Ludwig Kumoru will take over as chief executive officer of Parties to the Nauru Agreement, replacing outgoing CEO Dr Transform Aqorau.
Mr Kumoru is deputy managing director of Papua New Guinea’s National Fisheries Authority and is expected to begin his new role from 1 August 2016. He was endorsed for the post by unanimous consent of the eight countries that are PNA members at the annual meeting last week in Kiribati, after he was ranked as the top choice for the position by an independent search panel.
Mr Kumoru said he was happy about being selected by PNA members and is looking forward to the many challenges presented by leading this bloc of nations that control waters where 50% of the global supply of skipjack tuna is caught.
“I am pleased to be leaving the office in capable hands,” said Dr Aqorau. “He brings skills of working with fishing states from a national perspective and has a good understanding of the Pacific tuna fishery. He is highly regarded and respected by his peers in PNA.”
In addition to his tenure as deputy managing director of PNG’s National Fisheries Authority, Mr Kumoru is a member of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission’s Scientific Committee that reviews tuna stock assessments and issues recommendations regarding sustainability of the resource.
Mr Kumoru said PNA has many opportunities for expanding initiatives to the benefit of the islands. Going forward, the “challenge is to come up with ideas to add more value to the PNA fishery,” Mr Kumoru said. “Parties need to cooperate more closely, especially in terms of developing their domestic industries. What are things they can do to add value to each other’s industry?”
Dr Aqorau will continue in the CEO post at the Majuro-based PNA Office until later this year when M. Kumoru takes over. “I will stay on for a transition period, and then anticipate continuing to assist PNA in a technical supporting role,” said Dr Aqorau.
