Fisheries officials in Fiji has this week been formulating plans to better protect food security and the livelihoods of coastal communities.
The Minister of Fisheries, Osea Naiqamu, says the government must ensure there is more focus within the Fisheries Department on these goals.
12 senior Fisheries Department staff have been meeting this week to hammer out a way forward.
Future actions planned include better surveillance and enforcement, improved information on fish stocks and devising the best ways for the department to support coastal communities and coordinate NGO initiatives and other assistance.
Coastal fisheries in Fiji produce about 27,000 tonnes of good quality fish and are vital to the nutrition and incomes of coastal communities in Fiji.
But reports by the Secretariat of the Pacific Community indicate that Fiji is one of several Pacific Island nations where the production from coastal fisheries is not expected to meet the needs of an expanding population.
Yasawa Group, Fiji Photo: AFP
