The Fiji government's decision to restrict long-line fishing in traditional fishing grounds to indigenous Fijians hasn't gone down well with the local industry's primary stakeholder. Fiji Fish Chief Executive Grahame Southwick says he has been fishing in the archipelagic waters for 20 years and it's ludicrous not to allow local companies like his to operate in the restricted area.
The Fisheries Ministry has introduced a new policy restricting all vessels belonging to companies with out any indigenous shareholders from catching fish in the archipelago waters. Fisheries Minister Konisi Yabaki says only indigenous Fijian individuals or companies and foreign companies with indigenous shareholders and having vessels less than 20 metres in length can fish in the restricted area.
Southwick says their vessels are designed for fishing within the islands, not for the deep sea. “Small boats under 20 metres are only capable of fishing in archipelagic waters, they are not designed to the far reaches of the EEZ ,†says Southwick who notes forcing the boats 200 miles out to sea puts captains and crew in danger.
He says the new policy means is that Fiji captains are being told they can only fish on 10 percent of Fiji's available waters," says Southwick.
Fisheries Minister Konisi Yabaki told Radio Fiji News that their decision is merely a conservation measure - following claims from indigenous Fijians living on coastlines that their fish resources are depleted by long-line fishing.
Yabaki says the decision is also for tourism purpose for tourists to see more marine life.
The Fisheries Minister says restriction of the archipelagic waters is also in line with the government's proposal to empower indigenous Fijians over their fishing grounds and sea resources.
Yabaki says their decision was not based on any study.