Kawakawa and Donu peak breeding season starts today

Keep the Pledge

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Keep the Pledge 〰️

We are asking people across Fiji to forego kawakawa and donu over the next four months, as these highly valuable fish species gather to breed.

Many 4FJ champions have been spreading this message every June, now for many years, and it is important to Keep the Pledge as we continue to work together to help improve the health of our fishing grounds so we can have bigger, better catches.

There are tens of thousands of people who have made pledge before and will keep the pledge.

Since 2018, the Government of Fiji has banned the fishing, collecting, transporting, and selling kawakawa and donu from 1st of June to the 30th of September. June 1 marks the start of the legal ban.

In the previous two years, the ban was lifted in the later months, the Government said, because of COVID-19 economic impacts. With COVID-19 travel restrictions lifted and tourism restarted, it is not expected that the ban will be lifted this year.

4FJ Fish Smart campaign launches a podcast series: The Qoli Vakamatau Show

4FJ Fish Smart campaign has launched a Fiji podcast series to help communities better manage their fishing grounds – and fill the gap left by limited travel during COVID-19 travel restrictions.

4FJ Qoli Vakamatau radio show was originally launched on Radio Fiji One with Fiji Broadcasting Company, with the support of the European Union and the Government of Sweden through the Pacific-European Union Marine Partnership (PEUMP) Programme, and Bloomberg Philanthropies and its the Vibrant Oceans Initiative (VOI).

But the Covid-19 pandemic stopped talkback radio for most of the year, along with a lot of direct engagement by partners and government.

In an effort to keep telling community stories, the 4FJ Fish Smart campaign has repackaged past radio shows into a podcast series, which are also available to download as MP3s to reach more communities.

There are five shows available in iTaukei-language only and feature community champions and local experts. Community members from mostly outer islands call into each show to ask questions and share feedback. Each show explores a common problem communities face when managing their fishing grounds. The first show sets the scene for a national talanoa about Fishing Smart.

Show 2 discusses how fishing has changed in Fiji. Alifereti Tawake, Council Chair and Technical Advisor at the Locally-Managed Marine Area Network explains how fishing has changed and what this means for Fiji’s fishing grounds and being able to practice Qoli Veinanaumi (communal fishing), which is an important part of Fijian culture.

Show 3 features Waisea Naisilisili from Fiji’s Wildlife Conservation Society Society and Tuimavela Hemo, Chairman of the Navakavu Marine Protected Area in the Tikina of Suva and discuss tabu areas: what works and what doesn’t.

Show 4 is about how to get bigger and better mud crab catches, featuring Taru Veibi from Fiji’s Locally-Managed Marine Area Network from Bua and Margaret Fox, a fisheries expert for the Pacific Community (SPC).

Show 5 promotes an announcement about a local ban on night spearfishing to address the decline of certain reef fish in the Lau Province. Guests Semisi Meo from Conservation International and Roko Sau kei Totoya, Roko Josefa Cinavilakeba discuss the issues of destructive fishing, especially duva and night spearfishing.

The 4FJ Fish Smart campaign is part of regional efforts in scaling-up community-based fisheries management. Reaching all communities with practical information so they can make informed decisions to better manage their fishing grounds is a key part of the recently endorsed Pacific Framework for Action on Scaling-up Community-based Fisheries Management (2021-2025). Radio is a critical piece being a cost-effective way to reach communities, especially for rural communities to engage in discussions. Repackaging radio shows into podcasts and MP3s further serves the interests of communities who consume digital media.

To listen to the shows, search ‘The Qoli Vakamatau Show’ on Google Podcasts, Spotify or where you listen to your favourite podcast. Or press play below. To access the MP3 for any outreach, please contact us directly: 4fj@cchange4good.org

The 4FJ Fish Smart campaign is coordinated by cChange in partnership with the Locally-Managed Marine Area Network and the Pacific Community (SPC) through the Pacific-European Union Marine Partnership (PEUMP) Programme, with financial support from the European Union, the Government of Sweden and Bloomberg Philanthropies.

4FJ Fish Smart Champions Launch

This month, we launched our first round of 4FJ Fish Smart champions: Chef Lance Seeto and Joe Gray!

Chef Lance Seeto!

Chef Lance Seeto is a culinarian extraordinaire, an influential figure in the local food tourism sector having worked in a number of high-end luxury resorts in Fiji over the last 15 years.

Chef Lance Seeto has been a longtime supporter of the 4FJ movement and has come on board again as a 4FJ Fish Smart champion to help educate everybody about what size fish should be before they are caught or bought.

“We have to the mentality of protecting our source of food, because at the end of the day, Fiji like all Pacific Islands, our biggest plus, our biggest source of natural resources comes from the ocean,” said Seeto.

'Wild' fish is a major part of his locally infused menus. He is certainly very passionate about the future of Fiji's fisheries and we are excited to have Seeto on board to help spread the word to Say No to Undersized Fish.

Joe Gray!

Joe Gray is known around Fiji for many things: President of the popular Western Maroon League team in Nadi, Airports Fiji Limited manager for Landside Operations and Customer Services and an all-around Fiji socialite and now a 4FJ Fish Smart champion!

Fiji’s man of all seasons is now doing something he has never done before. For the people.

Joe Gray, 4FJ Fish Smart champion: Leave the Baby Fish Alone!

“This is a totally new area for me because I have never advocated for anything as such. But I am doing this for our people and our communities who depend on fish for their livelihoods and daily sustenance,” he said.

“We cannot thank Joe Gray and our growing group of champions enough for spreading this message,” said Mafa Qiolele, programme manager for cChange.

“Buying and selling undersize fish is not a new problem for Fiji and change is hard without role models like Joe Gray.”

