Thursday 25 July 2024
New Director – General of the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency, Mr Noan Pakop. (picture courtesy of Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources).
Minister for Fisheries and Marine Resources, Hon. Jelta Wong has announced the appointment of Mr Noan David Pakop, as the first Papua New Guinean to be the Director General of the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA).
Mr Pakop who hails from Tilienu Island in the Manus Province, was officially appointed by the 23rd Forum Fisheries Committee Ministers in Honiara, Solomon Islands.
Mr Pakop becomes the 10th Director General of the FFA since its establishment in 1979.
“This is a historic achievement for us as no Papua New Guinean has ever been appointed to this prestigious position since the inception of the FFA 45 years ago.
“I would like to thank our good Prime Minister, Honourable James Marape, and the Government of Papua New Guinea for their trust and undivided support in endorsing PNG’s candidacy.
“This is yet another milestone achievement for the Fisheries sector in responding to the Government’s call to assume strategic leadership roles in the region,” Minister Wong added.
Mr Pakop has dedicated over 33 years of his career to this sector, having served as an Assistant Fisheries Extension Officer with the then Department of Fisheries & Marine Resources in the late 1980s, to his current role as the Deputy Managing Director, Technical & Operations with the National Fisheries Authority.
In this role he oversees NFA’s mandated functions in Fisheries Management; Aquaculture & Inland Fisheries; Monitoring, Control & Surveillance; Licensing & Data Management and Provincial Support & Industry Development.
He has also worked regionally and spent five years with the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) as a Policy Advisor in Monitoring Control and Surveillance and then Director in Fisheries Operations. (bio source: nfa website).