The Government of Fiji says significant progress has been made in clearing abandoned fishing vessels from Suva Harbour, with the number of derelict boats reduced to 20 as of February 2026 — down from 44 recorded in 2024. Authorities say the decline follows a series of removals during 2025 and changes to the funding and management of the clean-up programme that are intended to accelerate further work.
Fiji Ports Corporation Limited (FPCL), working with the Joint Maritime Environment Committee, reported that 13 vessels were cleared from the harbour in 2025. Most of those vessels were safely scuttled at locations formally approved by the Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji (MSAF), the agency responsible for ensuring salvage and disposal meet safety and environmental standards. Officials say the removals are aimed at minimising navigational hazards and reducing environmental risks in Fiji’s busiest port.
Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka welcomed the progress, stressing the removals’ importance for protecting the marine environment, maintaining safe navigation and preserving the integrity of Suva Harbour. He also highlighted the need to respect the wellbeing and customary fishing rights of iTaukei communities, who are the traditional custodians of local iqoliqoli and stand to be affected by derelict vessels and any remedial work.
The Government acknowledged financial support from the Waitt Foundation, and announced a revision to the funding arrangement in late January 2026. Under the revised arrangement, the foundation’s financial assistance will be channelled directly through FPCL to manage contractor payments. FPCL has accepted the change and is completing onboarding requirements, including compliance checks and application procedures; officials expect the updated agreement with the Waitt Foundation to be finalised by April 2026, with full-scale removal operations to follow.
The new funding mechanism is a notable shift from earlier phases of the programme, and government sources say it is intended to improve oversight of contractor payments and speed up procurement and operational activity. That follows several earlier obstacles: previous reports showed plans in late 2024 to relocate and remove dozens of derelict vessels and highlighted logistical problems such as shallow waters at Draunibota Bay that complicated scrapping and salvage operations. MSAF had also been negotiating with private firms to assist in removals and working on feasibility studies with regional partners.
The reduction from 44 to 20 vessels underscores steady progress but leaves a remaining backlog that authorities plan to tackle once the revised funding arrangements are in place. Officials say continued coordination between FPCL, MSAF, the Marine Environment Joint Committee and community stakeholders will be central to completing the clean-up while minimising environmental impacts and protecting customary fishing rights.
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