Originally from Levuka, Mr Gray was the only child of his adoptive parents, growing up in a close-knit squatter community at Laqere in Nasinu, Suva.

“We were not a family that had fish often because my guardians could not afford it but maybe once in a week, mostly on Sundays. It was then just cooked with either bele or rourou as it’s green and or we had fried fish at times if we had people coming from our village to visit,” he said.

“Life was very humbling compared to now and I am so grateful that I was brought up that way and that has naturally taught me to respect people from all walks of life and helped me to connect with grassroots people more easily.”

So now, for the grassroots people, he is asking everyone to avoid undersize fish.

Fishers across Fiji are reporting they have to spend more time and money on fuel to catch fish and often for increasingly smaller catches, hurting livelihoods and family nutrition.

But if you let fish get big enough to breed, before you take them, you get bigger fish and also more fish in the future.

Mr Gray said in addition to hurting fish catches, undersize fish are poor eating.

“I am not one for small fish or baby fish. When it comes to choosing fish, sizes matter to me because they have minimal bones and does not rob your time scaling and cleaning it,” Mr Gray said.

“I usually go the supermarket or the Lautoka wharf because I know they come with fresh fish and their price is just right and the quality of what they bring is something that I look forward to and trust. If you buy bigger fish it would be enough for everyone in the family.”

Mr Gray is quickly getting comfortable with his new role as 4FJ Fish Smart champions and letting everyone know to “Leave the baby fish alone!”

Vinaka to our 4FJ Fish Smart champions!

4FJ Fish Smart start national talanoa with on FBC radio waves

The 4FJ Fish Smart campaign has partnered with the Fijian Broadcasting Corporation Fiji Radio One to build a national local audience called Qoli Vakamatau (Fish Smart in iTaukei).

The show will run twice-monthly in the iTaukei language, and is one of the most cost-effective platforms to engage hard-to-reach communities across Fiji. Places that need critical information and practical local solutions to sustainably manage their fishing grounds to protect their livelihoods and secure their food security.

The first two shows are now available for catch up on YouTube (in iTaukei) and feature local experts engaging in a national talanoa about the problems and challenges that place pressure on Fiji’s fishing grounds, and ideas and solutions to Fish Smart. Inviting people to call in has become a growing feature, providing content writers with ideas and insights for future shows as well. The shows are also live streamed on the 4FJ Movement Facebook page, which has nearly 20,000 followers.

Show guests to date have included internationally recognised community advocate Alifereti Tawake from the LMMA Network International, Lisala Waqalala, a fisherman from Vitawa village and the first 4FJ fisher champion, and Alumeci Nakeke, long term campaigner and communications officer from cChange Pacific, who created the campaign. 

The opportunity of hosting 48 shows over 2 years means we have plenty of airtime to build an authentic and engaging talanoa about Fishing Smart. The carefully considered format, which is informed by a technical advisory group of community-based fisheries management experts was also intentional to reflect the reality at the grassroots where communities come together and discuss problems and challenges and ideas and solutions.

4FJ Fish Smart Radio Show 1 sets the scene for a national talanoa about Fishing Smart. There are ways we used to fish and new ways to fish that can help ensure our fishing grounds can support our needs today and tomorrow.

Catch up on our second Qoli Vakamatau Radio Talk Back Show to hear from local experts about how fishing has changed in Fiji!

 Beyond the airwaves

 But the Qoli Vakamatau Radio Show is more than airwaves.

The frequency of the show presents the 4FJ Fish Smart campaign with a live platform to test key messages, seek feedback and gather ideas from the grassroots and experts to further inform a living information strategy. Having 48 shows in the pipeline affords the team behind the show to refine key messages, guiding questions, training for guests to stay on message and monitor the evolution of the radio show to diversify ways build a national audience twice monthly on a Wednesday afternoon.

The radio show is made possible by the Pacific-European Union Marine Partnership (PEUMP) Programme, with guidance from the Pacific Community and the Locally-Managed Marine Area Network International. The radio program is also funded through the Bloomberg Philanthropies Vibrant Oceans Initiative. Key local partners for implementation include the Wildlife Conservation Society Fiji Country Program, the Fiji Locally-Managed Marine Area Network, Conservation International, and International Union for the Conservation of Nature.

The campaign has high hopes for the program, which allows listeners, fishers in rural areas to learn from local experts, hear from other fishers about how they have changed their fishing practices to Fish Smart and build trust with the 4FJ Fish Smart campaign to hopefully become community champions. The program is part of larger Information Strategy that aims to empower all communities in Fiji to better manage their marine resources. It’s part of what the LMMA International calls the 100% Solution.  

Stick with us as we learn and share our results in an effort to help both Fiji and the region do more to help Pacific Island communities better meet their needs through their ocean resources.

For more information about the Qoli Vakamatau Radio Show, please contact us 4fj@cchange4good.org

4FJ Fish Smart Rolls Out Private Sector Engagement Program

The 4FJ Fish Smart campaign hit the road in December to bring the message to more than 330 fish sellers across Viti Levu as part of a private sector engagement program run with the Ministry of Fisheries.

 The program is designed to share Fiji’s legal minimum sizes to promote compliance with Fiji fishing regulations, and also open a dialogue to best understand the needs and challenges of fish sellers in Fiji, including the best way to support an ongoing dialogue.

As part of the visits, fish sellers were also surveyed to gauge awareness of the legal minimum sizes, the health of Fiji’s fisheries, changes over time to availability, size and price, and what they believed were potential drivers of overfishing. Fifty surveys have been completed so far.

