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New deal with villagers

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EARTH Island Institute, with its connection with Frebelle Fishing Company Limited from Philippines, is planning to dispatch a freezer vessel to Fanelei and Walande in October to buy fish from the two communities and its surrounding areas.

Associate director Mark Berman, who is in the country, revealed this in an interview with the Solomon Star this week.

Mr Berman said the move is part of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Earth Island and the two communities.

The MOU, signed in April this year in Honiara, puts an end to dolphin hunting by the two communities.

In return, the Institute will provide grants for communities to engage in income generating projects.

Apart from the grant, Earth Island struck a deal with Frebelle Fishing Company to send a freezer boat to the two communities to buy fish from them

Mr Berman explained the boat will be there to buy all sorts of including reef fish, tuna, yellow fin, crayfish, but not turtles or dolphins.

He said once the boat is loaded it will travel back to Lae, where the fish will be unloaded and processed.

He said local fishermen and women will be provided with fishing lines, hooks, baits and fuel to fish.

Mr Berman said the fish will be bought at a reasonable price to help the communities improve their livelihood.

Mr Berman added Frebelle is happy to assist Earth Island and the communities and is prepared to send the boat.

However, Mr Berman said the project must be profitable and viable to sustain.

Apart from the two communities, nearby communities are also welcome to catch and sell fish to the 150-tonne boat.

Paper work to arrange for the deal is currently underway.

Frebelle has indicated its interest to set up a can and loin factory in the country and has submitted its proposal to the Government.

By MOFFAT MAMU