Minister of Fisheries Ben Semri of Papua New Guinea

drive the authority to fulfill its vision and its mission.

the tuna stocks remain at a sustainable level.

at Holiday Inn Hotel in Port Moresby.

Papua New Guinea’s (PNG) fisheries minister Ben Semri is not convinced that the proposed mining activities by Nautilus Minerals Limited will not affect the country’s tuna stock, reports Post Courier.

asp Edited to include a piece from the 11/11 Post Courier: Tuna breeding ground worries FISHERIES Minister Ben Semri is not convinced the proposed mining activities to be undertaken by Nautilus Minerals Limited will not affect the country’s tuna stock.

PORT MORESBY, Pacnews - Papua New Guinea's (PNG) fisheries minister Ben Semri is not convinced that the proposed mining activities by Nautilus Minerals Limited will not affect the country's tuna stock, reports Post Courier.

Speaking to reporters at the conclusion of the International Deep Sea Tailing Placement conference last Friday Mr Semri said his concern was the Magadus Square the country's tuna hub.

Mr Semri said because of global warming climatic change was likely to lead to coral bleaching and affect our mangroves which are rich in marine resources and major spawning grounds for fish species.

Ramu nickel mine operations in Madang province.

Speaking at the official opening of the meeting, PNG Fisheries Minister Ben Semri said the average catch over the last five years from this fishery now exceeds 300,000t which exceeded 400,000t in 2006 for the first time.

Mr Semri said almost 150,000t of this catch is now processed on shore with majority of PNG's exports heading for Europe and the US.

Fisheries Minister Ben Semri denied any knowledge of the boats, or any involvement in their licensing.

Fisheries Minister Ben Semri said other renewable and non-renewable resources in PNG had forms of payment but there was nothing for marine resources.

Mr Semri was speaking at the official handover of a fish processing and cold storage facility in Lae yesterday.

Mr Semri said the Fisheries Department would have to work with the stakeholders to come up with a policy and the necessary legislation would follow.

Fisheries Minister Ben Semri said he would look into the allegations and respond at a later date.

PNG FISHERIES MINISTER CONCERNED ABOUT UNDERSEA MININGProposed dumping of mining waste could threaten tuna breeding groundsPORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (PNG Post-Courier, Nov 10, 2008) – Papua New Guinea Fisheries Minister Ben Semri is not convinced the proposed mining activities to be undertaken by Nautilus Minerals Limited will not affect the country’s tuna stock.

Speaking to reporters at the conclusion of the International Deep Sea Tailing Placement conference in Madang last Friday Semri said that of particular concern to him was the Magadus Square-the country’s tuna hub.

With government giving DSTP a nod as the mine waste management option for the Ramu nickel project, Semri said these policies for best practices would be very crucial.

Mr Semri said the aim was to build between six and seven such facilities in PNG.

_____ Postcourier, 11 Nov 08 Tuna breeding ground worries FISHERIES Minister Ben Semri is not convinced the proposed mining activities to be undertaken by.