Korolevu village receives new fibre boat to protect fishing grounds

Villagers of Korolevu in the district of Navatu, Cakaudrove, will no longer need to rely on bamboo rafts or swim across the river to travel.

Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka yesterday handed over a 23-foot fibreglass boat and a 60-horsepower outboard engine at Matawalu Hall in Korolevu Village.

Valued at $25,761.84, the boat and engine were funded under the Office of the Prime Minister’s 2025-2026 Development Grant Budget. The equipment was supplied through Safeway Marine (Fiji) Pte Ltd and Niranjans Autoport Pte Ltd.

Mr Rabuka said the initiative reflected Government’s commitment to equipping rural and maritime communities with practical resources to support development, resilience and sustainability.

“Korolevu Village, though home to approximately 55 households, holds stewardship over the customary fishing grounds of the Yavusa Korolevu within the Navatu District, including designated Marine Protected and Managed Areas,” Mr Rabuka said.

“These waters are more than a source of sustenance; they represent identity and responsibility. Their protection sustains biodiversity, strengthens food security and supports livelihoods for present and future generations.”

He said the boat was a strategic investment in community-led ocean stewardship and would help villagers monitor their fishing grounds and respond to illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

“Importantly, the boat and engine will also be made available to Fisheries officers undertaking official duties in Navatu, Koroalau and Vaturova,” he said.

He urged villagers to take proper care of the equipment, noting that a previous boat had been stolen.

“This new boat and engine must be looked after,” he said.

He was accompanied by the Minister for Rural and Maritime Development and Disaster Management, Mosese Bulitavu.

Village headman Lepani Tusoba said the community had been requesting a fibreglass boat for the past two years.

“I am very grateful. Today marks an important day for all of us,” Mr Tusoba said.

He said the boat would improve daily life in the village, including for schoolchildren who previously crossed the river on a bilibili.

“At times, due to unfavourable weather conditions, they would get wet. It was risky, especially during heavy rain,” he said.

The vessel will also assist villagers with transportation and fishing activities while strengthening efforts to protect marine resources in the area.