Tuna stocks are depleting in Fiji because of overfishing - AG

The Attorney General and Minister for Economy, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum says tuna stocks are depleting in Fiji waters because of overfishing.

While contributing to the debate on the Review Report on the PAFCO Annual Report 2016, Sayed-Khaiyum told parliament says there is overfishing by vessels from as far as Spain.

Sayed-Khaiyum also highlighted that government also introduced a levy to address those vessels fishing in Fiji waters forcing them to sell the fish they catch to PAFCO.

SODELPA MP, Peceli Vosanibola highlighted that PAFCO cannot deny that there has been a spotlight on labour related issues for the last one and half decades.

Minister for Fisheries, Semi Koroilavesau clarified that he has had discussions with the Prime Minister, PAFCO and the workers regarding employment issues and the Ministry is working with PAFCO to resolve all the outstanding issues.

PAFCO is a supplier of tuna loins to Bumble Bee Foods in the  United States.

He also highlighted that PAFCO depends on Skipjack Tuna which is a limited resource within Fiji because of the change in the migratory pattern in the tuna stock.

Koroilavesau says that government is trying its best to secure more tuna products from our Pacific Island neighbours.

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