Fiji has formally acceded to the International Convention on Maritime Search and Rescue, 1979, the government announced, a move the parliamentary Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence says will bring the country’s sea rescue operations into line with internationally recognised standards and strengthen regional cooperation.
Lenora Qereqeretabua, chair of the Committee, told reporters the Convention provides a clear legal framework to improve coordination between agencies and with neighbours. “Accession to the Convention will support the continued development of Fiji’s national search and rescue system,” she said, adding that the step will underpin the eventual enactment of dedicated national legislation to implement the Convention’s requirements.
Fiji already relies on a multi-agency approach to maritime incidents, Qereqeretabua noted, with operations conducted by the Republic of Fiji Navy, the Fiji Police Force, the National Fire Authority and aviation authorities. Over recent months the Committee carried out consultations across government ministries, operational agencies and maritime and aviation authorities, and conducted site visits to key operational centres to assess coordination, response mechanisms and institutional strengths. Those engagements informed the Committee’s findings and final recommendations.
The bipartisan report submitted to Parliament identifies a number of priority gaps that must be addressed to meet the Convention’s standards. The Committee highlighted the need for targeted investment in training for search and rescue personnel, upgrades to communication infrastructure, and improved interagency coordination arrangements. These measures are intended to enable effective implementation of the Convention and to bolster Fiji’s overall maritime response capacity.
Qereqeretabua said the Committee’s work benefited from on-the-ground insights provided by frontline agencies, and she thanked stakeholders for their cooperation. The Committee’s recommendations, she added, are designed to ensure that accession translates into practical improvements — not just a formal change in legal status. The report is now before Parliament for consideration; any legislative or budgetary decisions to resource the identified priorities will be taken there.
Observers say the move should also enhance regional search-and-rescue cooperation in the Pacific, where vast maritime zones and dispersed island communities pose perennial challenges. Acceding to the 1979 Convention aligns Fiji with internationally agreed roles and responsibilities for maritime rescue coordination and could make it easier to work with regional partners on joint exercises, information sharing and mutual assistance.
The next stage will be for Parliament to review the bipartisan report and determine the legislative and resourcing path to implement the Committee’s recommendations. Officials will also need to map how existing operational arrangements align with obligations under the Convention and what institutional changes — including any new laws — are required to close the gaps identified by the Committee.
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