THE World Fisheries Day was celebrated in Lautoka.
Acting Permanent Secretary for Fisheries, Naipote Katonitabua led the celebrations at Shirley Park which included an exhibition highlighting the work and outreach of the Ministry of Fisheries.
This year’s theme is “sustaining our fisheries for sustainable communities”.
The theme highlights two key elements; the intrinsic relationship between our resources and our people, and the silent and over-arching plea to harness the balance between the use and preservation of our fragile and finite fisheries resources,” Mr Katonitabua said.
Mr Katonitabua noted that with Fiji’s relatively small land mass, any development activity would have a negative impact across the entire island landscape –affecting the environment, people, livelihoods and economies.
Also present was the Marama Shellcraft Fiji, a Ba-based group training women to craft shells into ornaments , jewellery and handicraft, and that has recently partnered with the Ministry.