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.