Fisheries

Preparing for Asian markets

With new infrastructure plans, better international market access and a new road map, PNG’s fisheries sector looks set to reach new heights. Gabriella Munoz explores.

PICTURE: ADB

Business in Focus: Monier Ltd.According to Bank of Papua New Guinea statistics, PNG’s exports of marine products have been steadily growing over Advertising Supplement For Advertising: Phone 3091072 | Email: awulal@spp.com.pg www.postcourier.com.pg Quarry leading aggregate producers the past five years. In 2015, the sector exported 99,400 tonnes; by 2019, that amount had more than 202,300 The Asian Development Bank Women in Fisheries Project, part of tonnes. In the first three quarters of 2021 the sector the Pacific Private Sector Development Initiative, helps women by exported 147,200 tonnes, indicating that it had been largely providing loans, them formalise training, mentorship their businesses. and accessing markets to help unaffected by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The bulk of exports are for tuna, processed and canned locally, mostly in Morobe and Madang provinces. Smaller export markets exist for PNG’s reef fish and shellfish, especially to Asia.

New vision

The National Fisheries Authority (NFA) announced in February this year that PNG’s cabinet, the National Executive Council, had endorsed the PNG Fisheries Strategic Plan 2021–2030, a roadmap and vision for the sector and industry.

Monier has been in operation in Papua new Guinea. tion, Asphalt, Concrete suppliers, Prime Minister James Marape said in a statement that the such as Australian Standards (AS) specification and standards. PnG for over 60 years and is the single largest producer, supplier Monier operates a high capacity hard rock quarry producing vary-strategic plan is in line with the country’s national Vision as well as smaller projects such as residential landscaping. for concrete and asphalt aggregates and Department of Works Monier holds stockpiles of a range of standard products inand distributor of construction materials and building products ing size aggregates for readymix concrete, asphalt and road sealing 2050 roadmap. Notably, the Marape government has also Monier strives to provide quality, costefficiency, and sustainability (DoW) specifications for roadbase materials and sealing aggregates. cluding nirox Trommel for larger rock processing and sizing, subin PnG. as well as various grades of high and its aggregates and production Monier’s nebiri Quarry has a stantial fleet of mobile tracked Since 2005, Monier has invested in increasing capacity and capaquality roadbase materials. ideally located at 10 Mile, Monforeshadowed the creation of a state-owned commercial techniques are no exception. Along with a complete product proven capacity to produce in excess of 1 million tonnes of quarry plant and equipments, mobile track crushing equipments which bility in the production of construction materials and the manuier’s nebiri Quarry has a proven track record of providing consist-entity to be responsible for the government’s commercial selection, the quarry offers services including product transport products per annum. regular sampling and testing provides flexibility to produce alternative products, large modern facturing of building products. Monier has established strong interests in the fisheries sector. ent quality products for more than 20 years. delivery, technical support and specialist industry expertise. is undertaken across the product range and test results certified fleet of earth moving equipment to ensure peak production capacbrand recognition and it has a reputation for supplying quality products and services throughout nebiri Quarry is a leading aggregates producer supplying aggregates to large Civil construcThe fisheries plan also aims to create formal employment All specified quarry products are quality controlled to comply with relevant standards and codes to provide customers with confidence that the quarry products are compliant with the relevant ity and many more. Quality aggregates for those for whom fisheries provide the only opportunity for participation in the formal economy, and to further develop for concrete the informal fishing sector by elevating it ‘from artisanal to professional’. It will be officially launched later in 2021.

Infrastructure

Director of the NFA , John Kasu, says ‘the cost of building infrastructure in PNG is very high’ – and it takes time.

The NFA is working on infrastructure projects to assist with the sector’s expansion and greater efficiencies. These include the Wagang Fisheries Port project in Lae, Morobe Province, which is now in the feasibility study stage, the Rabaul Tuna Terminal in East New Britain and the development of small jetties through PNG’s coastal areas.

International markets

Island in Western Province with the national and provincial governments.

China, however, is not the only country to signal its interest in PNG’s fisheries sector.

In March this year, the South Korea Fisheries Infrastructure Public Agency (FIPA) signed an agreement with the NFA to share best practices and exchange administrative, technical and human resources information in fisheries port development. The agencies also agreed to explore, develop, and implement joint infrastructure to support the industry.  PNG has an existing agreement to export tuna tariff-free to Monier produces a range of coarse aggregates for concrete, asphalt, This is especially true for Port Moresby where naturally occurring the European Union. In 2020, it also gained accreditation sealing and drainage purposes and sands for drainage and filter materisands of suitable quality for use in certified concrete products is rela-as an approved country to export seafood directly to China. als in road construction and under concrete slabs and pavers. tively rare. Monier has invested in and operThe accreditation means that PNG-registered companies now in concrete the aggregates and ates a state of the art sand processing sands are an essential part of the mix, and the mechanical properties plant that provides the functionality to wash and “size” the sand to meet don’t need to go through Singapore or Hong Kong to reach of the rock is produced to conform with relevant specifications. the mainland Chinese market. design requirements. naturally occurring deleterious materials are

Sands (fine aggregates) are a critical raw material used in the manuwashed out while simultaneously screening to size the sand to remove In November 2020, China’s Fujian Zhonghong Fishery facture of ready mix concrete and concrete products. Having a secure supply of suitable any organics and coarse particles. its high volume capacity crushing plants provide the flexibility to pro-Company signed a memorandum of understanding to sand is critical for the manufacture of quality concrete products. duce a varying range of productsbuild a US$156 million commercial fishing hub on Daru

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