Levuka-based Pacific Fishing Company (PAFCO) was fined by the Ministry of Environment in April last year for failing to comply with proper waste management regulations.
Speaking to members of the National Resource Owners Committee in Nadi recently, permanent secretary for Environment and Climate Change, Dr Sivendra Michael said the company was yet to comply with the ministry’s demand for a detailed waste management plan.
He said a fixed penalty notice was issued on April 16, 2025, with a number of remedial actions the company had to undertake.
“They paid the fine and we asked them to remove fish scraps along the waterfront and do a detailed waste management plan.
“They have done a waste management plan, but it was not up to our standard. We did not approve it and we rejected their waste management plan.
“We have asked for further remedial works to be done at the site and the team is going to go back and ask them what they have done.
“If not, we will issue another fine.”
He said the main issue was to ensure the company established a proper waste treatment plant.
“It is going to take some time. For that they will have to work with the Water Authority of Fiji to establish their waste treatment plant.”
On concerns raised by residents about odour from the factory, , Dr Michael said the law was silent on the issue.
“But there are other provisions that we test for like air pollution. So, we can conduct this test but this will have to be done over three or four days.”
