No collection vessels due to insufficient supply

Plans to provide collection vessels for fishermen in Kadavu, Gau and Koro have been put on hold due to insufficient supply.

Minister for Fisheries Semi Koroilavesau says the supply at the moment is not even sufficient for the individual islands.

Although discussions last year were centered around the government buying fish directly from the fishermen’s associations, Koroilavesau says the plan has changed because of increased market access on the islands.

The Agriculture Marketing Authority already has field officers based in Gau and Kadavu who help arrange the transportation of both root crops and fish to the urban markets.