“The feedback was very positive from fish sellers about engaging in a national dialogue about the health of our fishing grounds and ways to increase catches and improve availability of fish for fish sellers,” said Mafa Qiolele, the program manager for cChange Pacific, the organisation that created the 4FJ campaign.

“But this is just the start, we will head to Vanua Levu next, and keep growing this movement. Sellers have a vested interest in sustainable fisheries management, so there is a lot of common ground, and a strong desire to work together,” Qiolele said.

The campaign team visited fish sellers, hotels, restaurants, supermarkets and local stores in Lami, Suva, Nasinu, Nausori, Navua, Sigatoka, Nadi, Lautoka, Ba, Tavua, Rakiraki and Korovou.

The engagement program follows a survey conducted by cChange in August to understand general awareness of legal minimum sizes, and if at all, whether people knew the correct legal minimum sizes. The survey found that while two-thirds of people know that Fiji has legal minimum sizes, only 11% could correctly name on correct legal size for a fish.

Fish sellers were showed draft posters, and booklets to promote compliance and feedback was positive. cChange is working to finalise the tools now and ideally share them in the new year.

Photo captions: Mesulame Kuiladra speaking with street food sellers about the campaign; Mesu Kuiladra speaking with fish sellers to middlemen at a Nadi fish market, Bar Belle in Suva pledge and support our campaign, Private Sector Outreach Team (left to right) - Mesulame Kuiladra (cChange) , Viliame Daunivalu (Fisheries Officer: Lami), Ulamila Navuni (Fisheries Officer: Nadi), Ministry of Fisheries Driver, Marama Bulamaibau( 4FJ volunteer), Mafa Wilson (cChange), Taina ( 4FJ volunteer).

The private sector outreach program is funded through Oceans 5 and Bloomberg Philanthropies Vibrant Oceans Initiative and is being implemented in partnership with cChange, Wildlife Conservation Society Fiji, Fiji Locally-Managed Area Marine Network, Conservation International, and International Union for the Conservation of Nature.

Rugby & Fish Smart: joining forces for Fiji’s future

Fiji loves rugby and fish. The 4FJ Fish Smart campaign brought these two loves together as a proud match ball sponsor of the 11th Kombat 7's Uluinakau at Ratu Cakobau Park, Nausori last weekend!

Since the tournament started in 2009, it has become a promising proving ground for future Fiji rugby royalty, including players like Josua Vici, Setareki Bituniyata, Masivesi Dakuwaqa, Samu Bale, Glen Cakautini and Waisea Nacuqu.

Being an attraction for promising talents and energetic crowds, the 4FJ Fish Smart campaign took the opportunity to also host a pledge drive to raise awareness about avoiding undersized fish and other marine species, to allow them to get big enough to breed and restock Fiji’s fishing grounds, before we catch them.

 Gareth Baber, current coach of Fiji’s national rugby 7’s team came by to chat with the 4FJ team and hear about what we are doing to help improve livelihoods and food security for Fijians. Coach Baber was quick to take up the case.

Gareth Baber, current coach of Fiji’s national rugby 7’s team pledges to avoid undersized fish.

“I pledge to say no to undersized fish! Let them breed and multiply”, said coach Baber.

The 4FJ campaign originally launched in 2014 to improve management of kawakawa and donu

fisheries in Fiji. The 4FJ Movement created a diverse coalition of local champions, communities, faith-based organisations, and private sector institutions and in turn, supported the creation of a national seasonal ban.

 4FJ Fish Smart is the next chapter in the 4FJ campaign, bringing that coalition back

together again to expand efforts to promote a host of Fish Smart practices to help communities better manage all marine species, to best meet their food and income needs, today and tomorrow. The campaign message transition is simple: “We came together to help kawakawa and donu thrive, now let’s help the rest.”

For urban areas, the best way to support healthy fishing grounds is to pledge to avoid undersize fish. General sentiment amongst the crowd agreed with the new 4FJ Fish Smart pledge.

“Thank you for the work you guys do. You are making an impact in ensuring that our future generations have an abundance of fish”, said Sireli Bobo (former Flying Fijians winger and 7’s World Cup winner).

Maciu Bolaitamana presenting the tournament trophy to Captain of the Nadi Greens side, who won the final of the Fellow Fijians Competition at the Uluinakau 7's Tournament at Ratu Cakobau Park, in Nausori.

As part of the campaign, through champions from all walks of life, 4FJ Fish Smart is role modeling the right behaviours.

 The 4FJ Fish Smart campaign was proud to partner with tournament event organisers to host a pledge drive stall and receive quality air time over the public announcements and to present a tournament trophy. Vinaka to our partners.

Of note, the 4FJ Fish Smart campaign has since been invited to support the Delaikamali Youth 7s and Netball Tournament in Labasa in the new year which aims to raise funds for youth village projects that aim to combat the effect of climate change for a better Fiji.

 TOSO VITI TOSO!

The 4FJ campaign is funded through the Pacific-European Union Marine Partnership (PEUMP) programme and implemented in partnership the Locally-Managed Area Marine Network International and the Pacific Community (SPC). The PEUMP programme is funded by the European Union and Government of Sweden.

The campaign is also funded through Oceans 5 and Bloomberg Philanthropies Vibrant Oceans Initiative and is being implemented in partnership with cChange, Wildlife Conservation Society Fiji, Fiji Locally-Managed Area Marine Network, Conservation International, and International Union for the Conservation of Nature.

4FJ Fish Smart Campaign Launches to Help Improve Food Security and Livelihoods — and Protect Fiji’s Way Of Life

The 4FJ campaign relaunched today as the 4FJ Fish Smart campaign. Vinaka vakalevu to Semi Koroilavesau, Minister of the Fiji Ministry of Fisheries, who was the chief guest at the launch event.

