Boats will empower fisheries associations
Minister for Fisheries Semi Koroilavesau has secured a fund of $700,000 from America to buy 21 fibreglass boats. He made the revelation during a ministerial tour of Ono-i-Lau in the Southern Lau Group.
“We have secured the fund and the fibreglass boats that we will buy will be given to the fisheries associations (Soqosoqo ni Qoliqoli) to patrol their areas or their traditional areas. We will provide a 25 feet (wide) fibreglass boat with a 75 horsepower engine,” Mr Koroilavesau said.
“This will empower the resource owners to be able to look after their areas to make sure that there are no illegal activities within their areas.”
He said the resource owners will be able to provide the Ministry of Fisheries with data in relation to fish stocks etc.
“Through the data we will be able to quantify the stock within their traditional fishing areas. We have bought two boats already,” Mr Koroilavesau said.
“We will distribute it to the villages and will continue until the 21 fibreglass boats have been distributed.”
Mr Koroilavesau and ministry Permanent Secretary Craig Strong will open the ice plants at Moala and Cicia at the end of this month. After Cicia they will reopen the Makogai Research Station in Lomaiviti, which was damaged during Tropical Cyclone Winston.
Edited by Epineri Vula