News

Sixty percent of Fijians depend on fish

November 21, 2017 4:26 am

More than half of Fiji’s population depend on fish as a source of income and livelihood.

The Ministry of Fisheries says most of these Fijians live along coastal areas.

Permanent Secretary Sanaila Naqali says over the years they have advised people to refrain from consuming a particular fish specie.

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He says people were also advised to stop polluting the ocean to conserve fish stocks and the marine environment.

“Sixty percent of Fiji’s total population depend on fish products because they’re coastal dwellers. Meaning they live by the sea and it’s only them that consume fish and other fish products but it’s Fiji’s population as a whole. As the population increases the threats coming from the population also increases. In regards to pollution in many forms through what’s coming from boats and other human Indus.”

This comes in light of World Fisheries Day that was marked at Suva’s Sukuna Park today to highlight the need to maintain a healthy ocean system and increase local fish stock.

The ministry says the Fishing industry exports up to four hundred million dollars’ worth of fish products annually.

It also contributes about 2.9% to Fiji’s GDP.