and more so aligning with the Digital Government Act of 2022, paving the way for government to use information and communication technologies.
This new technology is aimed to enhance accessibility, reliability, and affordability of government digital services and ICT offerings for the citizens of PNG.
The NFA Managing Director, Mr. Justin Ilakini, emphasized that the launch is a vital step in the Government’s digital transformation strategy, connecting existing digital infrastructure with other government services to create a cohesive one-stop solution for citizens. In its totality, the FARIS solution consists of a suite of integrated modules, enabling NFA to manage fisheries, licensing controls, compliance, and accountability effectively.
FARIS aims to:
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Streamline NFA internal processes.
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Increase productivity.
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Reduce duplication of NFA databases.
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Display near real-time financial transactions and analytics.
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Consolidate fisheries management with all information in a single platform.
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Monitor small craft and artisanal fishers effectively.
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Facilitate near real-time financial transactions and vessel monitoring with automated reporting and compliance tracking.
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Provide a secure and user-friendly interface.
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Enable control of NFA ICT systems within PNG computing facilities.
The initial launch of the Fisheries Automated Resources Information System (FARIS) was done recently in Brisbane and featured two critical modules.
Firstly, the Managing Director’s Financial Dashboard, providing near real-time insights into NFA’s financial position through a direct data feed from the BSP Financial Group. This information will be accessible by the Managing Director at any time via laptop, PC, and mobile devices.
The second module is the New Era in Marine Observation small craft tracking solution. This module displays all current vessel positions from VMS data within the PNG EEZ and beyond including position and situational data from NFA supplied NEMO units, in near real time.
According to the critical timeline of the FARIS software rollout, all other FARIS modules are scheduled to be operational by December 2025, and this is a significant milestone achievement in the space of the Government’s ICT transformation agenda, as the country celebrates it’s 50 years of Independence.
Regionally, FARIS will also provide a platform for the implementation of the East New Britain Initiative, moving the ENBi away from being aspirational in the vision of the Pacific Leader’s and now into a more practical sense, through offering a near real-time marketing and traceability platform for the marketing of Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certified fish.
This integration also adheres to international best practices, collaborating with platforms such as the Global Fishing Watch, Global Dialogue on Seafood Traceability, and the UN Global Information Exchange System.
Going forward, the FARIS is a testament of the NFA’s commitment to ensuring it delivers on the Government’s policy directives and the expectations of its key stakeholders, especially the citizens of PNG who deserve to have a government that is responsive to service delivery and is fit for purpose.
“This system can be a model for sister government agencies and departments to emulate and customize for their purposes in service delivery to our citizens,” said Mr. Ilakini.
Furthermore, FARIS can also provide bilateral partners and regional organizations within the region an alternative in terms of digitalizing and streamlining business processes within their relevant organizational operations.
The Managing Director when launching the FARIS, said, “Today marks a historic moment for the fisheries sector in Papua New Guinea, a vision we started 18-months ago to ensure NFA has a system in place that allows for data to be seamlessly obtained at our fingertips. I am proud because this system is home-grown and built by us, for us.”