Govt states disputed reef belongs to Fiji

The Fiji government stated that Minerva Reef is inside Fiji's Exclusive Economic Zone and this is determined by geographical coordinates.

The Tonga government claimed that the reef belonged to them and had started building a navigational beacon in the area.  

However Fiji authorities say Fiji is a party to the 1982 United Nations Convention on The Law of the Sea and that it has complied with the requirements of article 75 of the Convention.

Article 75 section(2) of the Convention reads that the coastal state shall give due publicity to such charts or lists of geographical coordinates and shall deposit a copy of each such chart or list with the Secretary General of the UN.

The Fiji government stated that the coordinates deposited and specified in the Marine Spaces Act defined Fiji's Exclusive Economic Zone and according to the coordinates Minerva Reef falls within Fiji's Exclusive Economic Zone.

Fiji received a report late last year that Tonga was constructing two structures on the reef.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs then complained to the Tonga government that the structures were being built on Fiji's territory.

The reef is also regarded as the fishing ground of the ancestors of the people of Ono i Lau.  


Story by: Vijay Narayan