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Fiji’s fisheries industry will be among key industries expected to up their performance this year, according to Reserve Bank of Fiji chief manager Jitendra Singh.
Singh told a meeting of the National Fisheries Council in Suva yesterday that there was still a good supply of fish to Fiji’s traditional markets such as Japan and the United States with exports forecast to increase by at least 20 percent by 2011.
Singh said that unlike forestry, fisheries had established markets and duty and tax concessions for local fishing companies had helped the local industry.
Fish export receipts in the March quarter stood at $26.9 million, a 6.2 percent increase over the same period in 2008.
On suggestions that the Levuka-based Pacific Fishing Company (PAFCO) branch into the region, industry stakeholder David Whitman said PAFCO was already running at full capacity.
“PAFCO only has the capacity to process 25000 tonnes of fish a year to be able to take on the Pacific market, the capacity should be increased to 40000 tonnes a year, only achievable if another cannery is set up,” Whitman said.
Fiji Fish tycoon Graham Southwick said the introduction of the environmentally friendly diesel 500 fuel was good but costly, which meant that overseas fishing boats enjoyed better duty and concessions.
“We need to be on a level playing field so we can compete for the same markets and reap maximum profits. The government has done a lot to get us close but the foreign vessels are move in and out of international waters without any duty,” Southwick told the meeting.
Council chair, permanent secretary for Forestry and Fisheries Viliame Naupoto said the fisheries council was set up just like the National Tourism Council and would discuss ways of moving the industry forward.
