Fiji must urgently scale up processing of its tuna to capture higher returns from a globally valuable industry, Fisheries Minister Alitia Bainivalu warned, as the government seeks investors and partners to expand local value-adding. Bainivalu said most of Fiji’s catch is still exported whole and fresh to sashimi markets, rather than being processed into higher-value products such as fish oil and other manufactured goods that could boost revenue and jobs.
“Tuna remains one of Fiji’s most valuable resources,” Bainivalu told reporters, noting the global tuna trade generates billions of dollars annually. “For example, the extraction of fish oil, and fish oil is a very important component of some of the medicines that have been used by pharmaceutical companies. So that’s some of the potential areas that we can tap into to maximize the benefit that we get from our TUNA, because mostly now we are exporting our TUNA whole and fresh for our sashimi markets.” Her remarks mark the latest push by government officials to shift the industry beyond raw exports.
The minister said limited funding and a lack of targeted research are currently constraining the development of processing capacity in Fiji. While recognising the technical and capital demands of establishing onshore processing plants and refining facilities, Bainivalu urged increased public-private collaboration to build the necessary infrastructure and know‑how. The government is actively seeking partnerships and investment to broaden capabilities across the supply chain, she added.
A private-sector step forward has already begun: the Pacific Fishing Company has initiated value-adding operations, including pilot fish oil extraction, according to the minister. That move is significant because it demonstrates commercial feasibility and could provide a template for scaling. However, Bainivalu and industry observers say the company’s efforts remain limited in scope and must be expanded if Fiji is to retain a larger share of the value generated by its fisheries.
Experts have warned that without rapid expansion of processing and product diversification, Fiji risks missing out on sizable economic opportunities. Value-adding can capture margins that raw exports leave on the table, create downstream employment in processing and logistics, and open access to markets for fishmeal, fish oil, and other derived products used in pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals and animal feed. The window to build competitive processing capability is narrowing as regional competitors also target higher-value tuna products.
Bainivalu’s comments come amid broader government efforts to strengthen Fiji’s economic resilience and build locally based industries. While details on financing mechanisms, incentives, or timelines for new processing facilities were not provided, the minister signalled an openness to external investment and technical partnerships. Scaling up will require coordinated research into processing technology, quality and regulatory standards, and investment in workforce skills to meet export specifications.
The latest developments underline a pivot point for Fiji’s fisheries sector: initial moves toward onshore processing are now under way, but substantial scaling and strategic investment are needed to turn tuna from a raw-export commodity into a driver of sustained local economic growth.
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