In a concerted effort to enhance transparency, accountability, and sustainability within the PNG Lobster industry, a rigorous four-day Chain of Custody internal audit was recently conducted in Daru Island, Papua New Guinea. Led by an experienced MSC Chain of Custody Lead auditor, Marcelo Hidalgo and supported by two observers from the National Fisheries Authority (NFA), and the Fisheries Industry Association of Papua New Guinea (FIA PNG) office, the audit spanned across key locations - the head office, two factories, the reef platform in the Torres Straight Protected Area, and included insightful interviews with workers. This meticulous assessment aimed to evaluate compliance with established MSC Group CoC standards requirements, identify areas for improvement, and pave the way for a Lobster MSC Group CoC certification audit in the near future.
In October 2023, the Lobster fishery of the Torres Straight Lobster Group located in the Papua New Guinea Waters achieved the MSC Fishery Certification and led the FIA PNG head office.
Later, the FIA PNG office was responsible for setting up a Group Chain of Custody for members buying, handling, processing and exporting Lobster from Daru, PNG.
In the first quarter of 2024, MSC CoC standard training was performed for the FIA PNG head office personnel and Lobster members by Seafoodmatter and the MSC Australia team to increase awareness of the standards and requirements among Lobster members.
By May 2024, the FIA PNG Lobster Group MSC central management system was set up
including policies, procedures, training, and an internal audit plan.
Later in June 2024 Led by our Traceability and VMS Coordinator, Stephanie Pokajam; FIA PNG started the implementation of the requirements in the Lobster Group members that included:
Two Lobster processors in Daru
Two traders in Port Moresby
FIA PNG Head Office
In July 2024, the audit commenced at the head office, where critical documentation, procedures, and internal controls were scrutinized to ensure stringent adherence to Chain of Custody requirements. From comprehensive record-keeping practices to robust traceability systems, and management systems. Through meticulous examination and thorough discussions with management personnel, a culture of continuous improvement and commitment to best practices emerged as key strengths of the organization.
Moving on to the factory sites, the auditor meticulously inspected production facilities,
storage areas, and handling practices to ascertain compliance with sustainable fishing standards. Key aspects such as separation, identification, and mass balance in place practices were thoroughly evaluated to ensure alignment with MSC Group CoC requirements. The audit team engaged closely with factory staff, fostering open dialogue and gathering valuable insights on operational challenges and opportunities for optimization.
A unique highlight of the audit was the assessment of the reef platform, a critical link in the Lobster harvesting process and the process at Land. By observing operations firsthand and engaging with platform workers, the audit team would gain invaluable perspectives on the intricacies of on-site activities, Chain of Custody requirements implementation, and worker and diver awareness considerations. Unfortunately, weather conditions did not allow the auditor and the observer’s team to assess offshore.
Crucially, interviews with workers provided a human-centric dimension to the audit, based on their experiences, perspectives, and suggestions for enhancing chain of custody practices. This inclusive approach fostered a sense of trust, collaboration, and shared responsibility among the management and the workers in the audit factory’s process.
As the four-day Chain of Custody audit drew to a close, the five (5) principles of the MSC Group Chain of Custiry and additional group requirements were assessed, and positive outcomes emerged in abundance. Not only did the audit highlight existing strengths and areas for improvement within the assessed locations, but it also laid a solid foundation for the forthcoming group certification audit.
In conclusion, the transformative journey of the PNG Lobster Chain of Custody audit exemplifies the power of collective action, transparency, and continuous improvement in shaping a more sustainable and responsible Lobster industry in Collaboration with the National Fisheries Authority. By setting the stage for enhanced certification processes and driving positive change across the PNG Lobster supply chain, such audits serve as pivotal milestones in the evolution towards a thriving, ethical, accountable, and environmentally conscious Small Scale Fisheries sector of PNG.
The next step is to address the Non-conformities that arose during the internal audit process, our Traceability and VMS coordinator who is also responsible for the Lobster Group CoC implementation - Stephanie Pokajam; and our Sustainability and MSC Coordinator - Alice Posanau will be responsible for preparing the Lobster processor’s sector for moving into the Third-party certification process.
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