Minimum Size Limits for fish

To protect our fish stocks, our government has implemented regulations for minimum catch size limits for certain species. Please see the table below:

Fish Size Limit

Absolute No No’s

The following information has been taken from the Fisheries Act Cap 58.

No person shall take, be in possession of, sell, offer or expose for sale or export any of the following:

Trochus Shell Trochus niloticus (sici) measuring less than 90 mm [3.5 inches] across the whorl;

Tritons Trumpet Shell Charonia tritonis (davui) The Triton Trumpet is now a rare find in the Pacific, most often found at moderate depths of 5—20 meters and deeper in coral rich habitats. It is an active predator on coral eating sea stars like the Crown of Thorns Starfish and cushion stars.

Pearl Oyster Shell Pinctada margaratifera (civa) Pearl Oyster Shell  (civa)of which the nacre or mother-of-pearl measures less than 100 mm [4 inches] from the butt or hinge to the opposite edge or lip.

Giant Clams Tridacna derasa / squamosa / maxima (vasua) flesh, including adductor muscle or mantle tissue.

Beche-de-mer (sea cucumbers) Metriatyla scabra (Holothuria scabra) (dairo) (sandfish) No person shall export, either in a natural or processed form, any other species whatsoever of a length less than 7.6 centimetres [3 inches].

Live fish of any kind;
Turtle flesh; 

Turtle shell Turtle shell unless worked into jewellery or otherwise processed into a form approved by the Permanent Secretary for Primary Industries and Cooperatives.

Guidelines for Other Species

Turtles

The Fiji Fisheries Act prohibits the killing of sea turtles. Fiji has a national moratorium in place until January 1st 2019 that prohibits harassing, taking or killing of turtles or their eggs. Furthermore, anyone caught selling turtles can be fined FJ$20,000 or face a prison sentence of five years!

Humphead Wrasse

Humphead wrasse

The humphead wrasse, Cheilinus undulatus (also known as the Maori wrasse, Napoleon fish or varivoce in Fijian), is a large and quite spectacular reef fish that can grow to over 140 cms! Divers and snorkelers alike are usually thrilled to encounter one of these fish on the reef, and sighting one is a sign of a healthy reef ecosystem as they are one of the few creatures that predate the crown-of-thorns starfish that can decimate coral reefs. They are also very easily overfished and so if present, may suggest that fishing pressure is not very high.

Unfortunately, the humphead wrasse is considered a delicacy in East Asian countries and has been heavily targeted by the live reef food fish trade in many tropical countries. A humpie won’t reach maturity (i.e. it wont breed) until it is about 50cms/6- 7 years old. This has put the species in quite a serious situation because most fish for the Asian live fish trade are taken while still juveniles, and therefore before they can reproduce.

Listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, and included in Appendix II of CITES, here in Fiji bans are only in place for commercial harvest, sale or export. We hope that you will help us give this species a break, and choose not to take one from our reefs.

A gravid grouper – note swollen belly. Photo: Stan Shae

Groupers/Rock Cod/Coral Trout

Each year, groupers aggregate at specific sites to spawn or reproduce, usually at full moon. Traditionally these sites were well known to our subsistence fishing forefathers, who would capitalize on the opportunity to catch many fish from one spot, without exerting much effort. But in modern times and as fishing pressure has increased, particularly for commercial sale, the gathering of groupers to spawn in the same spot, at the same time of year, has made it far too easy to overfish them. Studies have shown grouper numbers have steadily declined in Fiji. But you can help turn that around with a simple pledge not to eat, sell or buy grouper during the spawning season. If you do happen to land one, consider this information and gently release it back into the ocean so that they can release literally millions of eggs to help repopulate our reefs.

To report any aggregations you come across, please contact the SeaWeb Asia Pacific on (+679) 331 2250, email info@4f.org.fj or log on join the 4FJ movement.

There has always been a lot of interest in Game Fishing in Fiji Waters. Over the years early pioneers who had recognized the fishing potential of fish local waters told many a tale of their adventures with elusive Marlin and Sailfish. Billfish species are present in Fiji Waters along with a plethora of other giant sized pelagic species and the famous Fiji wahoo ‘that wouldn’t fit in a bath tub’.

Fiji was always going to be
the perfect location to host
an International Game Fishing
 Tournament, but it certainly didn’t happen overnight.

