Whale Shark’s release by the FIA PNG tuna fleet F/V VIVA WANTWANT 707 – FairWell Fishery Group
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The FIA PNG office continues to maintain an awareness-training program for its members on
the Responsible Sourcing Policy and its key pillars.
As part of the sustainability pillar, members undertake refresher training and pre-departure briefings before each fishing trip. These sessions cover a range of topics, including best practices for the safe handling and release of endangered, threatened, and protected (ETP) species.
Whale sharks play an important role in marine ecosystems and contribute to the balance of the marine food chain. Our crews regularly record videos documenting their responsible handling and release, demonstrating the positive contribution of these practices to the PNG tuna fishery and the wider Western and Central Pacific Ocean, particularly within Papua New Guinea’s waters.
In January 2026, one such video captured the crew of the fishing vessel Viva WantWant 707, a PNG-flagged vessel of Fair Well Fishery Group, releasing a whale shark during fishing operations and successfully safeguarding it. This initiative forms part of FIA PNG’s ongoing commitment to ETP-species conservation. Fair Well Fishery Group members prioritise releasing whale sharks directly from the net while they remain in the water, a method that reduces handling stress and improves the likelihood of survival.
Documenting ETP-species handling onboard vessels operating within Papua New Guinea’s Exclusive Economic Zone and archipelagic waters demonstrates members’ continued compliance with responsible fishing practices and their ongoing efforts to protect marine biodiversity.
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