Page 38 - IB November 2023

UNLOCKING

TRANSPARENCY:

FIJI’S FIGHT

AGAINST

IUU FISHING

Mua-i-Walu port in Suva. Photo: WWF-Pacific/Jason Chute
Fiji is taking a firm stance in the global battle against
illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing placing
transparency at the forefront of their mission.
The enormity of IUU fishing in Pacific tuna fisheries is
alarming, with an estimated value of US$333.49 million
annually from 2017 to 2019, as per a report by the Pacific
Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA).
A recent workshop in Suva, organised by the World Wide
Fund for Nature in Fiji (WWF-Fiji) in partnership with the
Ministry of Fisheries, convened global fisheries experts,
government officials, and industry stakeholders to address
challenges and solutions in Fiji’s fisheries transparency.
At this session, Fiji’s Minister for Fisheries, Honourable
Kalaveti Vodo, emphasised the need for innovative
solutions, striking a balance between economic
development and marine ecosystem protection.
“Balancing the urgent need for economic development Attendees at the Fisheries Transparency in Fiji workshop. Photo: WWF-Pacific/Only Idea Studios
with the imperative to conserve and protect our marine
ecosystems is a formidable task. It is a challenge that requires innovation, on fisheries transparency and data sharing as part of the WWF’s improving
collaboration, and, most importantly, transparency,” said Hon. Vodo. fisheries transparency project, questioned the confidentiality and
Transparency is a tool, stressed Damian Johnson of the International emphasised a consultative process for any changes of certain information.
Monitoring Control & Surveillance Network. International collaboration is key to combatting IUU fishing, stressed the
“It’s essential to consider transparency as a tool rather than an end Director of Fisheries Operations Division at the Forum Fisheries Agency
in itself. We need to be aware of the quality of information being shared (FFA), Allan Rahari.
and the potential unintended consequences of sharing poor quality data,” “Cooperation works. We’ve been in this space for the past 44 years,
emphasised Johnson. and cooperation has been the cornerstone of our work and has been very
Fiji grapples with challenges, including a lack of technology and successful. It has impacted on the nature and the scale of IUU fishing.”
platforms for data sharing. Collaborative efforts between the government, The workshop ended with acknowledgement of the significance of
industry, non-government organisations, and coastal communities aim to technology and its potential to enhance transparency within the offshore
boost levels of transparency. fishing industry, and agreement to work together and consult with all parties
Senior Fisheries Officer at Fiji’s Ministry of Fisheries, Meli Raicebe said, involved in the sector to improve transparency.
“This includes satellite tracking systems, vessel monitoring systems (VMS), The 3-year Improving Fisheries Transparency in Fiji Project is funded
and Electronic Monitoring Systems (EMS) for tracking and monitoring by the Oceans 5 Initiative through the WWF-USA office and implemented
fishing vessels. by WWF-Fiji.
“We try and target niche markets. So when you take that niche market Further stakeholder consultations are planned to create awareness and
into account, it’s not driven by how much fish you could export, but the to address Fiji’s fisheries transparency needs, priorities and commitments
quality of fish and the story behind it. So sustainable transparency within as it continues to develop and manage its offshore fisheries sector
the supply chain would enable us to track the origin of the fish, and the sustainably.
legality and the sustainability of the fish,” explained Raicebe. The call to action is clear – it’s time for international collaboration and a
Under Fiji’s fisheries laws, the Ministry of Fisheries is empowered to united effort to combat IUU fishing. Together, we can protect our oceans,
collect and publish various data points, but the public availability of this preserve marine ecosystems, and ensure the sustainability of our fish
information varies. products.
James Sloan, a lawyer who has been reviewing Fiji’s fisheries legislation

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