Albert Threadingham

I had heard of the legendary Captain Sanders, but it wasn’t until a mutual friend, Captain John Harrison introduced us, that I finally met him. Captain Sanders was the Harbour Master at Levuka. He decided to give fishing for bigger Game fish a try and imported a sturdy reel for the job – this was long before tackle shops became commonplace throughout Fiji.

I went to see “Sandy” not long after his 93rd Birthday and he was willing to give me his trusted reel – so long as I looked after it, which I promised to do. The Rod was unidentifiable – probably a Tanika Rod from New Zealand; I should have asked for that too, but it seemed he was keen to keep it on the wall. I vowed to keep the reel ‘in the know in fishing circles’ and promised myself that it would become a “trophy prize” if I were able to get the International Game Fishing Series going in Fiji”.

Photo: Peter Mumford

In 1972, the Game Fish Club of Fiji staged an International Billfish Tournament at the then Korolevu Beach Hotel – the only Billfish that was caught in that tournament was a Striped Marlin, which weighed around 93lbs. I was presented with a replica at the Royal Suva Yacht Club by Herb Marlow of Air New Zealand, which was a major sponsor of that first Billfish tournament.

I was very fortunate to be able to attend the Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament in Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii in 1977. However, like many of the teams that went before us, we were not overly successful. By the time I went back again the following year we had encountered enough Billfish of every description in Fiji Waters, but had not landed all that many. It was back at the HIBT, that I met Elwood K Harry the President of The International Game Fish Association who invited me to become an IGFA Representative for Fiji.

Patrick Palmer describing his tag and release experience.

Fiji’s First International Game Fishing Tournament

I kept up the effort to have our own International Game Fishing Tournament and in 1981, after many smaller Tournaments out of the Royal Suva Yacht Club and a celebratory ‘Centenary’ National competition at Levuka, I was finally given the go- ahead to organize the Fiji’s First International Game Fishing Tournament. The tournament was to be held from what is now the Pearl South Pacific Resort in Pacific Harbour – 30 adventure-filled Annual Tournaments later in 2013, we were still recording a tag and release Billfish and seeing giant sized Wahoo offloaded.

A sailfish being brought alongside for tagging Freedive Fiji

Some years as many as 6 tournaments were held from this same dependable location, sometimes welcoming up to 28 fishing vessels hosting teams from as far as Victoria and New South Wales in Australia, Papua New Guinea, Hawaii and even the Crown Prince of Tonga one year! Proud sponsors were always thrilled to see Billfish and a large array of great Game Fish come to the scales at each event. The original sponsor, Peter Chesterman of Carlton Brewery was behind the First Fiji International Game Fishing Tournament. Carlton Brewery continued to make tournaments possible and over the years there were many good- humoured ‘honours’ bestowed upon him – but none as appropriate as “The Father of International Game Fishing in Fiji”.

National Records

When I set to compiling the Fiji National Records and instituted the Fiji Tournament Records, they were based on all known catches up to 1985. Unsurprisingly, some anglers were skeptical of the weight of the fish recorded by the Game Fish Club of Fiji as there didn’t seem to be anything of that size around anymore.

Pauline’s fish was a World Record and defeated the previous size Record by over 30 lbs (about 14kg).

Fiji was always known for its giant Wahoo and men have set World Records for some monsters at various times. However it’s the Ladies who have been the most successful in setting World Records. Jan Bates and Sharon Light hold current records for Wahoo and Barracuda and Pauline Threadingham added 30lbs to the previous World Record for a Trevally, giant at that time. The 67lbs of fish put up a good long fight but eventually lost to the 30lb tackle. Angler Melvin Threadingham very nearly set a new World Record with the biggest Rod and Reel capture in Fiji waters. His Blue Marlin weighed in at 447kg on 37kg tackle -that’s more than 10 times the strength of the fishing line!

Melvin with his All Tackle Blue Marlin of 447kg on 37kg Tackle on 19 January,1997.

Fishing Tips

Weather conditions play a critical role in how successful Game Fishing can be. If sea conditions aren’t ideal, there is always the option to fish the calmer areas by drop line; that is to rig baits and set them to depths in the hope of hooking some nice eating fish.

Since no two days of fishing are the same, and of course fish don’t feed all of the time, you can try to work the areas where there are most likely to be fish feeding at a certain time of the tide, when it is either rising or falling.

