National Fisheries Policy 2024 - 2028.

The National Fisheries Policy (NFP) lays down strategies in the fields of offshore, coastal and inland fisheries and aquaculture to achieve a sustainable and prosperous future for Fiji’s fisheries and aquaculture sector. The timeframe of the policy is 5 years covering the period drom 2024 to 2028. The goal of the NFP is to promote sustainable fisheries and aquaculture development, contributing to economic growth, food security, alternative livelihoods, and resource sustainability in Fiji. The Policy addresses enhancing fish quality, value addition, technology transfer, capacity building, social development, decent employment, and participatory resource management regimes.
The National Fisheries Policy serves as a comprehensive guide for national, regional, and international stakeholders, outlining the overarching policy framework and key initiatives implemented by the Government to ensure the sustainable management of Fiji's offshore fisheries, coastal and inland fisheries, and aquaculture sectors. Sustainable management and use of fisheries resources will be ensured through sustainable management of all fisheries under management plans; improvement of community-based fishery management; protection of vulnerable and overfished species; implementation of large-scale marine protected areas; and provision of support to the agencies responsible for ensuring healthy ecosystems.
Innovative fisheries development programs will be developed to add value to existing fisheries and target underused resources. The NSF gives emphasis on efficient, inclusive, and effective stakeholder engagement and service delivery. This will be achieved through highly effective consultation, communication, and outreach. The Ministry will strengthen its collaboration, cooperation, partnerships, co-management and capacity development with the private sector. Effective private-public partnerships will be established to help to achieve the goals in the fisheries and aquaculture sector.
The legal and policy frameworks will be reviewed regularly. Efforts will be given to ensure compliance with fisheries laws and efficient, transparent, and fair fisheries administration. Decision-making will be supported through effective research and data collection and management. Quality information, including catch, effort, and economic data, will be gathered. Research will be conducted with a focus on informing adaptive fisheries development and management.
Aquaculture sector will be developed through sector planning, research and development and effective policy and legislation. Commodity-specific aquaculture development plans will be implemented, focusing on sustainable development for high priority species. Biosecurity and fish health protocols will be developed and implemented. Quality controls and best aquaculture practices will be established for feed, chemicals, antibiotics, hatchery equipment, cultured species, and fish products. Surveillance and monitoring strategy for fish health will be developed for hatcheries, farms, and imports and exports of live fish. Support will be provided to help establish small-scale household-level and community-based aquaculture farms for food security and improved nutrition and livelihood.
Fisheries export industries will be supported by the Government. Appropriate foreign investment will be encouraged. To engage in oceans and fisheries diplomacy, active participation and contribution to regional and international initiatives will be promoted. The NSF proioritizes the compliance with bilateral, regional, and international agreements and measures. CITES-related licensing systems will be supported for import, export, re-export and introduction from the sea of species covered by the Convention. Assessments will be conducted to support non-detrimental findings for export of CITES Appendix II listed species. The implementation of all relevant Multilateral Environmental Agreements, such as the Convention on Biological Diversity and Convention on Conservation of Migratory Species, will be supported.
The risks of external impacts on fisheries, such as habitat damage, pollution, siltation, biosecurity, climate change, and natural disasters, will be addressed in coastal and offshore fisheries and aquaculture development planning processes. Disaster risk management and reduction will be strengthened. Food safety will be ensured by identifying biotoxin hotspot issues through research, and strengthening collaboration with agencies, authorities, and academic institutions to address, mitigate, and reduce toxic or spoiled fish consumption.