“With 4FJ, the nation came together to help kawakawa and donu thrive. Now we are asking everyone to come together once again to help the rest of Fiji’s fish and critters thrive, through more Fish Smart practices,” said the minister.

The 4FJ Fish Smart campaign marks an exciting new chapter in the 4FJ Movement, which launched in 2014 to improve management of kawakawa and donu fisheries in Fiji. The 4FJ Movement created a diverse coalition of local champions, communities, faith-based organisations, and private sector institutions and in turn, supported the creation of a national seasonal ban.

Pictured, left to right, Martin Chong, Programme Manager, PEUMP; Minister of Fisheries, Semi Koroilavesau; Dr. ERJA ASKOLA, EU Deputy Head of Delegation; and Mafa Qiolele, cChange Program Manager.

Now the 4FJ Fish Smart campaign will bring that coalition back together again to expand efforts to promote a host of Fish Smart practices to help communities better manage all marine species, to best meet their food and income needs, today and tomorrow.

Why? Fishers across Fiji are reporting they have to spend more time and money on fuel to catch fish and often for increasingly smaller catches, hurting livelihoods and family nutrition. The closer to major fish markets typically the harder fishing has become, but no area is spared in Fiji. 

According to one recent Wildlife Conservation Society Fiji study, it took one to two hours per day in the 1980s to catch enough fish for an entire village. By 2000, Fiji fishers could only catch enough fish for their families. Today, fishers can spend 10 to 12 hours, and most catch smaller fish.  

Minister of Fisheries Semi Koroivalesau and 4FJ Fish Smart Champion Lisala Waqalala.

“In just a generation, fishing has become much harder for us, making it harder to meet our needs, and also maintain our traditions,” said Lisala Waqalala, a fisher from Vitawa village and a 4FJ campaign champion, who attended the launch. “But we saw with 4FJ that together we can create change. I hope we can do it again so my grandchildren can experience the same Fiji we all grew up in.”

In collaboration with government, local networks and NGO partners, the 4FJ Fish Smart campaign will work to bridge the gap in providing support to all communities in Fiji to better manage coastal resources through Fish Smart practices.

The campaign will share practical, local solutions and prioritise cost-effective outreach activities that can reach most communities. That starts on Wednesday with the launch of Qoli Vakamatau on Radio Fiji One that will air twice a month in partnership with the Fiji Broadcasting Company and share community and fisher perspectives and practical Fish Smart solutions to overfishing. The show hosted by Nai Kamanalagi Sorowaia starts at 2:10 p.m. and runs for an hour.

The campaign will also work with news media and social media to help share success stories from around the country about community-based fisheries management efforts. Working through the Fiji Locally-Managed Marine Area Network, the campaign will also develop Fish Smart videos, animations, drama and other new innovative outreach tools to empower grassroots networks to start inclusive, sustained community dialogues and help spur local action.

“For too long, conservation efforts focused on a few pilot communities and failed to scale-up solutions to really help the majority of communities,” said Hugh Govan, special advisor to Locally-Managed Marine Area Network International, a key partner to the initiative. “This campaign will strive to give people evidence-based information to manage fishing grounds with the resources they have right now, while evaluating the best ways to create long-term information strategies to reach 100 percent of the communities.”

For communities, fishing smart means stopping harmful fishing practices, such as poison root fishing, night-time SCUBA spearfishing and small mesh sizes for nets. It also means such things as establishing and respecting community tabu areas, protecting breeding seasons and sites and avoiding undersize species.

The campaign, with the support of a science advisory committee, will help communities understand current fishing pressures and the best local actions to revive locally-important species.

For those in Fiji’s towns and cities, the Fish Smart campaign is also asking for your help, said Mafa Qiolele, Program Manager at cChange, the orgnisation that created the 4FJ campaign.

“As communities take action to revive fishing grounds in rural areas, people in urban areas can help them by making sure their efforts are not wasted by a few bad actors. That means pledging to not buy legally undersized fish, fish that were too small to breed and restock fishing grounds,” Qiolele said.

To support pledges, the campaign will distribute a new booklet with all current legal sizes, best available research on sizes and banned species. A mobile phone app is also under development. Pledge events are planned nationwide.

“So please follow us on Facebook and come out to pledge as the campaign hosts events across the country,” Qiolele said.

About the campaign

The 4FJ campaign was launched in 2014 to revive at risk kawakawa and donu fisheries, commonly called grouper in English. 4FJ Fish Smart is the next phase of the campaign, promoting sustainable fishing practices to revive the all marine species with a focus on local management actions at the community level and pledges to avoid legally undersize fish at the national level.

The campaign is funded through the Pacific-European Union Marine Partnership (PEUMP) programme and implemented in partnership the Locally-Managed Area Marine Network International and the Pacific Community (SPC). The PEUMP programme is funded by the European Union and Government of Sweden.

The campaign is also funded through Oceans 5 and Bloomberg Philanthropies Vibrant Oceans Initiative and is being implemented in partnership with cChange, Wildlife Conservation Society Fiji, Fiji Locally-Managed Area Marine Network, Conservation International, and International Union for the Conservation of Nature.

Keep the Pledge. 2020 Peak Spawning Months Begin

SUVA, Fiji – During these trying times, the 4FJ campaign is asking supporters nationwide to help protect the nation’s food security by keeping the pledge to forego kawakawa and donu fisheries during their 4-month peak breeding season, which begins today.

“COVID-19 has hit Fiji hard, and people will need to turn to the seas more in the months ahead,” said Scott Radway, executive director of cChange, the organisation that coordinates the cross sectoral campaign. “So how do communities get more fish? By fishing smart and for kawakawa and donu that means making sure they get space to breed each year.”

