A PIONEER for women in business in Fiji and also the first female president of the Suva Chamber of Commerce Dr Nur Bano Ali has become the latest champion of the For Fiji (4FJ) campaign.
“We all know that our fish stocks of kawakawa and donu are declining, and yet we continue to deplete them, even though they will go extinct,” said Dr Ali, who is also the owner and managing partner at Aliz Pacific, president of Women in Business (Fiji) and the chairwoman for the South Pacific Stock Exchange.
She is working with 4FJ which is trying to revive the populations of these two rapidly declining fish.
“But with one simple collective action, we can reverse the trend,” she said.
“That action is the 4FJ pledge not to buy, eat or sell kawakawa and donu during their peak breeding months, June through September.
“By letting them breed each year, they can restock our reefs. So with a small sacrifice now, Fiji gets more fish later.
“That’s smart business.”
And that’s why she is bringing the 4FJ message to all her networks.
“So are we going to destroy our food now? I don’t think so. We need to allow them to be there for our children and their children. We don’t want them to think that we finished all these fish so when the time comes there is none,” said Dr Ali.
“We should take the awareness out to a level where all corporates and all the restaurants are aware of the breeding season,” she said.
A fish lover herself, Dr Ali takes pride in her cooking and smiles as she describes her mum’s cooking of the two fish.
So beyond the economic value, Dr Ali said it was also important to remember the value to the culture of Fiji in maintaining these fish for future generations.
“We can’t afford to lose these fish because of our irresponsible behaviour,” she said.
To join Dr Ali in her pledge, text (1) your name, (2) village or town, and (3) “I pledge” to 7189537. To follow the campaign, visit www.facebook.com/4fjmovement.