The Minister of Fisheries, alongside four fisheries experts had an open debate with the public on Wednesday night.

The fifth Parliamentary Speaker’s Debate was held at the Grand Pacific Hotel in Suva.

Speaker to Parliament Dr Jiko Luveni said: “The challenge for Parliament is how we can better engage with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG). The Speaker’s Debate is a chance to raise awareness about these issues. It is one of the forums where SDGs are being discussed.”

She said the SDGs were not simply goals of Government, policy makers or international organisations, but goals that affected us as individuals.

Fisheries Minister Semi Koroilavesau said: “Fiji’s fishing industry is driven by two major sectors: coastal and offshore fishing and its processing components and a developing aquaculture sector which makes up the third.”

He said in the offshore sector a National Total Allowable Catch (TAC) was annually set at 12000 metric tonnes which was reduced from 15000 tonnes and TAC ensures the sustainable extraction of tuna stocks and other offshore fish stocks, within Fiji’s Exclusive Economic Zone.

He said ensuring sustainable stock, but maintaining it at a profitable level challenges the Government.

“To try and secure this, the Ministry of Fisheries maintains a license cap, a number that ensures sustainable harvest and further ensures long term sustainability,” Mr Koroilavesau said.

According to him, future strategies to ensure these stocks are maintained at a sustainable level and are also able to ensure economic viability for vessel operators, and processing plant owners, must be laid down now.

He said the ministry continues to update its stock status through inventory surveys. Edited by Jonathan Bryce

Feedback:  monica.aguilar@fijisun.com.fj