Over-Fishing Affects Fijian Catch - Vanuatu Next?ff

What are the environmental implications of the proposed Chinese funded fish processing plant in Vanuatu? In the rush for easy money have we inadvertently sold out our future fish stocks?

The following report from the Fiji Times provides food for thought....

Fiji earns about $250million a year from fish caught by Fiji-based vessels but the catch is decreasing because of gross over-fishing in most Pacific regions.

Fiji Fish Marketing Limited managing director Grahame Southwick said the amount of fish caught was 10 per cent less than what it used to be 50 years ago.

Mr. Southwick said the reason was over-fishing in Fiji and Pacific waters.

Jean-Claude Guenegan, general manager operations at Pacific Fishing Company, said the fishing industry in Fiji was facing a shortage of supply.

Mr. Guenegan said if the trend continued export earnings from fish would be affected.

He said PAFCO was aware of the problem and was doing its best in helping to improve the supply of fish to its factory and buyers.

Mr. Southwick said fish caught by boats based in Fiji was about 16,000 tonnes in the past two years against fish sold to PAFCO by foreign boats.

”Most of the fish caught and exported is tuna which is about 80 per cent, including the expensive Albacore species. The balance is covered by Wahoo, Mahimahi and Swordfish which are exported to Japan and the United States.”

Mr. Southwick said Japan and the US were two of the big buyers of fish from Fiji while Europe took a small share.