News

Our fisheries can face depletion if mismanaged

July 11, 2017 3:35 am

Fiji’s fisheries could face depletion or extremely low if it’s management is not changed.

A report recently released by the WWF reveals that Fiji is facing the same crisis of sustainability with its reef fish as are other Pacific island countries.

The report – titled Length based Assessment of the Spawning Potential of Reef Fish from I Qoliqoli Cokovata in Macuata – tells the findings on an assessment of the status on reef fish stock in the Qoliqoli Cokovata in Macuata.

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It reveals that the Kasala and Batisai (both grouper species) are being heavily fished and the spawning potential level is below what is needed to stabilize its population.

The Rawarawa/Ulavi (Parrotfish) and Nuqa species are approaching the critical level of spawning potential

The reports states that without implementing significant change to the management of these coastal resources, Fiji’s current enjoyment of the larger groupers, parrotfish, wrasse and snapper is coming to an end.

It suggests that the simplest and most effective way of rebuilding the depleted stocks of reef fish will be to reform the existing system of minimum size limits so that all the main reef fish species are protected until they have completed a minimum of 20% of their spawning potential.