“So if you can, please keep the pledge,” Radway said.

Kawakawa and donu, known as grouper in English, are particularly vulnerable to overfishing because they gather predictably each year in the same channels to breed. Those sites are often fished heavily, particularly for high-volume commercial fishing, leaving few fish behind to restock Fiji reefs. Of the known breeding sites in Fiji, 80 percent are declining or gone, Fiji government reported.

The 4FJ campaign, launched in 2014, seeks pledges from people across the country to forego these declining fish, June through September, their peak breeding months. In return, the fisheries can recover and Fijians get more fish the other eight months of the year.

To date, 4FJ has received more than 26,000 pledges in Fiji.

Since its launch, the campaign has a built a broad coalition that includes fishermen, traditional leaders and political leaders, including 4FJ pledges from institutions such as the Methodist Church of Fiji, Morris Hedstrom, Newworld IGA, Jack’s of Fiji, Digicel Fiji, and the Fiji Hotel and Tourism Association.

The campaign is also supported by a diverse group of local champions including Waisele Serevi, Gareth Baber, Roy Krishna, Tui Macuata Ratu Wiliame Katonivere,  Chef Lance Seeto, Makare Band, Nur Bano Ali, and Suliana Siwatibau.

In 2018, the Government of Fiji legally banned all fishing, transport and trade of kawakawa and donu during the peak spawning months, June through September.

For more information, visit www.4fjmovement.org or follow the campaign at www.facebook.com/4fjmovement.

Powerlifting champion heeds the 4FJ campaign call

SUVA, Fiji – Dubbed the Iron Lady, Fiji’s powerlifting legend Senimili Tabuakula Turner is putting her muscle behind the 4FJ campaign, becoming the newest champion to promote the revival of kawakawa and donu in Fiji.

“These fish have become too expensive as the stocks decline. I want to ensure all Fijians can enjoy them again, like we once did,” Turner said. “We need to let them breed and we can have more later.” 

Turner said she grew up eating kawakawa and donu on Taveuni. She fondly remembers her mother taking her fishing for them as a child. 

“I remember as a little girl tying a little noke (basket) around my waist before wading out to the deep. If it got too deep, I would hold on to my mum. We would usually catch a lot of them,” Turner said. “My favourite is having it boiled with bele or deep fried with lemon. That was life in the village and it was a good life.” 

The 4FJ campaign asks people to avoid all species of kawakawa and donu during their breeding season from June through September, to give the rapidly disappearing fish a chance to breed and restock our reefs. The A-grade fish are critically important to the food security, livelihoods and culture of Fiji’s communities.

Starting in 2018, the Ministry of Fisheries banned the collection, possession, sale and export of all kawakawa and donu species from 1st June to 30th September, to help reverse the decline. 

At 66, a widow and grandmother to 9 grandchildren, Turner still competes. Her accomplishments include a world record in the Master 3 powerlifting category and numerous gold medals from the Pacific, Asia/Oceania and Commonwealth games. Turner began competing at 45, after her husband passed away, taking her grief and channelling it into the sport.

“Senimili is a testament what determination can accomplish and we are deeply grateful she is putting her boundless energy behind the 4FJ campaign,” said Scott Radway, founder of cChange, the organisation that created the 4FJ campaign. 

Turner has commitment to sharing the 4FJ message with her family, friends and fans.

Sanatan Dharm Fiji is first major Hindu institution to back campaign

Vinaka to Sanatan Dharm Pratindhi Sabha for stepping up to champion the 4FJ campaign, becoming first major Hindu institution to back the kawakawa and donu 4-month ban.

Sanatan Dharm Fiji is an organisation that includes more than 180,000 Hindus in Fiji.

“Our scriptures teach about the importance of looking after all living things,” National General Secretary Pundit Vigyan Sharma said. “So we want to come together and join hands to save these fish by allowing them to breed in peace each year.”

Sanatan Dharm Pratindhi Sabha’s commitment follows other religious organisations coming forward to champion stewardship. Most notably the leadership of the Methodist Church of Fiji starting championing the 4FJ campaign in 2014. However, it is the first Hindu institution to publicly champion the campaign.

“We are deeply grateful for the support of Sanatan Dharm Fiji for helping spread this message and ensure our communities can continue to benefit from these fish,” said Minister of Fisheries Semi Koroilavesau.

The Ministry of Fisheries has banned all harvest, sale, buying, possession and export of these rapidly disappearing A-grade fish from the 1st of June through the 30th of September, which are their peak breeding months. The ban covers all species of kawakawa and donu.

Kawakawa and donu are particularly vulnerable to overfishing because they gather predictably each year in the same channels to breed. Those sites are often fished heavily, leaving few fish behind to restock Fiji reefs. Of the known breeding sites in Fiji, 80 percent are declining or gone, Fiji government reported.

The legal ban follows four years of the 4FJ campaign, which asked people to voluntarily pledge to forego the fish during the peak breeding months. More than 20,000 publicly pledged to let them breed.

“We thank Sanatan Dharm Fiji for showing us the conservation ethic that bridges religions and faiths,” said Scott Radway, founder of cChange, the organisation that created the 4FJ campaign for the Government of Fiji. “We look forward to other institutions joining this cause. The power of the 4FJ movement has always been its champions.”

For Pundit Vigyan, the personal pledge is easy as he is a from a Brahman family and as pundit or priest, which means he is a vegetarian. However, he notes that not all members are vegetarians and some are fishermen. Kawakawa and donu are a high value commercial fish.