IGFA Tag & Release

Through NMFS in USA we have set up a Tag & Release system for Billfish and kept a Register. Here in Fiji, you can collect a Tag card and corresponding numbered Tag from the Fiji International Game Fish Association, which distributes them for Tournaments as well as recreational Fishing. When you hook a Billfish, and intend to release it, the Tag should be inserted into a location of heavy muscle, just below the dorsal fin. Considerable care and attention should be exercised when bringing a Marlin or Sailfish up beside the boat before releasing it. It should be kept in the water and held by the ‘bill’ facing away from you, keep the water flowing through the mouth and over the gills by motoring the boat slowly forward. The fish will let you know when she is revived and ready to be released by trying to swim, at this time, gently push her away from the boat and watch her swim off into the blue.

When an Angler recaptures a tagged fish, the tag number should be reported along with the date and location of the recapture and the measurement of the fish. The objective is to provide Marine Biologists with information that can help determine growth rate and migration patterns.

Should you be interested in participating in the Tag and Release Program or officially weighing your fish while cruising Fiji waters, then please get in touch with Harvie Probert on: 999 8500, President of the Fiji International Game Fishing Association for more information – or one of the other IGFA Representatives in Fiji, Pat Nelson, John Llanes and Marc McElrath.

The International Game Fish Association maintains and publishes the World Records for recognized Games Fishes and maintains these records for nearly 400 species around the world. Becoming a Member of IGFA is easy; and you can learn more about the various programs, competitions and rules and to receive World Record Publications.

I live in one of the most beautifulI spots on earth, Hawaii. Yet I choose to return to Fiji, the land of my birth, again, and again, and again! Like they say, “You can take the boy out of Fiji, but you can’t take Fiji out of the boy” and this applies 100% to Moi!

Al Moy with his ‘Donu’

I am one of Fiji’s sons who left home in 1962 in pursuit of a university education in Hawaii – but the yearning to return home to the things I love to do has never left me. As I reflect on what draws me back time and again, there are many influences, but the four most compelling ones are the fishing, the food, Fiji’s beautiful people and the low, low cost of living.

The fishing is fabulous. I have
accompanied my cousins
on numerous trips and always come home with substantial catches. Most recently I have been to Beqa, the land of the fire walkers on the hunt for my favorite fish, the Donu (Red Coral Sea Trout). Fiji waters are abundant with some of the most succulent and delectable fish I have caught or eaten anywhere, and Donu tops my list.

Ah… the food! Fiji has cuisine that is second to none; from local to fusion dishes of all kinds. I especially love the curries and the wide varieties of readily available seafood. I could fly home for the food alone!

The Suva market provides fresh seafood of all kinds; seashells, sea urchins, varieties of fresh clams, mud crabs (one of the best eating crabs anywhere), and huge selections of home grown vegetables and fruits. Fiji has some of the sweetest and crunchiest pineapples you will ever munch on – which coming from someone living in Hawaii says a lot!

Taking a stroll through the fish market along the Nabukulou Creek that runs through the heart of downtown Suva is a must do. Whenever I am in Fiji, I like to walk through there, rain or shine, just to see the variety of fish laid out on a daily basis. Fiji’s shores and oceans teem with fish of every color, shape and size.

And the people… You will experience hospitality and friendliness that will charm the socks off your feet. You will be hard pressed to witness smiles more brilliant and enchanting than in my beloved Fiji.

I went on a 4-day Blue Lagoon Cruise some years back with a couple of fishing buddies and we toured the famous Yasawas Islands that boast some of the most beautiful beaches and pristine waters anywhere in the world. We fished at every anchorage, and caught loads – we had so much fun fishing that we jumped onboard a 7-day cruise a week later! On that trip we circumvented the island of Vanua Levu and visited historic Savusavu. We then sailed on to Taveuni, the Garden Isle. This little gem, tucked away in the middle of the Pacific, has got to be the most beautiful island in the world. And the best part? We caught fish at every stop!

Even better, is that I get to do all of this for pennies on the dollar because the cost of living in Fiji is so low by comparison.

If you have never visited this tropical island paradise, come and meet her people, taste her foods and luxuriate in her vast ocean and beaches. If you have seen this paradise before, then it’s time to return and reacquaint yourself with this magical group of islands in the South Pacific.

Go and experience the Fiji I love.

Moce Mada 

by Donovan “The Donno” Casey, seen here holding his first Catch & Release GT

When planning a (covert?)  fishing trip to Fiji you might want to distract your non fishing partner with the notion  of a romantic hand-holding  togetherness holiday on the sunset drenched beaches and shimmering turquoise waters, whilst your real aim once you get  here is to either load her up with cocktails complete with cherries  and little umbrellas and dump her, or if you really are in danger of  your deception being discovered,  bring her along on the boat, and  tell her that this is the only way  of seeing the ‘real’ Fiji.

