Bula Vinaka,Namaste and Welcome!!!
It is my honor to welcome you to the new Ministry of Fisheries website.
The ministry appreciates your interest in visiting our website since we regard it as a medium for informing our valued audiences of our regulatory and service responsibility for the national fisheries management through the following functions:
- Formulating, aligning, reviewing and implementing policies, strategies, plans, programmes and projects;
- Providing and administering the regulatory functions under the respective ministry legislations and regulations;
- Monitoring and evaluating the current strategies, policies and deliverables;
- Developing and promoting effective training, communication and awareness and extension and advisory services;
- Strengthening community and industry networks and supporting infrastructure;
- Maintaining international bilateral and multilateral commitments; and
- Undertaking applied research for sustainable fisheries resource management practice and product development.
Through this website, we aim to share fisheries information and strengthen our service delivery all our valued stakeholders.
| Call for Written Submissions for National Fisheries Policy |
The first National Fisheries Policy was completed in 2016 and has been the guiding policy document for the work of the Ministry of Fisheries under its Strategic and Operational Plan since then. This had to be reviewed after the finalization and the launching of the Ministry’s Strategic Development Plan 2019-2029 in November 2019.
The National Fisheries Policy drives the Ministry’s approach of establishing an underlying policy framework that sustain, manage and protect Fiji’s fisheries resource management and development and will help the Ministry to make progress in areas where Government sees opportunities for growth, and to play our part in strengthening the economy and providing benefits for all Fijians.
The draft copy of the National Fisheries Policy is attached whereby you will be able to read and understand its core intent.
The Ministry of Fisheries therefore invites written submissions addressed to the Acting Permanent Secretary Fisheries, Level 1, Takayawa Building, Toorak, Suva and responses can be emailed to call4sub.fisheriespolicy@gmail.com .
Call for submissions will be opened from 29th June – 31st July.
Strategic Development Plan 2019-2029
| Opening of Cicia Fisheries Station |
On 29 January Minister for Fisheries Hon. Semi Koroilavesau opened the new Fisheries Station at Natokalau village, Cicia, Lau.
Hon. Minister said "This development is intended to improve the well-being of communities in the island of Cicia. This initiative will build on the knowledge you currently have to act wisely in managing our resources." "Our collaboration needs to continue so that together we agree to better manage our natural resources and protect our environment," he said.
The ministry is commited to providing efficient and expansive advisory services on coastal fisheries. The Fijian Government allocated $1.8 million in the 2018/2019 Budget for the construction of ice plant facilities, including the fisheries office and staff quarters at Wainigadru, Moala and Cicia.
Image Source: Fijian Government, Facebook update, 29 January 2019 https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2292739800758942&type=1&l=2d1e53e35d
| Opening of Moala Fisheries Station |
The new fisheries station in Naroi village, Moala Lau was officially opened by Fisheries Minister Hon. Semi Korolavesau on 28 January.
The government funded $750,000 development now makes it possible for villagers of Moala to improve their livelihood in the sustainable generation of income through fishing. This is part of government's ongoing development towards communities in the rural and outer-lying islands.
Image Source: Fijian Government, Facebook update, 28 January 2019 https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2291472724218983&type=1&l=0f511b6489
| Permanent Secretary for Fisheries Hands Over Solar Freezer to Doi Village |
The second solar freezer was handed over on to Doi Village on the island of Ono-i-Lau by the Permanent Secretary of Fisheries, Mr Craig Strong.
Villagers celebrated in dancing and singing as their new solar freezer will certainly ease storage issues on their marine resources. Mr Strong reiterated the need for villagers to work together to ensure that they maintain all government assistance to the island.
"This is a start of many more collaborations and we will certainly be working with the fishermen's association to try and work out sustainable methods which will see them develop into the future," said Mr Strong. The ministry will be handing out 40 solar freezer units to the rural and maritime islands who do not have access to ice plant services.
| Hon. Minister for Fisheries Hands Over Solar Freezer to Udu Village |
The Minister for Fisheries, Mr Semi Koroilavesau handed over a solar freezer on 19 January to the village of Udu in Totoya which will be be run by the Udu Fishermen's Association.
Following up on his trip to the Lau group last year, Mr Koroilavesau witnessed the hardships faced by the fishermen in terms of storage whilst awaiting the next boat to transport their fish to ready markets on the mainland.
During the handing over, Mr Koroilavesau stressed on the need for the fishermen to take care of their solar freezer and to ensure that they abide by the terms of reference that was also signed by the ministry and the association. The $20,000.00 solar freezer will certainly ease storage woes that fishermen often face when waiting for the next boat to bring their fish to mainland markets.
59-Year-old Udu Village Headman, Mr Railala Bilitaki said that it was a huge relief for the fishermen on the island and they are grateful for the assistance. "We are really happy with the assistance and would like to thank Government for all the assistance that has been rendered to us over the years," said Mr Bilitaki. Fishermen will have to report back on catch data to the ministry to determine the species and weight of fish caught in their waters.