“We Sanatan Dharm Pratinidhi Sabha support this move which is good for all. I am requesting not only Hindus but all the people of Fiji irrespective of race to support this government in good faith,” he said. “That way we will never run out of these fish in the Fiji waters.”

Newworld IGA takes the lead

Vinaka vakalevu to Newworld IGA, who is doing its part to support the second year of the Ministry of Fisheries planned seasonal ban on kawakawaand donu.

“Newworld is proud to support the 4FJ movement. We believe that supporting sustainable fishing is critical for the future of this great nation and encourage everyone in Fiij to get on board and support this initiative,” said Peter Royce, the General Manager of Newworld IGA.

Newworld was one the of the early champions of the 4FJ campaign, which asked people from all walks of life, and institutions, to voluntarily pledge to forego these rapidly disappearing A-grade fish during their peak breeding months. More than 20,000 have pledged to date.

As the Ministry of Fisheries and the 4FJ campaign visited businesses last week to help prepare them for the coming ban, starting June 1, Newworld was way ahead of us. They had already informed all their 22 stories nationwide to stop buying kawakawa and donu to ensure they had no stock on June 1. 

The planned ban is form June 1 through September 30, and covers the peak breading months for kawakawa (grouper) and donu (cora trout). 

The Ministry of Fisheries last week launched the private sector outreach program to visit fish sellers in all major towns nationwide in advance of the ban. So far, more than 63 fish sellers in the Suva Nausori corridor have had visits. Fisheries officers will begin visiting sellers along the Coral Coast, as they head out West and in turn, to the Northern Division.

The Ministry of Fisheries has stated that fish shops, supermarkets, restaurants and any other fish holding sites will not be allowed to hold any stocks during the breeding season. 

Sellers have time now to get rid of these stocks. Should they have difficulties around this due to quantities currently held then they must immediately advise the Ministry of Fisheries so that suitable arrangements can be made. Anyone who fails to do so and is found with these species will be treated as non-compliant, the Ministry of Fisheries said. 

Outreach initiative launched to prepare fish sellers for second year of the seasonal ban on all species of kawakawa and donu

SUVA, Fiji – The Ministry of Fisheries today launched a private sector outreach program to visit fish sellers in all major towns nationwide in advance of planned seasonal ban on the fishing and sale of all species of kawakawa and donu, June through September.

Fisheries officers today will begin visiting fish sellers in the Suva-Nausori corridor as the peak breeding season for these declining fish quickly approaches. The following week, Fisheries officers will visit sellers along the Coral Coast, as they head out West and in turn, to the Northern Division.

“We want to ensure Fiji sellers are prepared for this year’s ban, and communicate to all their suppliers that these fish are off the market starting June 1,” said Fisheries Permanent Secretary Craig Strong. “We all need to come together to revive these important fish and better protect our food security and the livelihoods of our people.”

Strong added that last year was the first year of the seasonal ban, so fish were confiscated but no fines given. This year, if sellers are found ignoring the ban, fines will be issued.

“The grace period is over,” Strong said.

Ministry of Fisheries Director Mere Lakeba added that the one-on-one visits are geared to building strong relationships with the fisheries sector. As part of the dialogue, fisheries officers will be discussing a broad range of fisheries issues, including the current legal minimum sizes of fish as the ministry has built new capacity to increase enforcement this year.

“We are all aware that our fishers are taking longer, going further than ever before, and catching smaller and smaller fish. Reversing that trend will mean working together and that requires an ongoing and open dialogue,” Lakeba said.

As part of the outreach program, fisheries officers will also be visiting town councils, and police departments who last year joined forces with the ministry to conduct outreach and support enforcement efforts. To help ensure all stakeholders are included, the outreach materials on the ban were produced in English, iTaukei, Hindi and Chinese.

Kawakawa and donu are an A-grade fish that is particularly vulnerable to overfishing because they gather predictably each year in the same channels to breed. Those sites are often fished heavily, leaving few fish behind to restock Fiji reefs.  Of the known breeding sites in Fiji, 80 percent are declining or gone, Fiji government reported.

The seasonal ban follows four years of the 4FJ campaign, which was launched in 2014 to encourage people to voluntarily pledge to forego the fish during their peak breeding months, to give them space to breed and replenish Fiji’s reefs. More than 20,000 people have taken the 4FJ pledge to date.

Methodist church promotes good stewardship through support for seasonal ban on kawakawa and donu

As part of its commitment to environmental stewardship, the Methodist Church in Fiji is partnering with the 4FJ campaign to conduct outreach on the new four-month ban on kawakawa and donu, to communities across Fiji.

cChange, the organization that created the 4FJ campaign, is providing outreach training today for the church’s divisional communications officers, who are attending annual training at the Methodist Church Headquarters in Suva.

“This campaign is more than a campaign to us. This is about meeting our responsibilities of being good stewards of God’s creation,” said Rev. Wilfred Regunamada, the Secretary for Communications and Overseas Mission for the Methodist Church in Fiji. “So we want to empower our people to engage their congregations and give them a chance to do what’s right.”

cChange developed the 4FJ campaign for the Ministry of Fisheries in 2014, in response to studies that found that around 80 percent of Fiji’s known kawakawa and donu breeding grounds were rapidly declining or have been lost.  The A-grade fish are critical to meeting communities' food and income needs in Fiji.

Over the past four years, close to 16,000 individuals have publicly pledged not to catch, sell or eat kawakawa and donu during their peak breeding months, to allow the fish to recover. This year, supported by the wide public support for the campaign, the Ministry of Fisheries implemented a legal ban on kawakawa and donu from June through September.

