Fiji is overhauling its offshore fisheries sector with new digital systems, tougher monitoring and a push into high-value products, with Fisheries Minister Alitia Bainivalu declaring the country is moving from rhetoric to results.
Bainivalu told Parliament the ocean remains central to Fiji’s economy and survival.
“Our ocean is not merely a body of water; it is the life force of our economy, the heart of our culture, and the guarantee of our future food security.”
The Minister highlighted a major regional win on tuna management through the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC).
“ I am pleased to report a monumental achievement from the 22nd Regular Session of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC), held in Manila in December 2025.”
“I can confirm that the Commission has formally adopted a Management Procedure (MP) for South Pacific Albacore.”
She said the move will transform how the key tuna stock is managed.
“This is not just a technical bureaucratic win; it is a lifeline for our domestic longline fleet.”
“It automates catch limits that respond to the health of the stock, ensuring that South Pacific Albacore—the “blue gold” of our domestic industry—is managed to enhance the biological status of stocks and economic viability for Fijian fishers,” she told Parliament.
Bainivalu said Fiji will push for a fair share as new allocation rules are developed.
“Fiji will strongly advocate for a fair and equitable share that recognises the rights of coastal States whose waters support the resource, and the need for developing Pacific Island countries to secure greater benefits from our fisheries resources,” she emphasised.
She reaffirmed the importance of tuna to jobs and growth.
“Fiji will continue to emphasise the importance of the tuna fishery for employment, economic growth, food security and national revenue.”
Bainivalu said the sector is undergoing a major digital shift.
“We are aggressively retiring the archaic, paper-based systems of the past.”
“The era of filling out logbooks by hand, with data taking months to process, is ending.”
She confirmed rollout of a new system to track fish from catch to export.
“The Ministry of Fisheries have successfully rolled out the Catch Accountancy System (CAS). This web-based platform digitises the entire supply chain—from the moment a fish is caught to when it is exported.”
“It streamlines the issuance of landing and export permits, reducing processing time from days to hours, and ensures that every dollar of value is accounted for,” Bainivalu explained.
Further upgrades are planned with support from the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency.
“These developments…will ensure that we continue to progress and utilise advanced technologies in our collective efforts towards better service delivery.”
On monitoring, she said Fiji is scaling up electronic surveillance at sea.
“We are transitioning our Electronic Monitoring systems from donor-funded trials to a fully sustainable, state-led program.”
“Additionally…we are equipping our longline fleet with onboard cameras and sensors that provide the ‘eyes’ we need at sea, where human observers cannot always go.”
The system feeds into a national surveillance hub to crack down on illegal fishing.
“Equipped with real-time satellite tracking and integrated data feeds, this Centre is our shield against Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing—ensuring that those who steal from our waters are caught and penalised.”
Bainivalu said Fiji is shifting focus from volume to value.
“For too long, we have focused only on the volume of fish we catch. It is time we focus on the value we create.”
The government is backing new products from fish waste.
“We are currently supporting trials that utilise fish skin, bones, and offal.”
“We are seeing promising results in converting fish skin into high-grade medical collagen for skin grafts and wound healing, a market with immense global potential,” Bainivalu said.
She said by-products are also being used for agriculture.
“We are scaling up the production of organic liquid fertilizers and animal feed from fish processing by-products.”
“This not only creates a circular economy… but also provides cheaper, organic inputs for our agricultural sector.”
“By turning ‘trash into cash,’ we are diversifying the income of our fishing companies and buffering them against the volatility of global tuna prices.”
Bainivalu acknowledged the role of regional partners in driving reforms.
“I must also acknowledge the instrumental role of the Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) in advancing our economic aspirations.”
She said new partnerships are helping unlock investment and expertise.
“This collaboration is directly supporting our ‘100 percent Fish’ strategy by providing the technical expertise needed to turn fish waste into commercial products.”
The Minister said Fiji remains committed to protecting 30 percent of its ocean by 2030.
“Our commitment to the ‘30×30’ target…is unwavering, but it must be done right. It must be based on science, not just sentiment.”
She said new governance structures are ensuring balanced decisions.
“This body brings together government, industry, and civil society to provide balanced advice to the Minister.”
“It ensures that our Marine Spatial Planning integrates seamlessly with our fisheries management plans…rather than creating conflict,” Bainivalu said.
Bainivalu said Fiji is taking control of its fisheries future.
“Fiji is no longer a passive observer in the management of its ocean.”
“Through the adoption of the Albacore Management Procedure, the digitization of our monitoring systems, and our bold steps into value-added processing, we are building a fisheries sector that is resilient, profitable, and sustainable.”
She said the reforms aim to secure long-term national benefits.
“We remain committed to using these innovative, tangible, and robust approaches to address our challenges, ensuring that Fiji’s fisheries remain a pillar of our national prosperity for generations to come,” said Bainivalu.
