Fiji cashes in on the fishing industry

FISHING has always played an im portant role in Fiji’s local economy, making a basis for a system of exchange between coastal and inland tribes in pre-cash economy era. Today the em phasis is rapidly changing from fishing for subsistence to commercial fishing.

There are many different fish species with differingg habits. Consequently all sorts of traditional techniques were used to catch them. Men used to concentrate on fishing with multipronged spears from the reefs, and hook and linework. Women specialised in netting, drugging and diving for shellfish.

Commercial fishing is now a major part of the national economy and fish export rates in the top five. Export is led by the state-owned but privately run Pacific

Fishing Company (PAFCO) on Ovalau

island, about 60 miles north-west of the capital Suva. PAFCO exports one of the world’s better canned tuna. Its major supplier of tuna is another privately-run

state-owned company, Ika Corporation, which has a fleet of longliners based near the capital. Another cannery, Voko In

dustries, outside Suva, imports fish for local process

ing.

Designed locally and printed in lith ography by the House of Questa, Fiji released a set of stamps in March/ April showing four of the many fresh water fish of Fiji. 500 Man grove Jack: Alias the River Roman or Red Snapper, this fish is one of the few snappers

that will tolerate freshwater, travelling far up rivers. One haunt is mangrove swamps, hence the name Mangrove Jack.

700 Orange-spotted Therapon

Perch: The Theraponidae are similar to Sea Bass, differing in the number of dorsal

spines, a small mouth and trilobed or serrated teeth. 850 Spotted Scat: Some times known As the Spotted Butterfish this little creature has the rather disgusting habit of congregating around sewer out lets - hence its Latin name ‘dung eater’. Needless to say in those areas it’s not considered good eating. The Spotted Scat is a good aquarium fish, peace ful and easy to keep.

SI Flagtail: This is a common and abundant fish found from East Africa to Aus tralia. It’s often found in shal low estuaries and tidal pools.