“The Methodist Church in Fiji was one of the first institutional champions of the campaign, supporting it since 2014. Its backing helped mainstream the issue of overfishing of these fish and the need for action,” said Scott Radway, founder of cChange. “That’s why we know the church’s additional support now on outreach on the legal ban is a tremendous development for the recovery of these fisheries.”

The Methodist Church is the largest religious organization in Fiji.

cChange provided a video documentary, fact sheets, and guide on all 27 species of kawakawa and donu, to help the officers conduct outreach to communities and to train additional members of the church at the district and village level to engage their respective communities.

Cross-Government Partnership For Effective Enforcement Of Kawakawa And Donu Seasonal Ban

The Fiji Police Force, the Fiji Revenue and Customs Service, the Fiji Navy and town councils across Fiji are joining forces with the Ministry of Fisheries to ensure the effective enforcement of the recently enacted seasonal ban on fishing, sale and export of kawakawa and donu.

The impressive cross-government partnership formerly launched today with a workshop for the Central Division at the Fiji Police Nasova Training Facility, where police, customs, the Navy and town council staff will be trained to conduct effective outreach, and how to support enforcement actions, when necessary.

Similar workshops will follow over the next three weeks for the remaining divisions.

The partnership is the result of an outreach program developed for all key government bodies last year through the 4FJ campaign.

The Ministry of Fisheries and cChange, a regional nongovernmental organization, traveled across the country to visit key stakeholders, including sellers, to inform them of the coming ban and build support for its effective implementation.

For the workshop, cChange is providing training and tools to conduct effective outreach to key stakeholders, with the goal of increasing compliance with the ban. The Ministry of Fisheries, supported by the Pacific Community (SPC) is providing training for participants in supporting effective enforcement of the ban.

“This is a very important process because we need everyone’s support for the ban to effectively serve its purpose, especially those in the rural communities who rely on fishing for their livelihoods,” says the Ministry of Fisheries Director, Aisake Batibasaga.

“This training will help spread the message on what the ban is about, why it is important and what it means for those involved in the commercial fishing and sale of these important and highly valuable fish species,” Batibasaga added.

Kawakawa and donu are most vulnerable during spawning because they gather at the same time and at the same spots each year to breed. In Fiji, the peak breeding months for these fish species are June through September.

According to the Ministry of Fisheries, around 80 per cent of the country’s known kawakawa and donu breeding grounds are rapidly declining or have died out.

To address this, the ministry issued a public notice on 6 June announcing a legal ban on the collection, sale and exportation of kawakawa and donu during their peak breeding months.

The ministry implemented a grace period where fishermen and vendors were allowed to sell off any stock of these fish on the local market. The grace period expired on 11 June.

Ministry of Fisheries begins crack down on illegal sales of kawakawa and donu

SUVA, Fiji – Putting teeth in the new seasonal ban on kawakawa and donu, the Ministry of Fisheries has begun confiscating kawakawa and donu sold illegally.  

Kawakawa and donu recently confiscated in Vatuwaqa and Nakasi

“The fish that are being confiscated are intended to send an important and clear message: It is now illegal to collect, sell or export kawakawa and donu during the seasonal ban which runs from June until the end of September,” said Ministry of Fisheries Director, Aisake Batibasaga. 

Early this week, ministry officials in the Central Division confiscated the first fish from vendors located in Vatuwaqa and Nakasi. The 10 kilograms fish were seized during routine inspections carried out by central division staff who had previously conducted awareness to vendors on the seasonal ban.

Ministry of Fisheries officials noted that the fish seized were also undersize, likely indicating that the fisheries is near collapse and underscoring the need for the ban.

Kawakawa and donu recently confiscated in Vatuwaqa and Nakasi

Similar confiscations will be taking place across the country starting this week.

The ministry issued a public notice on 6 June announcing a legal ban on the collection, sale and exportation of kawakawa and donu during their peak breeding months. A grace period was given to fisherman and vendors to sell off any stock of these fish on the local market. The grace period expired on 11 June.

Since the public notice, the ministry has conducted awareness with vendors and provided them with a copy of the notice to ensure that they were aware of the seasonal ban. 

Sellers can now have their fish confiscated. Sellers can also be fined, with an immediate fine of $10,000 for individuals and $20,000 for corporations. Violators can ultimately be fined up to $50,000 for individuals, and up to $100,000 for corporations. The level of the fine can depend on the severity of the offense and will be determined by the Fiji Court System.

The ban was enacted because of the rapid decline of the critical fisheries. According to the Fiji Ministry of Fisheries, around 80 per cent of Fiji’s known kawakawa and donu breeding sites are either declining or have been lost. 

One study found fish landings of kawakawa have declined 70 per cent over 30 years, with some areas in Fiji hardly catching the prized fish anymore. 

Prior to the ban, through the 4FJ campaign, more than 15,000 people in Fiji had voluntarily pledged to forego kawakawa and donu during their peak breeding months, to allow them to rebound. cChange, the organization that created the 4FJ campaign for the ministry, found in one survey conducted in the Suva-Nausori corridor that 93 per cent of the public supported the four-month ban.

Grace period for sale of banned fish expires

SUVA, Fiji – Starting today until the end of September, kawakawa and donu must not be collected, sold locally or exported. The Ministry of Fisheries can now confiscate any kawakawa and donu being sold in Fiji and sellers could face fines.

The ban follows a public notice issued by Fiji’s Ministry of Fisheries early last week announcing a legal ban on these fish during their peak spawning season, June through September.

The ministry implemented a grace period notifying sellers that any stock caught or bought prior to the issuing of the public notice must be sold on the local market by 11 p.m. yesterday or frozen for the duration of the spawning season.

