Promoting the blue economy in fisheries through the sustainable use of fishery resources

Promoting the blue economy in fisheries through the sustainable use of fishery resources

Papua New Guinea (PNG)

In PNG, about 80% of the population lives in rural areas, and limited employment opportunities are a serious impediment to poverty reduction. To address this, PNG’s National Fisheries Authority aims to diversify the fisheries sector and raise rural living standards by promoting market participation in underdeveloped but resource‑rich coastal fisheries, including investing in rural cold storage and strengthening ties with provincial governments and the private sector.

However, weak resource management due to missing data; underdeveloped road and power infrastructure and fragile village cold chains that slow value‑chain development; and limited access to appropriate fishing gear are preventing small‑scale fishers from entering markets and are bottlenecks to sustainable coastal fisheries.

Against this backdrop, actors with diverse technologies and know‑how—such as fisheries DX and local‑government coastal fisheries promotion models—are expected to jointly tackle:①efficient resource data collection and proposals for resource management plans;②strengthening cold‑chain resilience by reinforcing O&M for refrigeration equipment in fishing villages; and③developing and disseminating fishing gear suited to village needs— to advance coastal fisheries and, ultimately, contribute to poverty reduction.

1. Collect and estimate coastal fisheries resource data within 3 nautical miles using technologies such as AUVs and environmental DNA surveys, and explore how to apply the data to resource management plans.
2. Pilot business solutions that support cold-chain development and O&M (e.g., solar freezers), and identify local partners.
3. Develop and pilot fishing gear suited to coastal fisheries, and cultivate market outlets.

Note: We also welcome pilot ideas beyond these examples if they address the challenges above.

Eligible entities include companies, local governments, and research institutions with expertise and a proven track record in coastal fisheries development and in the following areas:

1. AUV development/use; environmental DNA surveys; fisheries resource data collection and estimation; resource management
2. Cold-chain development; equipment O&M; capacity building; app development; community development
3. Fishing-gear development and sales

Note: We also accept achievements and expertise other than those listed above, as long as they contribute to solving the stated challenges.

• Logistical support for surveys in Papua New Guinea (PNG)
• Introduction and coordination support with the PNG Government and external partners
• Planning for the upgrading of facilities and training equipment at the National Fisheries University
• Examination of the exit strategy

Aichi（on-site pitch）・Fukuoka（on-site pitch）