10-17-2011, 05:41 AM
Matangi Tonga : 17 Oct 2011, 22:06
Nuku'alofa, Tonga:
In an effort to revive its dying fishing industry Tonga has opened up its tuna fishing to licensed foreign fishing vessels, the Ministry of Fisheries has confirmed.
A fishing vessel from Taiwan is expected to arrive in Tonga this month to operate from a local base, after paying a licence fee of USD$20,000.
Tevita 'Ahoafi of the Licensing Unit at the Ministry of Fisheries confirmed to Matangi Tonga Online today that there remained only two active fish export licensed companies in Tongan, namely Cool Fresh (formerly 'Alatini Fisheries); and Oripec Fishing Ltd., operated by a Tongan Pupunga Mahe, from Australia.
He said the Ministry of Fisheries in August opened up tuna fishing to foreign fishing nations by charging a license fee of USD$20,000 for foreign vessels to fish, based in Tonga.
Decline
He said that up to 2010 there were three other licensed fish exporters that included South Pacific Resources run by a Korean, Hina Food operated by Siale Sikimeti and a company run by David Edwards. However to date, their licenses had expired. The 'Alatini Fisheries was understood to have restructured its fishing company and renamed it "Cool Fresh" under 'Alo Fe'iloakitau. 'Alatini was selling off their fishing vessels and would only buy fish from local fishermen for export. Meanwhile, Oripec has one fishing vessel.
He said the fishing industry was in decline due to many factors, including that some of the older companies find it hard to fish with old equipment and had no capital to renew their resources.
Moratorium
In 2004, Tonga placed a moratorium on foreign fishing vessels and as a result no tuna-fishing licenses were issued to foreign fishing vessel.s
In 2006 the Foreign Investment Regulations came into force and required that commercial fishing comprising of tuna fishing, aquaculture, and bottom fishing in waters deeper than 500m and other water fishing not less than 100m shall be conducted subject to their resource management plan administered by the Fisheries.
All foreign vessels must be registered in the FFA register before licensing by a FFA member state.
This is one of the most ridiculous things the Tongan government had done besides letting Sevele walk free in the midst of the Ashika massive killing and cancelling unscrupulous deceitful Lasike's arrest warrent / reducing illegal firearm possession penalty.
What does Tonga get from offering licenses to foreigners other than collecting cheap fees? I got to wonder why the government put a moratorium on foreign fishing vessels in 2004. Fishing is the only commodity and main food source for our people. How can giving licenses to foreigners to exploit our sea water with their selfish mass fishing help revive the fishing industries in Tonga and benefit our own people? If they can fish and sell globally then so can our own people. Why can't the government get a fishing boat of its own and employ locals to operate it? How about working on setting up a canning factory for the locals' catches and tap on the regional and global fishing market? Don't say there is not enough money because Tongan government officials travel lavishly as if the Friendly Isles are floating on a sea of gold
and pension for Sevele's crooked team in one year is enough to pay for a canning factory 
Come ON Tonga !!!!
Nuku'alofa, Tonga:
In an effort to revive its dying fishing industry Tonga has opened up its tuna fishing to licensed foreign fishing vessels, the Ministry of Fisheries has confirmed.
A fishing vessel from Taiwan is expected to arrive in Tonga this month to operate from a local base, after paying a licence fee of USD$20,000.
Tevita 'Ahoafi of the Licensing Unit at the Ministry of Fisheries confirmed to Matangi Tonga Online today that there remained only two active fish export licensed companies in Tongan, namely Cool Fresh (formerly 'Alatini Fisheries); and Oripec Fishing Ltd., operated by a Tongan Pupunga Mahe, from Australia.
He said the Ministry of Fisheries in August opened up tuna fishing to foreign fishing nations by charging a license fee of USD$20,000 for foreign vessels to fish, based in Tonga.
Decline
He said that up to 2010 there were three other licensed fish exporters that included South Pacific Resources run by a Korean, Hina Food operated by Siale Sikimeti and a company run by David Edwards. However to date, their licenses had expired. The 'Alatini Fisheries was understood to have restructured its fishing company and renamed it "Cool Fresh" under 'Alo Fe'iloakitau. 'Alatini was selling off their fishing vessels and would only buy fish from local fishermen for export. Meanwhile, Oripec has one fishing vessel.
He said the fishing industry was in decline due to many factors, including that some of the older companies find it hard to fish with old equipment and had no capital to renew their resources.
Moratorium
In 2004, Tonga placed a moratorium on foreign fishing vessels and as a result no tuna-fishing licenses were issued to foreign fishing vessel.s
In 2006 the Foreign Investment Regulations came into force and required that commercial fishing comprising of tuna fishing, aquaculture, and bottom fishing in waters deeper than 500m and other water fishing not less than 100m shall be conducted subject to their resource management plan administered by the Fisheries.
All foreign vessels must be registered in the FFA register before licensing by a FFA member state.
This is one of the most ridiculous things the Tongan government had done besides letting Sevele walk free in the midst of the Ashika massive killing and cancelling unscrupulous deceitful Lasike's arrest warrent / reducing illegal firearm possession penalty.
What does Tonga get from offering licenses to foreigners other than collecting cheap fees? I got to wonder why the government put a moratorium on foreign fishing vessels in 2004. Fishing is the only commodity and main food source for our people. How can giving licenses to foreigners to exploit our sea water with their selfish mass fishing help revive the fishing industries in Tonga and benefit our own people? If they can fish and sell globally then so can our own people. Why can't the government get a fishing boat of its own and employ locals to operate it? How about working on setting up a canning factory for the locals' catches and tap on the regional and global fishing market? Don't say there is not enough money because Tongan government officials travel lavishly as if the Friendly Isles are floating on a sea of gold
and pension for Sevele's crooked team in one year is enough to pay for a canning factory Come ON Tonga !!!!