By Gedion Timothy 
Fisheries and Marine Resources Minister Jelta Wong has announced that the National Tuna Domestication Strategy (NTDS) will be officially launched in the first quarter of 2025.
In the lead-up to this launch, the NTDS will be introduced to key stakeholders for their feedback before finalizing and endorsing the strategy for implementation.
Minister Wong emphasized the importance of the NTDS, stating, “This strategy represents the Marape-Rosso Government’s commitment to strengthening our tuna industry. It serves as a comprehensive framework for the National Fisheries Authority (NFA) and collaborative government bodies to improve policies and investment environments while addressing inefficiencies within the tuna fishing and processing sectors. Ultimately, our goal is to enhance the value retention of tuna catches within Papua New Guinea’s (PNG) Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and Archipelagic Waters (AW).”
He elaborated that the NTDS aligns with the Fisheries Strategic Plan 2021-2030 (FSP) and aims to position PNG as a significant regional tuna hub in the Asia-Pacific. The initiative supports the East New Britain Initiative (ENBi), endorsed by the Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) and Pacific Islands Forum Leaders.
“The NTDS is an actionable document aimed at guiding the NFA to achieve our vision of retaining a larger share of tuna fisheries value within the PNG economy, while encouraging greater participation from our communities throughout the tuna value chain,” Minister Wong stated.
The domestication strategy is founded on three pivotal principles:
- Maintaining PNG’s fisheries waters and the Western and Central Pacific Ocean (WCPO) as some of the world’s best managed and sustainable tuna fisheries.
- Promoting PNG-based fishing fleets and processing firms as crucial to increasing tuna landings for value-added processing.
- Addressing existing policy limitations and inefficiencies in the tuna supply chain that impact productivity, employment opportunities, and business growth.
To achieve these objectives, the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources and the NFA have outlined six strategic outcomes with specific actions:
- Streamlined Fisheries Regulatory and Policy Framework: Establish a transparent investment environment that clearly defines the benefits and obligations for tuna industry stakeholders.
- Enhanced Tuna Value Chain Productivity: Tackle supply chain barriers, reduce production costs, and create economies of scale.
- Access for PNG-Flagged Vessels: Forge agreements enabling PNG-flagged vessels to access fishing grounds beyond PNG waters.
- Global Market Access: Ensure duty-free and quota-free access to emerging global markets for PNG-processed tuna products.
- Sectoral State-Owned Enterprise (SOE): Formulate and operate a State-Owned Enterprise to rectify inefficiencies in the tuna industry.
- SME Participation in By-Catch Utilization: Boost small and medium enterprises (SMEs) involvement in the utilization of by-catches.
“This comprehensive strategy acknowledges the vital role of PNG’s tuna industry while recognizing current challenges. It lays out a detailed plan to enhance the competitive edge of our tuna industry, aiming to establish PNG as a premier hub for tuna fishing and processing,” Minister Wong stated.
As part of preparations for the NTDS, Minister Wong highlighted that all tuna processors and associated fishing fleets are currently operating under Memoranda of Agreements (MoA) signed with the NFA in July this year. This agreement will facilitate PNG-flagged and local foreign vessels to secure and pay for vessel-days under the Start Fish Virtual Docking System (VDS) package, designed to boost tuna landings and processing.
The Minister noted the approval of a competitive VDS fee structure and a rebate scheme for tuna processed in PNG, reaffirming the government’s commitment to advancing the tuna domestication agenda.
Minister Wong stressed, “We cannot achieve our objectives without collaborating to resolve supply chain challenges. All stakeholders, including relevant government departments and agencies, must work together under the NTDS framework.”
He expressed eagerness to present the NTDS to the National Executive Council before the end of the year, with an official launch expected by the Prime Minister in January 2025.