Marine litter and Fishing gear audits: Monitoring the Impact of our Tuna Fleet in the Marine Ecosystem of PNG

After spending several days at the Port of Rabaul carrying our Social Accountability and Crew Welfare second-party audits, Our audit team, conformed by Stephanie Pokajam and Alice Posanau, is deployed also to assess the level of compliance of our tuna fleet members against our due diligence of marine litter and ghost gear requirements which holds significant environmental, economic, and regulatory importance.

FIA PNG cares about Biodiversity, and we believe that addressing ghost gear and marine litter helps mitigate the tuna purse-seiner fleet impact. Ghost gear (lost or abandoned fishing gear) poses a major threat to marine ecosystems, entangling marine life like turtles, sharks, and tuna. The audit helps identify, quantify, and mitigate sources of marine litter, ensuring healthier ocean habitats and protecting biodiversity.

Our Audits with qualified auditors ensure compliance with international sustainability standards, such as those from the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC), Global Ghost Gear Initiative, ISSF best practices, and FAO guidelines. Meeting these standards is crucial for accessing high-value export markets where traceability and sustainability are demanded by buyers.

We enjoy the benefits of a cleaner marine environment, and sustainable tuna stocks secure livelihoods for local communities, many of whom rely on the fishery.

After the trip, and auditing at the Port of Rabaul, the F/V Joe Turner, our FIA PNG auditors generated critical data on types, sources, non-conformities, and impacts of marine litter. This information guides our annual management review, internal policy development, industry best practices, and innovation waste management.

The audit reflects FIA PNG’s commitment to protecting the environment, supporting sustainable fisheries, and strengthening economic stability, helping position Papua New Guinea as a trusted leader in the global tuna trade.