Levuka-based Pacific Fishing Company (PAFCO) remains out of compliance with Ministry of Environment requirements after paying a penalty but failing to satisfy the regulator’s standards for waste management, the ministry’s permanent secretary said this week.
Dr Sivendra Michael told members of the National Resource Owners Committee in Nadi that PAFCO was initially fined in April 2024 for not adhering to proper waste management regulations. He said a fixed penalty notice with specific remedial actions was issued again on April 16, 2025, and that the company paid the fine. However, PAFCO’s submitted waste management plan was rejected because it did not meet ministry standards, and further site works were requested.
“We asked them to remove fish scraps along the waterfront and do a detailed waste management plan,” Dr Michael said. “They have done a waste management plan, but it was not up to our standard. We did not approve it and we rejected their waste management plan. We have asked for further remedial works to be done at the site and the team is going to go back and ask them what they have done. If not, we will issue another fine.”
The ministry’s primary concern is that PAFCO establish a proper waste treatment plant. Dr Michael warned that building an appropriate facility will take time and will require collaboration with the Water Authority of Fiji, signalling that technical, regulatory and infrastructure work remains before compliance can be secured.
Residents near the Levuka factory have raised complaints about foul odours, and Dr Michael said while the law does not explicitly address odour, the ministry can investigate by testing for air pollution under existing provisions. He said such testing would typically be conducted over three to four days to gather sufficient data.
The ministry plans a follow-up inspection by its team to verify whether PAFCO has completed the required remedial works and to assess any further environmental impacts. Dr Michael’s comments suggest the ministry is prepared to escalate enforcement — including issuing additional fines — if the company does not meet the standards set out in its notices.
This update follows last year’s enforcement action and marks a new phase in the government’s oversight of PAFCO, shifting from initial penalties to rejection of remedial plans and continued monitoring. The involvement of the Water Authority of Fiji in setting up a treatment plant underscores the technical complexity of resolving the pollution concerns and indicates the matter may remain unresolved for months as agencies and the company work toward a compliant solution.
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