The annual value of catch by Fiji’s tuna fishing fleet is worth approximately US$73m ($F155,855,000) and the sector is estimated to employ approximately 3800 people.

This was revealed by Kesaia Tabunakawai, the WWF Pacific Representative at the launch of the Fiji Maritime Academy’s Bycatch Training Manual last week.

Ms Tabunakawai said Fiji’s tuna fisheries with its fleet have earned international recognition as be­ing the first long line tuna fishery in the world to have been certi­fied sustainable under the Marine Stewardship Council certification for sustainability in 2012 and again in 2018.

“The MSC certification gives international consumers in mar­kets like Japan, United States of America, NZ and Australia and the European Union confidence that the tuna from Fiji they eat has been sourced from healthy well-managed tuna stocks,” Ms Tabu­nakawai said.

“WWF in partnership with the Fiji Maritime Academy, the Fiji Fishing Industry Association and the Ministry of Fisheries has em­barked on a project, with the gen­erous support of the New Zealand Aid programme,” she said.

“This ‘Developing Sustainable and Responsible Tuna Longline Fisheries in Fiji’ project will en­sure that Fiji’s tuna sector con­tinues to enhance its reputation as a world leader in sustainable tuna fisheries by enhancing capac­ity and understanding for Bycatch mitigation.

Bycatch, in the fishing industry, is a fish or other marine species that is caught unintentionally while catching certain target species and target sizes of fish, crabs etcetera.

Fiji owns tuna fishing vessels in­cluding Solander 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.

“We hope to contribute to the management of Fiji yellow fin and albacore tuna fisheries which in turn strengthens the contribution of sustainable tuna fisheries to Fiji’s economy.

“It is our vision that through the provision of affordable and acces­sible training for fishing crews on Bycatch; that the capacity building and development of professional fisher folks will go a long way to reducing impacts associated with Bycatch not only nationally but across the Western and Central Pacific tuna fishery,”

“WWF is committed to working together in partnership with the Fiji Government, our fisheries stakeholders, the private sector and development partners to en­sure that our fisheries continues to be well managed and that sustain­able development is realised and reaches all grass-root communi­ties here in Fiji.”