Pacific leaders support Marape’s call to develop fisheries sector

Pacific island Leaders have supported Prime Minister James Marape’s call to grow and develop the fisheries industry of the region.

Prime Minister Marape says the region needs to further develop the natural resource from the fisheries industry so that it can sustain their economies.

The leaders from various Pacific islands including, Tonga and Solomon Islands, supported Marape on this agenda.

Speaking at the closing of a dialogue on the Fisheries Forum Agency (FFA), attended by fisheries ministers from all around the pacific Island nations including PNG.

Prime Minister James Marape bluntly told the fisheries ministers, development partners and his colleague leaders present for the dialogue, the importance of growing the fisheries industry of the region.

He said Pacific Island nations must not be beggars but must add value to their marine resources.

Solomon Prime Minister Jeremiah Manele says Fisheries is a Billion Dollar industry and he supports new strategies in the sector such as the East New Britain initiative, which targets to excel development of the Fisheries industry.

"This is a very important call and I strongly support it."

TONGA Prime Minister Hu'akavameiliku Sovaleni also shared similar sentiments stating that in order to maximize the returns in the fisheries industry it will need innovation.

"It is important for pacific nations to cooperate in these areas to see growth of the industry in the region," Sovaleni said.

PNG'S Fisheries Minister Jelta Wong supported his prime minister, concluding that the Fisheries sector of the Pacific must be dictated by the Pacific Islands in order to see sustainable growth in the fisheries, which will also benefit future generations.