Fisheries and aquaculture in Fiji: Present status, and future plans

Presented by Aisake Batibasaga

Ministry of Fisheries and Forests

OVERVIEW OF FISHERIES SECTOR – GDP VALUE ($M)

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010GDP 105 131 119 151 133 137GDP (%) 2.43 2.85 2.59 3.14 2.76 2.75Export Earnings

93.41 96.74 103 134 156 206

Employment ~50,000 (including subsistence sector)

FISHERIES SECTOR - OFFSHOREFISHERIES SECTOR - OFFSHOREOFFSHORE

Target species – Tuna (ALB, YFT, BET), Deepwater Snapper Total Allowable Catch:15,000 mtActual catches : 13,850 mtValue: USD 67 million

PROCESSING

• processors – 6• cannery – 2• domestic fleet - 132• employs : 1650 people

INSHORE FISHERIESImportance:•Food security•Protein and micro-nutrient uptake•Subsistence•Livelihoods and income generation

SUBSISTENCE CATCH

21,600 mt per year (Gillett and Lightfoot, 2001).

2008 Monte Carlo Model estimates:18,186 mt per year (fish & invertebrates)

15,400 mt finfish

No. of fishers: 25,700

Subsistence catch • Value: USD 31 m• Finfish: USD 21.3 m• Invertebrates USD 9.7 m

ARTISANAL (COMMERCIAL) FISHERIES

Catch • Finfish – 5,500 mt (US $25.2 m)• Invertebrate: 1,200 mt (US $ 6.5 m)

No. of Fishers: 22,650.

Reef-associated species dominate• 85% of total catch• ~100 reef fish species• 30 species - invertebrates

BECHE-DE-MER Markets• High international demand• High retail value: US$ 650 kg (HK)• Price to fishers: $ FJ25- $11O kg • Export value: FJ $21 mil in 2011.• Exports fluctuate

Management issues• Minimal monitoring and enforcement • Increased use of boats• Use of SCUBA and hookah.• Target other marine resources

AQUARIUM TRADE• Value @ over FD 25m• Hard & soft corals• Live rock (unsustainable, CITES quota) • Aquarium fish

SPAWNING AGGREGATIONS

Tilagica passage 2005

x

x • Most reef fish aggregate to spawn• Critical for fish stock replenishment

x

INSHORE FISHERIES CHALLENGESResource depletion• Degraded habitats - reduce fisheries productivity• Increased demand - overfishing

Better management•More comprehensive MP•Institute EAFM •Basic data for indicators

INSHORE FISHERIES INITIATIVESManagement committees• Implement actions at community and national level

Marine protected area networks• Locally managed marine areas are the focus• Assess benefits and efficacy using indicator species• Participation of communities in data collection

Customary Marine Tenure and CBM• Integrating local and national governance

FRESHWATER RESOURCESKai Fishery • 2600-3000 mt = 60-70% of total fw

catch• Mainly women • 3 major rivers: Ba, Sigatoka & Rewa.• Important for rural economy & food

security

Fresh water prawns Catch: ~10 mt Declines in harvest due to forest clearing

and use of chemicals

AQUACULTURECommodities for livelihoods• Black pearls• Seaweed• Freshwater prawn• Mud crab• Giant clam

Commodities for food security• Tilapia• Milkfish

AQUACULTURE PRODUCTIONCommodity Tonnes per year Value (USD)

Tilapia 160 217,000

Seaweed 135 71,000

FW prawns 20 350,000

Pearls 40,000 pieces 4.50 million

Total 5.1 million(90% pearls)

Livelihoods in aquaculture: 550

KEY FEATURES OF THE SECTOR Fish consumption • 42 kg per person per year (national)• 120 kg person per year (rural & islands)

Total finfish production• 45,000 mt = 30.8 % Offshore, 68.5 % Inshore, 0.7 % Aquaculture

Areas• Territorial Sea : 45,000 sq.km• Archipelagic waters: 130, 400 sq. km• Exclusive Economic Zone : 1,093,600 sq.km• Total No. of i-Qoliqoli: 411 (31,000 sq.km)

PLANS FOR THE FUTURE• Maintain or increase sector contribution to 3%

of GDP, • Cap inshore fisheries production at current

levels• Maintain tuna catches and improve

proportion processed locally• Aquaculture only potential area of

expansion ?? – not being realized !

PLANS FOR THE FUTURE

• Improve management plans for all sectors

• Strengthen research capacity to assess the status of the resources

• Strengthen policy & economic planning framework

• Incorporate EAFM – ‘ridge to reef’ management

CONCLUDING REMARKS Need to implement management plans to :• Improve capacity to manage the fisheries

sectors• Form stronger alliances/ partnerships to move

management and conservation goals forward.• Assess the effects of drivers on the sector,

including climate change‘How could climate change affect our plans?’

THANK YOU VINAKA