Pacific nations have been urged to become true shareholders of their marine resources by controlling tuna processing.
Papua New Guinea’s Minister for Fisheries and Marine Resources Jelta Wong stressed the region’s collective commitment should be to move beyond supplying raw material.
“It is our collective commitment to move beyond being mere suppliers of raw material and become true shareholders of our own resources, ensuring that the economic benefits of our tuna remain within the shores of our people,” he said.
Mr Wong said investing in local processing capabilities was the path to economic stability and empowerment.
“Investing in our local processing capabilities is the cornerstone of this transformation. Further, it is our most direct path to economic stability and empowerment,” he said.
He said processing tuna locally generated not just jobs but also entire ancillary industries, including logistics, packaging, marketing, and transportation.
Mr Wong also framed local processing as the most powerful weapon against IUU fishing (Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated fishing).
“Secondly, when we control the processing, we control the supply chain.”
Mr Wong said control facilitated robust monitoring, enhanced traceability, and enforced transparency, offering communities a vital, legal, and profitable alternative that deterred illegal activities.
“Finally, and most importantly, this is about securing our legacy and feeding our next generation. The spin-offs from processing our own tuna are fundamentally tied to our ability to ensure food security for our children and their children.”
