Fisheries Minister Semi Koroilavesau [Image Source: Parliament of the Republic of Fiji]

The Fisheries Ministry needs more assistance in order to protect our waters and marine resources as they are running out of time.

While presenting his ministerial statement in parliament, Minister Semi Koroilavesau highlighted that Fiji made a commitment in 2005 to protect and manage 30 percent of our Waters by 2020, but this is yet to be achieved.

With a few more months left for the year to end, the Fisheries Ministry is asking for support to achieve its goals.

“This is something that the fisheries ministry as a single ministry cannot undertake alone. To address this, honorable speaker, the fisheries ministry have been actively working with line government agencies and non-governmental partners to identify alternative options for large scale MPAs and MMAs.”

Opposition MP Simi Rasova commended the efforts by non-government agencies who have supported the Ministry so far.

“The opposition would like to put it on record with the sense of appreciation and recognition the work of the FJMovement and other stakeholders to organize the imposition of regular taboo upon our traditional fishing grounds and variant nature of delicious yet depleting  species of fish and other marine life.”

The Fisheries Minister says they have also undertaken stock assessments at 283 traditional fishing grounds in the past 17 years.

Fiji’s Exclusive Economic Zone is 1.29 million square km and the total coastal waters are a little over 2% of the overall area.