Inshore fisheries management in Fiji

Abstract

Fiji’s inshore fisheries is a multispecies fisheries which employs a complex exploitation regime. Additionally, it has dual ownership; thus, it is managed by both the national government through the fisheries department and the communities through the marine tenure system. Overfishing became a prevailing issue in Fiji’s inshore fisheries as it was indicated by the decreasing trend of CPUE from 2003 to 2011. This research was; therefore, conducted to examine the current management regulations and to evaluate the current status of Fiji’s inshore fisheries. Thus, bio-economic model was performed by the Schaefer Model to evaluate the 20 years catch and effort data for artisanal inshore finfish fisheries. Results revealed that the fishing effort at maximum sustainable yield and maximum sustainable yield were 1,750 licences and 5,512.5 metric tonnes respectively. In addition, optimal fishing effort and maximum economic yield were 1,391 licences and 5,280.9, respectively. Current fishing effort is well beyond the effort at maximum sustainable yield which led to overfishing. Overfishing in turn had caused negative impact on fish stock and economic benefit. Furthermore, the percentage of current stock size over the stock at maximum sustainable yield is 44%, which is lower than 80%, the percentage criteria for evaluating stock size. With the current fishing effort which is 3,000 licences, estimated fish stock for the next 25 years show a decreasing trend. To maximize production and economic benefit while conserving sustainable fish stock size simultaneously, fishing effort has to be reduced by 42% and 54% respectively. A minimum safe level of fishing effort, however, was established which requires only a 14% reduction in fishing effort. The Fisheries Act, on the other hand, is not sufficient to effectively protect and manage the fisheries resources. Thus, it requires amendment and incorporation of proper fisheries’ management guidelines. Fiji’s inshore fisheries can be considered unsustainable and the driving forces behind overfishing are population growth, introduction and globalisation of fish markets and limited sources of alternative livelihood.