Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka announced that the Cabinet has approved the National Fisheries Policy for 2024-2028. The policy is designed to provide a strategic framework for the management of Fiji’s fisheries and aquaculture sectors, with an emphasis on sustainability, economic development, and food security.
Specific strategies outlined in the policy include the following sectors:
– Offshore Fisheries: Implementation of management plans, legislative updates, support for industry growth, and strategic research initiatives.
– Aquaculture: Promotion of sustainable practices, modernization of legislation, and the adoption of environmentally conscious methods.
– Coastal and Inland Fisheries: Emphasis on community-based management, legislative updates, and support for small-scale fisheries.
– Cross-Sectoral Issues: Attention to marine spatial management, involvement of gender and youth, environmental policies, and their relationship with tourism.
Rabuka noted that the policy is the result of comprehensive consultations with stakeholders and is aligned with both national goals and international obligations.