Project News

The capacity enhancement training for the Ministry of Fisheries in Fiji was held from the 14th of February to 4th of March 2022. Participants attended 6 specialised trainings.

Participants took part in the face-to-face trainings while a few fisheries officers participated virtually. In the previous Project News, we explained the objective and the plan of this training; and now, this Project News introduces the five (5) subjects of this training.

i) Fisheries Resource Management and Conservation (Coastal Fisheries) (14th - 18th of February)
The main objectives of this training were; to "Learn the important characteristics of Coastal Fisheries Management in Fiji", "Examine current and future state of coastal fisheries", "Explore how coastal fisheries can be sustained using the SDG14". The training was participated by 13 Fisheries Officers and delivered by Dr Joeli Veitayaki and Dr Esaroma Ledua of USP. The training delivery mode included lectures, group discussions, presentations, exercises and field trips. During the field trip, the participants visited Lautoka and Moturiki to learn the data collection method and interview fisherfolks. Based on the data collected, group discussions about future sustainable coastal fisheries in Fiji was conducted.

ii) Fisheries Resource Management and Conservation (Offshore Fisheries) (21st - 25th of February)
The main objectives of this training were to enhance the capacity of Offshore Fisheries Officers in establishing economically viable alternatives from Offshore Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). The training was also delivered by Dr. Joeli and Dr. Esaroma and joined by 20 fisheries officers (mainly from Offshore Fisheries Management Division). In this training, participants were able to learn new information about MPA and this training provided good opportunities to discuss offshore fisheries management among Fisheries Officers from different divisions.

iii) Aquaculture: Mud Crab Farming Training (21st - 25th of February)
The main objectives of this training was to obtain the general knowledge about Mud Crab Fattening. The training was delivered by Dr Rajesh Prasad of USP and was attended by 20 Fisheries Officers, including the two (2) local community's members from Vunuku village located near Nausori Town. In this training, participants learnt of the issue that Mud Crab Fisheries is facing and the importance and method of Mud Crab fattening. After the lectures, participants visited Vunuku village to discuss with community members and observe farming sites where the villagers are planning to start the Mud Crab fattening. Based on the lectures and field trip, they made their proposal for "small-scale project" which will be implemented from April 2022.

iv) Aquaculture: Tilapia Farming Training (28th of February - 4th of March)
The main objectives of this training were to obtain the general knowledge on Tilapia farming, hatchery production in particular. The training was attended by 21 Fisheries Officers and delivered by Dr Chinthaka Hewavitharane of USP. The field trip was also conducted in Naduruloulou and participants learnt on the way of seed production, broodstock management, egg collection. Based on the field experience and knowledge from the training, the participants had group discussions to compile proposals for small-scale projects.

v) Post Harvest and Seafood Processing Training (21st of February - 4th of March)
The main objective of this training was to learn value addition for fisheries products. The training was attended by 21 Fisheries Officers and delivered by the Assistant Lecturer, Ms. Janice Natasha and Fisheries Officer, Mr. Binesh Raj of USP. In this training, the participants obtained the basic knowledge about post-harvest such as proper quality control method, packaging, labelling, Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) system. In addition to the lectures, they had practical lessons on how to fillet yellowfin tuna, cook sashimi, and assess the quality of fish (reef fish) as part of their laboratory works. In addition, they visited the Suva Fish market and MHCC Supermarket to get ideas for new product development and produced their own products in the laboratory. In this training, participants were able to learn the entire processes of post-harvest from "Purchasing ingredients" to "Fish processing", paying great attention to quality control.

Mud Crab fattening site visiting

Practical session on Mud Crab fattening training

Laboratory work in Post-Harvesting Training

Practical session of how to process smoked fish

Practical session on Tilapia Farming Training

Practical session of seed production of Tilapia

Site visiting on Coastal Fisheries Management Training

Site visiting on Coastal Fisheries Management Training (@ Moturiki Island)