Our local fishing grounds are heavily exploited – Fisheries Director

We need to strengthen our efforts towards the monitoring and surveillance after research that our local fishing grounds are heavily exploited.

Director for Fisheries Neomai Ravitu stated this during an interview with fijivillage News today after concerns were raised regarding un-regulated fishing in Fiji.

The Director says the ministry has now put in seasonal closures and size limitations to sustain and conserve the species in the fishing grounds across Fiji which is exploited through vessels reaching the grounds that are sacred to our villagers.

She says the problem is increasing everywhere as people also need to make a living and are also dependent on their qoliqoli to sustain their families economically and also the nation at the same time.

She adds they collect data from every fishing vessel coming to sell fish in Fiji and see how the trends have been in market surveys.

Ravitu says their team is also undertaking Fish Market inspections, seeing what's on the table, collecting data and enforcing patrols during their market inspections.