The National Fisheries Authority (NFA) explained that it is difficult for the authority to check illegal fishing in PNG waters as they lack monitoring and surveillance capacity. The illegal fishing vessels are using latest technology far better than the legal ones. NFA executive manager – corporate service, John Kasu, and executive manager licensing and data management, Philip Polon, told the parliamentary inquiry into the May riots targeting Asian-owned and operated businesses that only PNG registered fishing vessels were monitored.
Polon pointed out that 180 tuna vessels, 15 prawn trawlers and seven lobster vessels had been fitted with the latest automatic locating devices (ALDs) which the NFA monitors using satellite to tell where their location is around the country. He added that by next year, the vessels would also be carrying latest devices to monitor the catches they make out at sea and recorded in Port Moresby.
Polon said the main areas whereby illegal fishing occurred were Daru, Western province, in the Arafura Sea and in the north between Sandaun and Manus provinces. Under the Fisheries Forum Agreement, joint surveys with the help of the Australian and New Zealand Air Force conducts joint aerial survey and the NFA, in an agreement with the Defence Force, carry out 10 patrols each year which is fully-funded by the NFA.
The authority said although they had no records or evidence of people smuggling on fishing vessels, it agreed that it might be possible given the constraints. The NFA made it clear that Asian workers also faced similar conditions but would like to have proper coordination with Labour Department to improve working conditions of all fishermen.
