THE 2017 Budget for the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources development has dropped from $31 million in 2016 to 26.7 million for 2017 though the sector made substantial contribution toward the country’s revenue collection.

Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources Dr Chris Ramofafia said his ministry has made a higher bid seeking the government to allocate $62 million for Fisheries Development next year, however the government has cut the proposal and the development budget for the Ministry is at $26.7 million.

He said development projections for Fisheries sector is huge in 2017 but the allocation will affect some of the proposed development programmes.

Dr Chris explained that the Ministry has three key development programmes, one of which is the much awaited and proposed Bina Harbour Tuna Processing Plant.

He told the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) that the distribution of the $26.7 million budget into development programmes are as follows; $5 million has been allocated to establish an onshore Tuna Processing Plant, 7million will go towards Infrastructure support livelihood and 15million allocated for community fisheries livelihood programmes.

Expressing his disappointment, member of PAC, Hon Mathew Wale, said the budget allocation for the Ministry of Fisheries indicates lack of strategic thinking within the government’s overall fiscal policy.

He said the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resource has made a significant contribution towards the economy and that such action deprives the ministry’s capabilities to look after the most strategic renewable resources that the country has.

Hon Wale said the decision demonstrates lack of consideration on the economic overview and where the economy is heading through allocation of fiscal resources and policy that needs to happen.

He said the Ministry of Fisheries and Resources are technical institutions with clear vision into the long term benefit of the country.

Hon Wale questioned who made the decision and at the same time challenge the Cabinet to clarification their decision.