Papua New Guinea’s Torres Strait Tropical Rock Lobster Fishery has attained Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certification, becoming the country’s first small-scale fishery to achieve the standard.
The fishery in the Torres Strait Protected Zone is co-managed with Australia under the Torres Strait Treaty Arrangements, with the approach aimed at preserving and prioritising it for the traditional inhabitants.
This fishery is largely village-based and has a limit of seven vessels, each with 5-7 fishers onboard. They hand-harvest lobsters whilst free- or hookah-diving in areas with depths of up to 20 metres. The methods used require minimal gear and are highly selective, reducing impact on the environment and avoidance any incidental catch of non-targeted species.
Assessment to meet the MSC Fisheries Standard was supported by PNG’s National Fisheries Authority (NFA) and Fishing Industry Association (FIA), with the assessment conducted by third-party assessor SCS Global Services.
MSC Programme Director for Oceania and Singapore Anne Gabriel commended the fishing communities involved, as well as NFA and FIA PNG for committing to sustainability.
“The leadership shown by Papua New Guinea’s Torres Strait Tropical Rock Lobster fishery should be emulated around the world as a benchmark that meeting world-class standards is not only achievable for small-scale fisheries but necessary. By embracing traditional and sustainable fishing practices, these communities are not only securing their future but protecting a vital part of our planet’s ecosystem,” Gabriel said.
Regions like the Torres Strait are particularly vulnerable to illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and whilst the fishery has historically encountered IUU, the journey towards MSC has helped agencies detect and deter IUU risks, leading to greater economic stability for fishers in the region.
“This first-ever small-scale fishery in the Western and Central Pacific shows our commitment to sustainable fishing in Papua New Guinea to the world. This is part of our responsible sourcing policy (RSP) and commitment to improving the small-scale fisheries management plan, providing guaranteed livelihoods in the future, and at the same time we expect to place this valued commodity directly in consumer markets like restaurants,” FIA PNG Sustainable and CSR Director Marcelo Hidalgo said.
With current markets in China, Hong Kong and Australia, FIA PNG and NFA aim to open up Singaporean and European markets with the MSC certification.