Since  the boat cost is not  insubstantial, you may as well bring along your fishing gear, to make the most of the occasion, so to speak.

If you are really blessed, and it happens to be your partner’s Birthday, Anniversary… (any old occasion really?), maybe you can then buy her that awesome new Shimano Stella STL-18000 SW Reel complete with Ocean Tackle International 2nd Generation Fathom Blade Rod with 80lb Jerry Brown Line One Braid as her gift from a truly thoughtful and loving partner.

Angler’s Paradise, Vatia Point, Tavua

Even if she does eventually come on the boat, you know she will be bored in a few minutes, and then YOU can revel in its use – offering to generously “break” it in for her.

Now, before you leave home, you absolutely must have a pirate name, one which encapsulates your inner, hitherto frustrated, real adventurer pirate soon to be revealed true self.

This pirate alter ego now reflects that you have discarded your undies, your nasty sock wearing with sandal’s habit, and are ready for the Fijian pirate infested waters, equipped to deal with the local master fishermen (and women) and  the ex-pat wanna be pirates.

Brendan Yee with his Rusty Jobfish

On arrival, breathe in deeply, feel your shirt immediately dampen (and wait for that first perspiration drop to run down your lower (lower) back knowing it is the first of many such incursions), and then make all haste to find your soon to be best mate – your new knowledgeable local fishing guide (and guaranteed drinking buddy).

Your new best mate could be found behind the bar, (or under it as has been known to occur), at the local marina, fishing charter company, club or fishing tackle shop. 

Mike King from Alabama with a Rusty Jobfish caught bottom bouncing with bair off Raki Raki.

Many charters are available in Fiji – from the relatively inexpensive Fijian long boat (not recommended for those prone to piles and other ailments induced by rough wooden seats and scorching sun on pasty white skin), to professional operations that can introduce you to the joys of speed jigging, lazy trolling, bottom bouncing with bait, and casting/popping for the fearsome GT’s and other reef species.

Some charters provide everything, the gear already set up, and when the fish is “on”, the rod is handed to you – great for the lazy buggers trying to keep a little in the tank for when they get back to shore, and have to “make nice” to the Missus for ditching her all day.

Rosie Wakeham and her C&R Giant Trevally 

But, the true pirate takes ownership of the fishing experience by plotting and scheming where to go, what gear and what strategy to use, to ultimately make it more fulfilling.

Fiji has so much diversity in it’s fishing and beautiful clean water, that you can be confident that “you are where you are meant to be”.

If you have been outmatched by the fish on a particular day and caught “nada”, then the serene and pristine beauty, replete with common sightings of turtles, dolphins and whales is enough to fill the soul!

Susan Hull and JJ Burito from the US jigging off the Waidroka Pontoon.

Drop in to the one of the local marinas, fishing clubs or tackle shops to chat with the area’s pirate’s captain and find out the skinny on whether the seasonal fish such as Tuna and Wahoo are running, where the packs are, what is the style of fishing yielding the best results, and to gain a good overview of the various charter offerings.

Primed with a few fishing tackle and equipment purchases and a convivial personable pirate like approach, you may be rewarded with an invitation by the pirate’s captain himself to a grog (Kava) session, (where any vestige of your former city slicker self will be purged under the out of control mayhem of pirate fishing bantertall tales of whimsy, farcical mess ups and tales of woe of the fish that discovered your weakness in gear and spirit, gave you the “finger” and swished away).

The one that got away…

If you are particularly personable, or just have wads of moolah to compensate for your nerdy but earnest quest for pirate freedom, an invitation to one of several Fishing Club meetings may be all you need to push you over the line (that line where you keep your thoughts to yourself when your boss in the real world requires you to compensate for his inadequacies, that line where you ponder whether you might consider introducing the concept of a long distance relationship with your partner as you decide to stay in Fiji, you know, that line…)

No matter how experienced you think you may be, this is the ideal place to learn a few new skills. So remember, as we say here in Fiji: “fishing is a way of life”, “seize the day”, get on out there and embrace your inner pirate!

DISCLAIMER: This pirate will not be held responsible or bear any liability whatsoever for any disproportionate joyous experiences, bucket list achievements, holistic self improvements, hedonistic self centred indulgences, living in the moment, embracing a hidden adventurer spirit, any inability to settle back into the real world with consequent psychological evaluation and treatment to purge other pirate like behaviour or symptoms that your partner or boss may take exception to!

