Australia’s failings an opportunity for China as it signs PNG fisheries deal

What is yet to be revealed is whether the agreement is principally about replacing Australia's high-value seafood exports to China (worth more than $500 million in 2019) or about grabbing effective control over PNG's seafood sector, including fishing for tuna, which is in high demand internationally.

Based on recent experience, I believe the agenda is much wider than just replacing Australian exports. It is about getting a dominant place in an industry that is underdeveloped but has enormous potential.

The Chinese embassy in Port Moresby would be aware that the capacity of PNG authorities to monitor catch levels and impose biosecurity and other controls is just about zero.

The rivers and coastal areas of Western Province-the part of PNG closest to the Australian mainland-abound in high-quality marine products, especially barramundi and prawns. Some of Australia's Torres Strait Island communities are within easy reach by canoe and share fishing rights with their PNG neighbours.

Chinese fishing fleets will, sooner or later, target other areas close to Australia, including the Gulf of Papua, which adjoins the Coral Sea and the Great Barrier Reef and is rich in king prawns.

Australia's experience in PNG and the South Pacific surely tells us that when China focuses on an industry it does so methodically and with little regard to what that means for the 'grass roots'-in this case, coastal communities right around PNG.

In PNG, that means eight million men, women and children who rightly see food production, and agriculture generally, as being their one hope for a better future.