WWF & John West Empower PNG Fishing Communities After Mining Spill
In late October 2019, Jim Higgs, Marine Sustainable Development Manager at WWF-Australia, visited Madang on Papua New Guinea's north coast. His trip followed a mine refinery spill into coastal waters, leading to a province-wide fishing ban and causing distress among the local community where seafood is a central part of life. The ban affected nearly 500,000 people, leaving them without a crucial income and protein source.
John West Australia has been supporting WWF offices in Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands since 2014. This financial backing has helped secure additional funds from the Australian Government's aid program, enabling coastal community projects focusing on empowerment, resilience, and alternative livelihoods. One key initiative is the establishment of a network of Community Facilitators (CFs) who receive training in various areas, including village savings and loans schemes (VSLS), mangrove and foreshore vegetation restoration programs, and monitoring the impacts of mining spills on local fish stocks.
The CFs, trained in community-based fisheries management and financial literacy, have been sharing their skills and experiences to help others diversify their income sources. They have also been instrumental in monitoring the extent of mining spill impacts on local fish stocks, with results awaited to determine when fishing can resume safely in the Madang province.
The work supported by John West has been crucial in helping coastal fishing communities cope with the loss of income and protein source. The establishment of CFs and their training in various areas have empowered communities to diversify their income sources and monitor environmental impacts. The results of the monitoring are eagerly awaited to facilitate the safe resumption of fishing activities in the Madang province.
Read also:
- Managing Stormwater Efficiently through the Use of Permaculture Planning
- Young individual at Yellowstone National Park sustains severe burn injuries following a sudden collapse into a boiling hot thermal basin
- Rising hospitalizations due to severe food allergies, according to research findings.
- Important Immunizations for Newborns in Nigeria