Throughout much of the Pacific, traditional fisheries management practices have been used for many centuries.

One of these practices includes the establishment of a tabu (tamboo) area; an area of reef in which all fishing is prohibited.

By James Comley, Research Advisor, USP

These tabu areas were traditionally put in place for 100 nights after the death of a prominent chief or village leader.

After this period, the tabu was lifted and the then abundant fish were harvested for a feast to celebrate the passing of such a senior member of the community.

In contemporary Fiji there is increasing pressure reef n the inshore fisheries resources with dwindling catches and fish sizes reported all over.

In response to this, back in the mid 1990s, a community in Verata, Tailevu, on Fijis main island of Viti Levu worked together with government and non-government partners to reinvigorate the traditional practice of tabu.

The results were outstanding and the news support spread rapidly amongst other communities.

Fiji Locally Managed Area (FLMMA) network

Traditional fishermen of Kubulau, Bua with their fish (and evening meal!) caught from outside of their LMMA boundary.

There are now over 400 villages around Fiji working with government and nongovernment organization partners under the umbrella of the Fiji Locally Managed Area (FLMMA) network.

These villages all have one or more tabu areas within their traditional fishing ground of iQoliqoli and manage this together with other restrictions on what can be caught, when and how.

The Namena Marine Reserve  is an excellent example of this.

The coverage  of these Locally Managed Marine Areas is widespread; chances are that if you are on a reef area in Fiji you are within a managed area.

When you present your sevusevu to a village, they will inform you of any tabu that is in place within  their iQoliqoli and of which you need to be aware.

Though the costs of continued community partners to reinvigorate the traditional practice of management are minimal they are not nill. You can read about the work of FLMMA and the wider LMMA network online.

Both types of fish contain strong toxins, but the difference is in the way the toxin is delivered.

Venomous fish deliver their toxins (called venom) by stinging or stabbing. Venomous fish don’t necessarily cause poisoning if they are eaten, since the venom is often destroyed by our clever digestive system.

By contrast, poisonous fish contain strong toxins, which are not destroyed by the digestive system, making them poisonous to eat.

Here in Fiji, we have some of both, that as a fisher[ahem!]-person, you should be aware of.

Pufferfish / Balloonfish / Blowfish)

Poisonous

Puffer fish wildmadness.com

These guys are generally believed to be the second most poisonous vertebrates in the world, (FYI, the first is the golden dart frog, the poison from which is used by the Choco Emberà people in the darts they use to hunt for food in Colombia’s rainforest!).

Some Asian countries, such as Japan and China (where they refer to it as ‘Fugu’), and Korea (bokeo), view the puffer fish as an exquisite delicacy. In the hands of an expert chef, this fish can provide a harmless, yet delicious meal, but one wrong slice in the preparation process, and instead, you could be enjoying a paralytic coma that will kill you within a few minutes!

Between species, the toxin level varies wildly, and while a puffer’s neurotoxin is not necessarily as toxic to other animals as it is to humans, it only takes a few milligrams of puffer fish poison to kill a full-grown man!

Because of the high levels of toxicity, and the high chance of death if not prepared properly, Fugu is the only dish that the Japanese Emperor is forbidden to eat. So, even if you are not the Emperor of Japan, unless you are a qualified chef with many years of experience in Fugu preparation – probably best to avoid eating this fish!

Rabbitfish

Rabbitfish

Venomous

These delicious little reef fish have an unusual feature in that their pelvic fins, are formed from two spines, their dorsal fin has 13 spines, and the anal fins have 7 spines. All of these fin spines are equipped with welldeveloped venom glands!

So be careful when handling these fish as getting spiked can be quite painful and if not treated properly, can sometimes result in an infected wound.

The spines have been known to break off inside a finger (like a rather large splinter) and become infected, so do take care.

Lionfish

Venomous

Lionfish

When Hurricane Andrew hit Florida in 1992, no one gave much thought to the six exotic lionfish that spilt into Biscayne Bay as the storm smashed their Miami waterfront aquarium.

Sixteen years later, thousands of their descendants are now wreaking havoc off America’s east coast, leading a marine invasion. The highly poisonous hunter-killer, which is normally found in the Pacific and Indian Oceans, is the first known non-native fish to establish itself in the Atlantic, where it has been eating its way through other species faster than they can breed.

So while the Lionfish has been a common table food in parts of the world where they exist naturally, in recent years, campaigns have begun in areas along southeastern U.S. and the Caribbean that encourage folk to eat these ornate little fella’s in an attempt to get them off the reefs.

