𝑀𝑒𝑒𝑡 𝐴𝑛𝑑𝑟𝑒𝑤 𝐽𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑜𝑟. Andrew is a youth leader from Katanga Village, along the highway in Sentral New Ireland. He is part of the #NewIrelandLMMANetwork, a growing grassroots network of communities who are managing their fishing grounds. This is his story about why his community started a marine protected area.
***
My community has a population of roughly 400 people. We live along the highway where there is no flat land. It is mostly mountainous. So, our very own livelihood is highly dependent on the sea.
The reason why my community started a marine protected area, and the revival of traditional fishing practices is because there where things we use to benefit from the sea that began to decline.
Things that we use to benefit from like generating income or simply food for us to eat that of which our community use to benefit greatly from.
I noticed this decline, our marine resources declining when comparing today’s catches to the past. There was plenty back then compared to what it’s like today.
I planned to resolve this issue and so I called on the community and notified them to put our hands together to help bring back what had been lost. I also shared how respecting our marine protected area will benefit us all.
Because of the marine protected area, my community have started to see the benefits.
In the marine protected area, there are designated areas for fish to spawn and grow, and areas where people are allowed to fish to get more than enough to help their families.
The areas which are tambu (where people cannot fish) and these areas allow for fish to breed and reproduce.
Having designated areas for different purposes has helped bring fish closer to our shores. It has increased the population of fish where we can fish easily.
We have seen the benefits from managing our fishing grounds and I encourage everyone to look after your fishing ground for your own good and for the next generation to come.
Tenkyu Andrew for sharing your story!
#singautblosolwara #niuailan #newireland #newirelandnbc #PEUMP #pngfisheries
European Union in the Pacific European Union in Papua New Guinea Embassy of Sweden in Bangkok The LMMA Network Pacific-Community-SPC WCS PNG Ailan Awareness Inc. Lolieng Sustainable Programme Lolieng Sustainable Programme
Post A Comment:
0 comments: