Don’t let them down again, Rabuka
The industry didn’t stand a chance as the Government redirected tuna funds to other businesses.
Monday 15 September 2025 | 02:30
Processing certified albacore for export at the Solander Pacific factory in Suva
Photo: WWF South Pacific
At a time when tuna stock was ailing on the back of overfishing by foreign countries, Fiji deviced a sustainability plan to save its local industry.
The makings of the tuna stablisation fund was a genie in a bottle where the one wish was to keep the local industry afloat.
But those hopes were dashed before seeing the light of day.
Related stories
Between 2014 and 2020, when thousands of iTaukei found themselves without jobs in the tuna industry, the Government turned a blind eye.
Those were the days when banks closed in on Fijian-owned fishing companies whose operations were promised backing from the tuna fund.
Those funds never came.
The industry didn’t stand a chance as the Government redirected tuna funds to other businesses.
Millions of dollars were raked in in the name of the tuna industry, still does, but where to is was anyone’s guess.
Signs of recovery? What even is that?
The Government, as custodians of the fund, kept mum. They still do.
On the surface of it, a sham Fiji fishing industry carried on, as the Government patting itself on the back, with tea parties and salusalu, to celebrate a job well done, year after year, for the past nine years.
In that fashion, it promoted over-fishing in Fiji’s exclusive economic zone by issuing excessive licenses.
Not content with destroying the real Fiji fishing industry, the government lay the groundwork for the collapse of Pacific Fishing Company, where recent reports point to standing down of workers because of lack of fish.
The situation for the Government can go nowhere but down if anyone starts to play games.
Thousands of iTaukei who had served the industry for more than two decades were forced to scramble for jobs elsewhere.
The mess left in the wake of those dark days is best not revisited.
The real industry has laid dormant for close to decade. But time is also up, before people return to take back what is really theirs.
We call on you, Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, set it straight by your people.
Feedback: frederica.elbourne@fijisun.com.fj
