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Final <strong>Report</strong>
RoO Derogation under the PACP-IEPA
had earlier issued an approval in principle for the PMIZ project (11 March 2011), noting that it had
met all legislative requirements under the Environment Act 2000. 105
The PNG National Maritime Safety Authority (NMSA), established by an Act of Parliament in 2003, is
legally responsible for maritime safety, marine pollution control and corporate governance in PNG
waters. There are four related draft Acts concerning marine pollution in PNG waters, three of which
are technical, but these seem not to have entered into force since drafted in 2008. The exact role of
NMSA in marine pollution prevention and control activities is not known. In conjunction with the
PNG Ports Corporation, it is reported to be undertaking the first national marine pollution risk
assessment for PNG, starting with the Port Moresby area. 106 There is little evidence that NMSA has
been actively involved thus far in issues involving potential pollution from PNG processing plants and
associated facilities. Although there is some possible involvement with at-sea oil spills and/or vessel
groundings, but no incidences of this nature are known.
4.6.2 Existing environmental risks
A range of potential environmental risks relate to fish processing plants and associated activities,
including (but not limited to) those presented in Table 4.10.
Table 4.10 Potential environmental risks associated with fish processing plants
Type of Operation
Fishing vessels
Onshore processing
facilities
Environmental Risks
Oil spills and bilge/ballast water
Dumping of solid organic waste including reject fish
Dumping of inorganic waste (netting, rope, drums etc)
Shipwrecks (reef damage, oil spills and scattering debris)
Introduction of invasive species (marine/terrestrial plant or animal pests)
Foul odour emissions
Disposal of solid organic waste (rejected fish, fish scraps) and sludge
Disposal of inorganic solid waste (reject cans, lids, oil drums, glass, plastic, packing
material, tyres)
Disposal of waste water (washing, thawing, spraying, cleaning, sauce spillage, ice
plant, cooling tower)
Dredging/land fill when establishing/extending sites
According to DEC representatives, to date, no PNG tuna processing facility has been prosecuted and
fined for breaches of the Environment Act. However, it should be noted that instructions to rectify
deficiencies have been issued by DEC following complaints. For example, RDTC was instructed to
install a new waste water management plant in Siar following concerns regarding waste water
discharge into a nearby stream. The widespread perception that monitoring activity (by DEC) has
fallen short of the required level should also be noted.
105 The National, 14 March 2011.
106 The National, 31 October 2011.
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