The ineffective management of coastal fisheries is being heavily impacted by a lack of comprehensive data. Opposition MP Viliame Naupoto has highlighted the urgent need for a strategic plan aimed at improving data collection and securing support from regional development partners to fill this void.
Mr. Naupoto drew a comparison between the management of coastal fisheries and offshore fisheries, noting that the latter benefits from strong regional and international connections facilitated by organizations such as the Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) and the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission. He stated, “Thanks to these organizations, we receive valuable data from our offshore fisheries, leading to effective management due to the information available.”
In contrast, he noted that coastal fisheries are hindered by a deficiency of data concerning various resources like fish and aquatic plants. He argued that this gap in information restricts the ability to track and manage these resources effectively, pointing to recent problems like the overfishing of certain species as evidence of this issue.
“We struggle to track and manage our resources due to the lack of data. This is an area where we need to focus on finding development partners who can support us and provide the necessary information,” Mr. Naupoto added.
He underscored the economic importance of inshore fisheries, stating that they contribute more significantly to Fiji’s GDP than offshore fisheries. A prior study conducted during his time as Permanent Secretary for Fisheries and Forests estimated that coastal fisheries generate between $30 million to $60 million annually in local economic activity.
“There is a lot that our coastal fisheries do to sustain our economy by circulating money locally. We must strike a balance between development, management, and conservation, and I believe that maintaining this balance hinges on having good data. This is an area we should consider investing in to improve our coastal fisheries management,” he reiterated.