THE Pacific Islands Tuna Industry Association (PITIA) has relaunched its website with the hope that its return will boost the profile of the industry across the region. PITIA is headquartered in Honiara, Solomon Islands. The launching was held in Nadi, Fiji as a side event in the lead up to the 13th session of the Western and Central Pacific Commission (WCPFC). Among the notable guests who had graced this small but rather significant event was the PNA (Parties to the Nauru Agreement) chief executive officer (CEO) LudwigKumoru. PITIA CEO John Maefiti said when he joined the organisation last year that the website www.pacifictuna.org had gone offline.Mr Maefiti said with the assistance from Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) the organisation was able to rebuild it (website) and get it up and running again. Mr Mafeti said information was key and that a key outcome PITIA wants achieve through this initiative is to see buyers dealing directly with local companies that support the domestic aspirations of the country they operate in by investing onshore, thus creating employment and much needed revenue.
“When every, one wants to buy fish from the pacific ocean they send their orders to Thailand, Japan and the Philippines, when really they should send their orders to the Pacific islands where the tuna comes from. “We will be putting up the contact details of the companies that are operating in the Pacific so that when people want to order tuna, they can just go online,” Mr Maefiti said. The website is working progress and apart from the company business directory, users will contain other information such as news and events happening in the industry. PITIA chairman Frank Wickham said “as you know there are many challenges that face domestic companies in the fishing industry in the Pacific and we believe that tools such as this and our engagement and partnerships will help our members.” EDF senior manager Sarah O’Brien in congratulating PITIA on the initiative said she hoped the website would help not just in giving the industry a stronger voice but also in helping the association to achieve its goals. Post courier / Tech PNG
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