FIA PNG Special Board Meeting 2026

The Fishing Industry Association (PNG) Inc. (FIA PNG) convened a Special Board Meeting on Sunday, September 13, 2026, at the Shangri-La Hotel in Bangkok, Thailand.

Special Board Meeting 2026 brought together representatives from our members, including: Trimarine, Frabelle Fishing, RD Tuna Fishing, Bluecatch Corporation, Trans-Pacific Journey, TSP Marine Industries, Frabelle PNG, IFC, Majestic Seafood, Nambawan, Starcki Venture Corp., FCF Co. Ltd., Fairwell Fishing, Frabelle PNG Ltd, and Domingo Teng Fishing Industries. Mr Sylvester Barth Pokajam, the President and Chairman of FIA PNG, presided over the meeting.

The agenda for the Special Board meeting included: 

1. Five-year impact of FIA PNG initiative: Responsible Sourcing Policy in different areas:

   1. Biodiversity

   2. Traceability

   3. Crew Welfare

   4. Marine litter & Fishing gear

   5. Sustainability

   6. Outreach & communication

2. Reshape the strategy of FIA PNG moving towards more engagement with global tuna players, for example, membership with the Seafood Taskforce.

3. Update on about 500.000, oo US dollars in grants obtained to finance at least ten (10) research projects over these five years, and the importance of being transparent and attending key congresses where FIA PNG can involve NGOs and funders.

4. COO update on budget for Outreach and Commercial FIA PNG engagement in the last 6 years

5. FISH certification success of our FIA PNG members. Individual certifications update.

During the meeting, members provided feedback about reshaping the FIA PNG strategy moving toward Global tuna players from 2026 and the increased collaboration with Social Accountability projects because of the very good image gained of our Social Accountability model onboard our tuna fleets.  

Mr Pokajam expressed his support for the new strategy that the FIA PNG board members approved, and the Executive Management team confirmed their commitment to work towards better private sector engagement.

Marcelo Hidalgo, the COO of FIA PNG, provided updates on the progress and status of the Responsible Sourcing Policy. He also informed members about 500000,00 got for financing Scientific projects (where, how, how much for what), and highlighted the importance of collaborating with NGOs, scientific organisations, and sustainable financial institutions to facilitate the FIA PNG learning and development.

In closing, Mr. Pokajam acknowledged the support of the National Fisheries Authority, stating, “The Fishing Industry Association works in unison with the Government of Papua New Guinea through the National Fisheries Authority to support and promote government policies aimed at ensuring our fisheries and marine resources are well-managed and remain sustainable for our current and future generations.”