FELIX LESINAIVALU
Eighteen participants of the one-day Fish Warden training in Kiuva Village, Tailevu, have learnt how to sustainably manage marine resources within their traditional fishing ground.
The one-day workshop was an effort to help Fijians better understand their roles and responsibilities under the Fisheries Act.
Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama officiated at the training and stressed the need for participants to protect their fishing grounds from illegal fishing activities.
Speaking at a fish warden training in Kiuva, PM Bainimarama said that fisheries officials should not limit their area of work and they should also visit coastal villages that are in need of training.
The Prime Minister also emphasised the importance of re-invigorating business activities through promotion of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), and protecting ordinary Fijians who depend on small-scale fishing income.
The 18 participants from Kiuva and Natogodravu Village, Tailevu, participated in the workshop which was organised by the Ministry of Fisheries. Director for Fisheries Mere Lakeba said a fish warden has three key three roles - preventing, detecting and enforcing the provisions of the Fisheries Act.
There is a total of 106 fishing grounds in the Central Division, of which 48, are in the province of Tailevu. The appointment of the Fish Wardens will address the challenges currently faced by Fisheries Officers in monitoring an area of 1,672 square kilometers of fishing ground in Tailevu.
The training is aligned to Government’s strategic plan for sustaining, managing and protecting the marine resources in Fiji through the enforcement of the relevant fisheries legislations.
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