FAO Steps up the Support to Coastal and Island Fisher Communities in Papua New Guinea

Vanimo, Papua New Guinea – Fisher communities living along the coastal lines and islands of the Bismarck Sea in northwest Papua New Guinea started to receive new engine-mounted craft boats. The new equipment helps improve communities' livelihood and well-being, which mainly depend on coastal fishing. 

The support, provided by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), is part of the EU-funded STREIT PNG Programme to drive the sustainable development of agri-food value chains, improve diets, enrich nutrition, and support food security in rural communities. 

Under this work plan, eight 23 FT craft boats with 40 HP outboard motor engines, and fishing and safety gears were recently handed over to coastal and island fishing groups in Vanimo-Green and Aitape-Lumi districts of West Sepik Province. The recipient groups were selected based on the criteria agreed upon between the Provincial Fisheries and Marine Resources Office and the EU-STREIT PNG programme. 

“For the coastal and island people of the Sepik Region, engine-mounted crafts boats are essential assets as a means of transportation and also for ferrying of processed fish to the town markets and customers,” explained the FAO Fisheries Officer, Mohammed Zakir, adding “the Programme is committed to facilitating the access of fishing communities to markets and assisting them in improving existing transport safety and equipment.”

“This intervention will help to sustainably increase the catch and profitability of fish business while also contributing significantly to food security and nutrition at the household level.”

Among the beneficiaries who received an engine-mounted craft boat was Angela Passingan, the Chairlady of BAMA Women’s Group of Ulau Village, which is located along the coastline of Aitape East LLG. She said, “Through the European Union STREIT PNG Programme, we are able to get this support. The purpose of this boat is to assist our people, especially the mothers, children and youth in the village, with the supply of protein, fish, and also to provide job opportunities in fish capturing and selling for youths who completed Grades 8, 10 and 12 and are doing nothing in the village.” 

Appreciating the EU-funded project for the support, the Acting District Administrator for Aitape, Mr Job Tomur, said: “I like to take this time to thank the European Union through the STREIT PNG Programme. Through them, these groups received this support. We must use these boats to catch more fish, transport to market and sell to make more money because there is money in fish that can contribute to grow our economy here.”

Before the handover, FAO coordinated a capacity development training for skippers and crews of fisher groups on ‘basic operations of 2-stroke engines’ so that they can confidently conduct basic troubleshooting and regular service and maintenance for their engines to be sustained in the long run. The upskill training also covered health and safety operations. The participants also learned how to identify and distinguish counterfeit and genuine spare parts, understand different propellers depending on the load, and use specifically manufactured engine oil to mix with the fuel, which is critical to avoid engine problems.

The support by FAO under the EU-STREIT PNG Programme, also includes major investment in developing the capacity of the beneficiaries as well as the introduction of improved techniques, equipment and facilities for better production, processing and marketing of fish among fisher communities and fisheries enterprises.

Led by FAO, the EU-STREIT PNG Programme is the largest grant-funded Programme of the European Union in the country. The Programme focuses on increasing sustainable and inclusive economic development of rural areas through increasing the economic returns and opportunities from cocoa, vanilla and fisheries value chains and strengthening and improving the efficiency of value chain enablers. 

Fisheries