Laws under review

Fisheries legislation

THREE major fisheries legislation are under review.

Fisheries and Forestry Minister Kalaveti Ravu said there was a need to put in place fisheries legislation that would drive the sector forward.

Fisheries policies, the Aquaculture Management Bill, the Inshore Fisheries Management Bill, and the Offshore Fisheries Management Act were the focus of discussions when senior ministry officials and Attorney-General Siromi Turaga met recently.

Permanent secretary for Fisheries Atelaite Rokosuka said the first legislation that needed to be reviewed was the Aquaculture Management Bill.

She said the document was initiated in 2009 with consultations as far back as 2010.

She said there was a need to address the issue, given the ministry’s plan to bolster and develop the aquaculture industry in Fiji.

Meanwhile, Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) director Dr Pio Manoa confirmed their support for the review of these laws.

He said the current Aquaculture Bill provides for the basic institutional framework for decisionmaking and participation with elements such as the powers to grant aquaculture licenses and cater to such matters as the separation of subsistence, semicommercial, and commercial levels of aquaculture.

Dr Manoa said the FFA welcomed the opportunity to provide capacity-building support via attachments with the agencyfor the legal officers from the office of the Solicitor-General.

Consultations on this policy review began this week.

... there was a need to address the issue, given the ministry’s plan to bolster and develop the aquaculture industry in Fiji – Atelaite Rokosuka

Picture: SUPPLIED Permanent secretary for iTaukei Affairs Pita Tagicakirewa (front left), permanent secretary for Fisheries and Forestry Atelaite Rokosuka, Minister for iTaukei Affairs Ifereimi Vasu (back left) , Minster for Fisheries and Forestry Kalaveti Ravu and Assistant Minster for iTaukei Affairs Ratu isikeli Tuiwailevu at the MOU signing in Suva.