Having a shark sanctuary will be greatly affect Fiji’s fisheries sector says Offshore Fisheries Officer Anare Raiwalui.
Raiwalui says while having a shark sanctuary is good in conserving our sharks – we need to consider the fisheries industry as a whole.
He says putting a total ban on shark fishing will be difficult to monitor and enforce.
Other options are now being undertaken.
“We have proposed to come up with a national plan of action for sharks because we see shark sanctuary is abit too harsh for us in Fiji. Apart from that – our decrees – the Offshore Fisheries Decree and Inshore Decree they address the issue of shark protection.”
The Offshore Fisheries Decree is being put forward to the AG’s office for vetting while the final consultation on the Inshore Decree has just being completed last week.
