Prices Of Fiji Tuna Licenses Shoot Up ff

Source: Fiji Times

The existing allocation of tuna longline fishing license cap has been increased from 60 to 70 in a move to address the increasing demand for licenses.

Primary Industries minister Joketani Cokanasiga said licenses would be issued via an open tender process.

Mr. Cokanasiga said the increase in the license cap was to “accommodate an increase in the total number of applications seeking license, and maximize the exploitation of the total allowable catch of 15,000 metric tons (M/T) annually”.

He said Fiji had never reached the annual total allowable catch for tuna, with an average catch of 9500 M/T annually.

In response, the Fiji Tuna Boat Owners Association said it was appalled at the decision.

“It represents a return to the lunacy of 10 years ago, when the Government approved the issue of 110 licenses against an industry and SPC (Secretariat of the Pacific Community) recommendation of a maximum of 50 that Fiji could sustain,” president Grahame Southwick said.

He said in an interview that in its pursuit for an expanded fishery sector, focus had been moved to the potential total catch per year “without any concern as to whether this is sustainable”.

“The minister has stated that the fact Fiji has only ever produced a maximum of 9500 M/T and never reached the total allowable catch of 15,000 is because the 15,000 per year is not there to catch,” Mr. Southwick said.

“No matter how many boats you put out there, Fiji has only ever produced 9500 M/T because that is what we’ve got. Sending in more boats will only split the 9500 among more boats.”