Ways 4FJ Toolkit, App Will Help Fishers
The new toolkit also includes a 4FJ Fish Smart mobile application (app) that shares legal sizes for common food fish, the set sizes which are the recommended, minimum sizes, and banned marine species that should be completely avoided.
Friday 01 April 2022 | 11:38
From left: Mata ni Tikina Dawasamu Sanaila Rokotuivuna, Programme Management Unit Co-ordinator for SPC-Pacific-European Union Marine Partnership, Martin Chong of, EU Fiji Programme Manager, Noa Sainz Lopez, Ministry of Fisheries Deputy Secretary Atelaite Rokosuka, cChange Programme Manager, Mafa Wilson and Fisheries Director Neomai Ravitu on March 30, 2022. Photo: Sheenal Charan
The launch of the 4FJ Fish Smart toolkit is set to empower communities in their fishing grounds.
During the launch, Ministry of Fisheries Deputy Secretary Atelaite Rokosuka said the decline of fish stocks in our fishing grounds posed a threat to our culture, our tradition, and our way of life.
The launch that took place at the National Sailing Centre in Suva on Wednesday was expected to provide all communities with access information to better manage their fishing grounds and take local actions to improve food security and livelihoods.
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The tools
The tools include illustrated booklets which promote community discussions, posters that share minimum sizes, videos, and podcasts.
The new toolkit also includes a 4FJ Fish Smart mobile application (app) that shares legal sizes for common food fish, the set sizes which are the recommended, minimum sizes, and banned marine species that should be completely avoided.
“Fisheries throughout Fiji have reported that they spend more time and money on fuel, to catch fish which affects their livelihoods and family nutrition,” she said.
“In fact, recent studies show that it took around two hours per day in the 1980s to catch enough fish for an entire village.
“By the year 2000, fishers could only catch enough fish for their families, and today, most fishers spend around 10 to 12 hours to catch enough fish for their sustenance.”
Ms Rokosuka said the core objective behind the launch was to find cost effective information pathways to empower all communities to better manage their fishing grounds.
“This means that we all have access to the information we need to enable us to make critical decisions around fishing and sustainable fisheries management,” she said.
Feedback: sheenal.charan@fijisun.com.fj
