Fisheries legislation is ‘not adequate’

FIJI needs to make changes in its fisheries legislation to allow for the effective use of electronic monitoring and related requirements.

This was outlined in the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO) Electronic Monitoring in Tuna Fisheries report.

The FAO study stated there was a need to assess the current legal framework for the possible use of electronic monitoring in Fiji.

“The Development Law Service of the FAO legal office was requested to provide assistance to the Ministry of Fisheries on the use of electronic monitoring equipment in the Fijian longline fishery,” the report read.

The report stated existing provisions in the Fijian legislation were not adequate in providing effectively for the use of electronic monitoring and related requirements.

“However, the recommendations specify the introduction of relevant provisions in the Offshore Fisheries Management Regulations 2014, which appear to be relatively straightforward.

“Fisheries legislation in Fiji has recently been reformed, for example, by the Offshore Fisheries Management Decree in 2012 and the Offshore Fisheries Management Regulations in 2014, which facilitates the introduction of new technologies such as electronic monitoring.

“The consultation process for legislative changes can be lengthy and consultations with industry in Fiji, which will be one of the crucial steps in the process, are still to take place and the proposed amendments remain to be discussed and passed.”