The Ministry of Fisheries is advising fisherfolk and licensed fishers around the country to refrain from traveling out to sea for the next few days and to keep listening to updated weather bulletins.
All fishers will need to secure their assets like boats and engines as well as fishing gear. Villages that were assisted with solar freezers are advised to remove solar panels from the rooftops and properly secure them in a safe place.
This is a precautionary measure and the Ministry is calling on all Fishermen’s associations in villages and communities to work with your members and ensure that all assets are properly stored away.
Tilapia, prawn and shrimp farmers are advised to secure pond and feed stocks and prepare themselves in case flooding occurs. Private hatcheries to also take heed and take utmost care in securing assets and broodstocks. If possible, move broodstocks to more secure ponds or net and seal the pond bunds or undertake necessary measures to avoid loss of standing stocks.
Fishers are advised to adhere to all public advisories by the Fiji Met Office, National Disaster Management Office (NDMO) and the Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji (MSAF).
For further information, please contact the following numbers: Regional Manager West- 9966759, Regional Manager Central-9908101, Regional Manager East- 9967007 and Regional Manager North- 9966770.