SUVA, Aug. 22 (Xinhua) -- Fiji's fish stock has become over-exploited over the years, depleting fish supplies for the people of the island nation, government officials said Wednesday.
Coastal fisheries production produces extensive benefits to Fijian communities, including employment and nutrition.
Fiji's Ministry of Agriculture Acting Permanent Secretary Naipote Katonitabua said Wednesday the food security for Fijians living in coastal communities was highly at risk.
Katonitabua said many coastal fisheries across the Pacific were also facing severe exploitation. Fijians are urged to work with government to better manage the coastal resources.
The annual marine catch for Fiji was estimated at 40,000 tons in 2015, of which 34 percent was tunas and other large pelagic species.
Inland water catches are estimated at about 2, 600 tons in 2013, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
There has been considerable aquaculture work in Fiji (marine, brackishwater, freshwater) over many years and covering a large variety of species.
The annual aquaculture production in 2015 was estimated, however, at less than 200 tons of finish and crustaceans and 550 tons of seaweeds.
Meanwhile, the Pacific Community (SPC) has estimated that 75 percent of Pacific Island Countries'coastal fisheries will not meet their food security needs by 2030 due to a forecast of 50 percent growth in population, limited productivity of coastal fisheries as a result of climate change (exacerbated by overfishing) and inadequate national distribution networks.
Pacific Island leaders have placed a priority on the sustainable development and management of coastal fisheries to support food security, sustainable livelihoods and economic growth for current and future generations of Pacific communities.
