The European Union is helping fund a Papua New Guinea's National Fisheries Authority programme to upskill government fisheries officers.
The UN Food and Agriculture Organisation-led EU-STREIT Programme aims to upscale the knowledge and skills of 14 officers from districts in PNG's Sepik region.
They will undergo a 10-week training at the National Fisheries College in Kavieng, New Ireland, pursuing certificates in aquaculture and small fishing operations.
Fishing vessels, both modern and traditional, in the Madang lagoon, Papua New Guinea; site of the planned Pacific Marine Industrial Zone. Photo: RNZI / Johnny Blades
The Fisheries Authority is looking to upskill the officers to be able to design and facilitate capacity building for PNG fishery and aquaculture entrepreneurs.
"These officers will return to their respective areas and will be able to service better our rural farmers to improve the quality of fish products for an increase in income to sustain their well-being.
"And they will also enhance food security and nutrition at the household level," explained Francisco Noble, EU-STREIT PNG International Fisheries Specialist.
The initiative also equips the officers with understanding and skills to adopt appropriate extension tools, methods and techniques to conduct advisory and extension services to target beneficiaries.
The attendees also will receive training on how to sustain and enhance their technical capacity through continuous self-learning, knowledge resources available online and peer-to-peer knowledge transfer.