Prime Minister Hon. James Marape has urged Papua New Guinea and its Pacific neighbours to take full control of their ocean resources, declaring that the region must no longer remain a “beggar” while foreign powers exploit its fisheries wealth.
He was speaking in Port Moresby on Saturday night at the National Fisheries Authority’s (NFA) 25th anniversary celebrations, where he launched two landmark policies: the National Tuna Domestication Strategy (NTDS) and the National Aquaculture Development Strategy 2025–2035.
The event drew an impressive gathering of Pacific leaders, including His Excellency Wesley W. Simina, President of the Federated States of Micronesia; Prime Minister Hon. Mark Brown of the Cook Islands; Prime Minister Hon. Feleti Teo of Tuvalu; Prime Minister Hon. Dalton Tagelagi of Niue; and the current Secretary-General of the Pacific Islands Forum, H.E. Baron Waqa of Nauru, alongside his PNG predecessor Dame Meg Taylor. Ambassadors, high commissioners, Members of Parliament, and industry stakeholders also filled the room.
Standing With the Pacific
PM Marape warmly welcomed his Pacific counterparts, praising their leadership and reaffirming PNG’s solidarity with nations facing the existential threat of climate change. He singled out Tuvalu’s Prime Minister Teo, whose nation lives under the daily shadow of rising seas.
“In 2019 at the Pacific Islands Forum, I argued that our focus must not be on relocation but on reclamation,” PM Marape said. “Our people must remain on their land, and the Pacific family will stand with Tuvalu and every island nation facing this crisis. You are not alone in this fight.”
The Prime Minister stressed that solidarity was not symbolic, but practical: “We must act together, not only on climate change but also on ensuring our ocean resources deliver prosperity to our people.”
The “Blue Continent”
PM Marape urged the world to rethink how it views Pacific nations, rejecting the common label of “small island states.”
“Our countries are not small islands — we are big ocean states,” he declared. “Together, our Exclusive Economic Zones stretch across more than 3 million square kilometres, the largest ocean territory on Earth. We are the Blue Continent. Just as the Middle East commands oil wealth, tuna and marine resources must define the Pacific.”
He noted that tuna harvested annually from Pacific waters is worth more than USD 3 billion, yet the benefits rarely reach local communities. “Enough is enough,” PM Marape said. “No more should our fish be taken, processed elsewhere, and sold back to us at high prices. From now on, tuna caught in Papua New Guinea must be processed here, creating jobs and value for our people.”
Building on NFA’s 25-Year Legacy
Reflecting on the NFA’s journey since its creation in 1998, PM Marape praised the authority as one of PNG’s most successful state institutions. He noted that it already contributes between K1.5 billion and K2.3 billion annually to the national economy.
“I am now challenging NFA to lift its contribution to K3 billion by 2027,” he announced. “This is ambitious, but achievable. With the National Tuna Domestication Strategy and the Aquaculture Development Strategy in place, we have the framework to make it happen.”
PM Marape said the aquaculture plan would triple national aquaculture production by 2035, while the tuna strategy would ensure greater value-adding through domestic processing, downstream investment, and job creation. “Fishing has been our people’s way of life for centuries. Now, we must modernise it into a corporate, sustainable industry that secures food, jobs, and growth for our nation.”
Call to Regional Neighbours and Global Partners
The Prime Minister extended an invitation to Pacific neighbours such as Solomon Islands, Nauru, and Micronesia to collaborate with PNG in building processing hubs and aquaculture ventures.
“If you don’t have land, come to PNG,” he said. “We have land, we have labour, and we are ready to share. Together, we can ensure that Pacific fisheries sustain Pacific people, not just foreign markets.”
He also addressed global partners directly, appealing to G20 nations such as Australia, Japan, China, Indonesia, and the United States to move beyond geopolitical competition and invest meaningfully in Pacific industries.
“If you are true friends of the Pacific, don’t just bring your geopolitics to our doorsteps,” he said. “Assist us in building industries, in developing infrastructure,
and in ensuring our resources sustain our people. We don’t want perpetual aid. We want partnerships that bring dignity and prosperity. The Pacific can feed the world, and in doing so, help maintain the balance of the global environment.”
A Vision Linked to PNG@50
The timing of the launches carried symbolic weight, with Papua New Guinea just days away from marking its 50th Independence Anniversary. PM Marape linked the new strategies to his government’s broader vision of economic independence.
“September 16 will come and go, but the work of building our nation never stops,” he said. “Tonight we have launched two strategies that represent our determination to shape the next 50 years. Our goal is to build a K200 billion economy where no child is left behind.”
He paid tribute to Fisheries Minister Hon. Jelta Wong, NFA Managing Director Justin Ilakini, industry partners, and the foresight of the late Sir Mekere Morauta, who spearheaded the creation of the NFA in the late 1990s.
“Fishing is in our DNA. Our ancestors crossed the Pacific with courage and skill, guided only by stars, currents, and knowledge passed down through generations,” PM Marape reflected. “Now it is our duty to modernise that heritage. With the National Tuna Domestication Strategy and the Aquaculture Development Strategy, we will transform our oceans into engines of prosperity for Papua New Guinea and for our Blue Continent.”