Villagers to Benefit From NewlyCommissioned Solar-Freezer
75-year-old, Ateca Nai is grateful for the new solar-freezer that was installed at Malakati Village, Yasawa, on June 19, 2020.
Minister for Fisheries, Semi Koroilavesu, yesterday commissioned a newly installed solar-freezer that will be able to cater for 38 households at Malakati Village in the Yasawa Group.
This was after a Fishing Aggregate Device (FAD) was deployed at the village waters early yesterday morning.
“We need to realise the importance of the sea, its livehood and how we are to take care of it because it is the very thing that will take care of us out here in the islands,” he said.
Villager, 75-year-old Ateca Nai shared her gratitude towards this Government assistance.
“I am so happy that we finally have a solar freezer that will now cater for everyone here in the village,” she said. “We have a committee setup that will look into its running. “In the past, we were always worried about how to store our everyday catch from the sea, but not that worry has come with a solution today,” she said.
Morever, seven FAD systems have been completely deployed in the Yasawa waters during the Ministry of Fisheries Yasawa tour.
Due to strong winds in Teci Village in the Yasawas, the Ministry of Fisheries staff were unable to deploy the FAD system in its reef as scheduled on Thursday.
Fisheries Assistant (Lautoka/Yasawa), Ravuluse Naisele said: “Due to rough seas and strong winds, it was impossible to try and even deploy the FADs in Teci. The boat kept shaking and we didn’t want to risk anyone’s life so we returned.
“These seven FADs will be of great impact to the lives of those in Yasawa, not just for now, but for generations to come.
“The aggregate devices will attract the small fishes and therefore attract more open sea large fishes,”
“Sustainability and preservation will follow,” he said.