All frozen fish that remains unsold must now be bagged and labelled with the name of the fisherman or vendor as well as the date it was received. Sellers must also notify the Ministry of Fisheries in writing of the quantity of any remaining frozen stock which must be made available for inspection. 

The frozen fish stock must be stored and cannot be sold prior to 1 October.

Anyone caught not complying with the ministry’s regulations is commiting an offence and could face steep penalties.

According to the Ministry of Fisheries close to 80 per cent of Fiji’s known kawakawa and donu breeding sites are either declining or have died out.

In 2014, the ministry launched the 4FJ campaign with support from regional communications NGO, cChange, to highlight the rapid decline in size and numbers of Fiji’s kawakawa and donu. 

The wide public support for the campaign provided the foundation for the Ministry of Fisheries to pursue the legal ban on the commercial collection and sale of these fish during the peak breeding months. 

Kawakawa and Donu peak breeding season starts tomorrow

SUVA, Fiji – The Ministry of Fisheries is encouraging people across Fiji to refrain from buying, selling and eating kawakawa and donu over the next four months, as these highly valuable grouper fish species enter their main breeding season.

According to the Ministry of Fisheries close to 80 per cent of Fiji’s known kawakawa and donu breeding sites are either declining or have died out.

“These particular fish predictably gather at the same time and at the same spots each year to breed, making them quite easy to catch in large numbers during this time which in turn, leaves few fish restock Fiji’s reefs. Unfortunately, this is exactly what is happening but we can do something to change this situation,” says Ministry of Fisheries Permanent Secretary, Sanaila Naqali.

“Many in our community, especially those living the rural areas rely on the ocean for food and income. So, by making a small sacrifice for four months, we not only protect these fish and our environment by letting them restock our reefs, but also our livelihoods today and, in the future,” Naqali adds.

Naqali reiterates that the Ministry is committed to implementing a legal ban on the commercial sale of these fish species in Fiji from June through September annually and finalization of the process is currently underway with relevant government ministries and stakeholders.

“We understand the importance of getting this process right so we are working to ensure that adequate time is given for awareness and compliance,” Naqali says.

“We’ve worked hard over the last three years to get the support of important stakeholders, like the fishermen, town councils and the private sector, so we expect a fairly smooth implementation of government’s directive once the ban is in place.”

The protection of kawakawa and donu fulfills a commitment that Fiji made at the UN Oceans Conference in June last year.

This follows the launch of the 4FJ campaign by the Ministry of Fisheries in 2014 to highlight the rapid decline in size and numbers of Fiji’s kawakawa and donu.

As a result, over 15,000 people, as well as the private sector, including renowned hotels and supermarket chains, voluntarily pledged not to buy, sell, eat or serve these fish species from 1 June through 30 September.

The wide public support for the campaign provided the foundation for the Ministry of Fisheries to pursue the legal ban of commercial fishing and sale of these fish during the peak breeding months.

Survey shows overwhelming support for proposed seasonal ban on kawakawa and donu

Fiji 7s Captain Jerry Tuwai takes the 4FJ pledge not to eat kawakawa and donu during breeding season.

SUVA, Fiji – A stunning 93 percent of the public surveyed support a proposed Fiji government ban on the fishing and sale of kawakawa and donu during their peak breeding months, according to a recent survey conducted in the Suva-Nausori corridor.

cChange, a communications NGO, conducted the survey to measure the support for the proposed ban and the effectiveness of the 4FJ campaign, which it created to support the Ministry of Fisheries to revive kawakawa and donu fisheries in Fiji. The survey was conducted in Suva, Nasinu, Nausori and Lami.

“This is an amazing level of support for the government’s plan to revive fish that are critical to meeting the food and income needs for Fiji’s communities,” said Scott Radway, founder of cChange. “This shows the people of Fiji are willing to come together to make a short-term sacrifice for long-term gain for the country.”

The 4FJ campaign was launched in 2014 to encourage people to voluntarily pledge to forego the fish during their peak breeding months, to give them space to breed and replenish Fiji’s reefs. Nearly 15,000 people have taken the 4FJ pledge to date.

Buoyed by the support for its campaign, the Ministry of Fisheries has proposed to legally ban the commercial fishing and sale of kawakawa and donu during their peak breeding months, June through September, starting this year. Fiji made the announcement as part of its voluntary commitments at the United Nations Ocean Conference, which it co-hosted in New York with Sweden last year in June.

“We want to ensure that these wonderful fish species continue to provide substantial benefits to coastal communities in Fiji,” said Fiji's Minister for the Ministry of Fisheries, Mr Semi Koroilavesau, during his address at the United Nations Ocean Conference in New York City.

The Fiji submission stated that kawakawa and donu, commonly called grouper, are particularly vulnerable because they gather predictably each year in the same spots to breed. Those sites are commonly fished heavily, leaving few fish behind to restock Fiji reefs. Of the known breeding sites in Fiji, 80 percent are declining or gone, the submission states.

The cChange survey also found that about two-thirds of the people surveyed thought kawakawa and donu are less available today, smaller and more expensive than they were a few years ago.

The survey found the campaign raised awareness around overfishing issues in Fiji, with 90 percent saying they were more supportive of fishing rules and regulations. The campaign also made 86 percent want to know more about what they can do to help, and 82 percent wonder what other fish are overfished.

The survey was conducted in October, 2017. cChange was supported in the design, implementation and analysis of the survey by Edge Research, a Washington, D.C.-based, market research firm with extensive experience in campaign evaluation.

cChange interviewed 252 adult respondents, at locations in Suva, and its suburbs, including a range of ages, gender, ethnicity and wards were surveyed to ensure a representative sample. The margin of error on the sample as a whole is +/- 6.2 percentage points at the 95% confidence level.