The district of Tavua on Friday agreed to setting a 20cm size limit on Kabatia (Thumbprint Emperor) harvested from within their fishing grounds.

This exercise comes into effect following the lift of a five-month ban on the harvest of Kabatia.

The ban was put in place in June this year, following preliminary results of a six-month fish length based.

This is according to spawning per recruitment assessment conducted around the reef fishery of the district which revealed that Kabatia was one of the most heavily commercially-fished species within the district’s iQoliqoli.

Tui Tavua spokesperson Kitione Ratubua said: “The Tui Tavua is urging communities and fishers to fish responsibly and sustainably to ensure species continue to thrive for future
generations.”

WWF-Pacific’s Fisheries Project Officer Laitia Tamata, said the people of Tavua had set the standard for Fiji with regards to community-based fisheries management based on data.

“Setting the size limit at 20cm and increasing it as they see fit targeting 25cm by 2020 is really motivating for small Pacific island nations,” he said.

“Now they need local authorities to work together in harmonising the fishing licenses and trading license in terms of Set Size as the way forward for the benefit of Fiji’s coastal fisheries.”

Edited by Ranoba Baoa

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