K120m waterfront overhaul to launch PNG fisheries to international standards

Papua New Guinea’s fisheries sector is on the brink of a massive economic and educational upgrade. National Minister for Fisheries and Marine Resources, Jelta Wong, officially broke ground yesterday on a K120 million redevelopment of the National Fisheries College [NFC] waterfront in Kavieng.

The high-impact project is designed to elevate local training to strict international commercial standards.

The overhaul, funded by a K96 million grant from the Government of Japan’s Official Development Assistance [ODA] program and backed by K24 million in PNG Government counter-funding, directly targets critical gaps in the local maritime and fisheries workforce.

Once completed in the third quarter of 2028, the upgraded facility will allow the NFC to host world-class certifications right here in the country. This includes specialized commercial fishing operations [CFO] and refrigeration mechanics training, skills desperately needed to keep PNG competitive on the global stage.

The comprehensive infrastructure boost includes state-of-the-art onshore classrooms, an administrative office block, a dedicated wharf for the vetting of vessels, and a massive 38.5-meter dedicated training ship. The vessel will actively facilitate hands-on CFO and Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated [IUU] fishing counter-measures training.

"I am confident that the project of the NFC waterfront redevelopment will be implemented as scheduled for the benefit of our subsistence farmers, small-scale operators, and the general citizens of this country," Minister Wong said of the long-term economic ripple effects for local coastal communities.

Wong extended deep gratitude to the Japanese government on behalf of the state, stating that this project marks a milestone in a 51-year bilateral partnership. The relationship dates back to pre-independence 1974, when Japan built the college’s very first auditorium. He also commended the Managing Director of the National Fisheries Authority [NFA] and the Japan International Cooperation Agency [JICA] for their tireless collaborative efforts to clear the administrative hurdles and secure the project's launch.

The groundbreaking drew a heavy delegation of international and state dignitaries, including JICA Director General Yoneda Gen, First Secretary of the Embassy of Japan Takahashi Yoichiro, NFA Chairman Laurie Williams, and Department of National Planning and Monitoring Secretary Koney Samuel. Local stakeholders, town mayor Greg Toxie Seth, and provincial law enforcement heads also turned out in numbers alongside the Kavieng public to witness the historic launch.

However, the massive development milestone was also marked by a distinct political void. New Ireland Governor Byron Chan and Treasury Minister, who is also the Open Member for Kavieng, Ian Ling-Stuckey, were both notably absent from the ceremony.

The project is locked into a strict two-year implementation timeline, with major construction slated to run through to late 2028.