As for the toxins, they are contained solely within the fish’s spines, the venom remains active for up to an hour after the fish has died, so be cautious when handling and preparing the fish. Once the spines are removed, the flesh is quite safe to eat.

*Although you may have been encouraged to catch and eat this species in other coral reef areas, we here in Fiji quite like our native lionfish to stay on the reefs for our visiting divers and snorkelers to enjoy.

Stonefish

Stonefish

Venomous

One of the most venomous fish known in the world. Stonefish is commonly served as sushi called Okoze in Japan but can also be eaten boiled, or deep-fried.

Since many people like to prepare and eat Japanese food, it is important to know that cutting a stonefish for cooking carries the risk of ‘envenomation’ (that is, being spiked and poisoned to you and me). Even top chefs have been known to spike themselves while preparing this dish!

So unless you are a qualified and highly experienced sushi chef, it would be wise to throw this little sucker back in (extremely carefully, with gloves, and perhaps some chainlink around your fingers, and maybe even using a stick – just to be safe!!!).

Scorpion Fish by James Watt

Scorpionfish

Venomous 

A single prick from one of this fish’s spines can render a whole new level of pain and infection if not properly taken care of. But just because there is a chance of getting stung, as with the lionfish, you should not be afraid to handle one of these guys – just be VERY cautious.

Firstly (and only once the fish is dead of course!) you should cut off the dorsal spines from front to back; secondly remove the fish’s anal and dorsal fins on each side, and then remove the anal spines.

Once removed, you can continue filleting the fish as you would any other!

Ciguatera (sig-wa-ter-ra) AKA Fish poisoning

Large barracuda are prone to giving Ciguatera

Symptoms, which usually begin 15 to 30 minutes after eating the contaminated fish, include abdominal pain, joint pain, tingling in the fingers, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, tongue and throat numbness, tooth pain, difficulty in walking, blurred vision, skin rash, itching, weakness, twitching muscles and occasional difficulty in breathing.

A classic sign of ciguatera intoxication, is the reversal of hot and cold sensations (hot liquids seem cold, and vice versa). A very unlucky person can become severely ill shortly after they are poisoned, with heart problems, low blood pressure, deficiencies of the central and peripheral nervous systems, and collapse.

by Heidi Williams-Moy

Unfortunately, many of the debilitating, but not life-threatening, symptoms may persist in varying severity for weeks, months or sometimes even years. After the initial poisoning, a person is forever hypersensitive to the toxin.

Treatment is for the most part based upon symptoms; prochlorperazine can be useful for vomiting; hydroxyzine or cool showers may be useful for itching. There is not yet a specific antidote.

If a person displays symptoms of ciguatera fish poisoning, he/she should see a medical professional as soon as possible. It is important that during recovery from ciguatera poisoning, the affected person should exclude the following from their diet: fish, fish sauces, shellfish, shellfish sauces, alcoholic beverages, nuts and nut oils.

by Heidi Williams

Ruby Snapper caught onboard Golden Eagle while fishing Kadavu waters.

All coral reef areas in Fiji are part of an iQoliqoli. Deeper water passages between the islands of Fiji are commonly outside of iQoliqoli areas.

Commercial fishing licenses can be applied for, much in the same way that you applied for your cruising permit –but as you are likely only fishing for your dinner, this will not be necessary. However, if you intend to fish for money or, for example, take guests on fishing charters, you will need a commercial fishing license. Enquire with the Department of Fisheries office found in many of the administrative centers or at the ports of entry into Fiji.

Fishing boys in Kubulau

If your yacht is berthed within one of the iQoliqoli jurisdictions (apart from a marina), you will need to present your sevusevu to the adjacent village and ask for permission to catch fish from their reef, rivers or streams.

There are many Marine Protected Areas (MPA’s) within iQoliqoli that have been set up by the village. During your sevusevu presentation, you will be told if there are any protected areas in which you cannot fish, or if there are any specific restrictions, such as spear fishing.

What is iQoliqoli

While the state ultimately retains ownership of the ocean and her resources, the people of Fiji have been given tenure and the right to fish for subsistence from allocated areas of coral reef referred to as ‘iQoliqoli’.

All coral reef areas in Fiji are part of an iQoliqoli. Deeper water passages between the islands of Fiji are commonly outside of iQoliqoli areas. If your yacht is berthed within one of the iQoliqoli jurisdictions (apart from a marina), you will need to present your sevusevu to the village and ask for permission to anchor there.