FISHERIES Sector is expecting to inject $385 million into the country’s economy in 2017.

According to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources Dr Chris Ramofafia, fisheries sector has injected 230.6 million dollars into the country’s economy in the first 10 month of 2016.

He adds that the figure is expected to increase by the end of this year.

Dr Chris explained that the estimated revenue collection for 2016 is at $187 million but the collections have already reached $230.6 million when the ministry made a thorough calculation on October 16 this year.

He stressed that revenue collection projection for this year will be higher than that was recorded in 2015 which was at $317 million.

Dr Chris said the country received $317 million in revenue collection out of 183-million estimated in 2015.

He said the Ministry is confident that by the end of this year the revenue collection cross matched from Fisheries development will reach beyond $300 million.

Meanwhile Dr Chris said the Ministry is putting extra efforts toward securing appropriate fisheries development that would bring greater benefits to the country and at the same time sustain the harvest of the country’s Marine resources for future benefit.

He said Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources is the principal institution to advice the Government on suitable fisheries development and management and that support towards the ministry in paramount.

“In the meantime, the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources is looking at strengthening the institution next year,” Dr Chris said.

He said his Ministry has mapped out its 2017 strengthening programmes.

Dr Chris explained that the strengthening programmes will be financed by the ministry’s 2017 recurrent budget.

He said $11.2 million out of the Ministry’s total recurrent budget which is at 16.6 million will be responsible for the strengthening programmes while the remaining 5.3 million will be for Ministry’s payroll.

Dr Chris said $11.2 million will be distributed to offshore and onshore division within the Ministry to provide technical support towards policy formulation, research programmes and marketing.

He said the Ministry has four key development areas and they are; Fisheries Marine Resources and Eco-system Management, Private sector development and investment, Fisheries Compliance and Governance and Institutional Development division.

But, Dr Chris explained that more focus will be on compliance programmes in effort to address issues affecting our oceanic fisheries.

He also said that the Ministry is planning to establish 17 new position for Ministry of Fisheries next year and that these new position are proposed for the strengthening and compliance programme within the Ministry.

“We understand that the Ministry of Public Service has its policy and procedures to enrolled new public servants however the Ministry seeks the cabinet to endorse this call for the new post to be made possible in 2017,” Dr Chris said.

He said Compliance division within the Ministry is the operational arm of Fisheries Resource Management adding the division look after the programmes and systems put in place to make sure the Fisheries Act is effectively implemented.

Dr Chris stressed that the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resource aim to deliver quality service for fisheries development so that the country receive real benefit from our Marine Resources.

These statements were made by Dr Chris Ramofafia when appearing before the Public Account Committee last month.