Illegal fishing is a growing trend and is a serious concern in the world of fisheries and forests says permanent secretary Inoke Wainiqolo.
Wainiqolo says this undermines efforts to conserve and manage fish stocks.
Opening the first plenary session of the 3rd African Caribbean Pacific Fisheries meeting in Nadi yesterday Wainiqolo says the moves to prevent deter and eliminate IUU fishing, is not enough.
He says if this trend continues it can lead to total collapse of fisheries, loss of socio-economic opportunities and seriously affect food security.
Fiji has developed a National Plan of Action (NPOA), with the assistance of United Nations’ Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), on IUU fishing based on the provisions of the International Plan of Action.
