Four villages of the Lomaloma District in Vanuabalavu, Lau have been brought into the 4FJ Fish Smart Learning Site Initiative, where communities will now monitor catches and help manage their own qoliqoli.
The villages of Susui, Sawana, Levukana and Uruone have officially joined the initiative, which is aimed at strengthening community-led fisheries management and supporting the protection of customary fishing grounds.
The 4FJ Fish Smart Initiative helps communities fish responsibly, monitor their catches, identify declining fish species, collect basic data and decide what management measures are needed to protect fish stocks, food security and livelihoods.
In a statement, 4FJ said coastal communities in Lomaloma were now taking an active role in protecting and restoring their fishing grounds.
The program is led by cChange Pacific in partnership with the Ministry of Fisheries, the Ministry of iTaukei Affairs and the Lau Provincial Council, with support from the Kiwa Initiative.
According to 4FJ, the initiative equips communities with knowledge and tools to monitor and improve the health of their qoliqoli.
During the initial engagement, partner organisations met with village leaders, fishers, women and youth to introduce the 4FJ Learning Site Approach and obtain community consent to participate.
Through talanoa sessions, villagers raised concerns about declining fish stocks and identified species they believed required protection and recovery.
The program has since moved into its first and second phases, which included the introduction of the 4FJ DIY Learning Site and hands-on training sessions.
Communities worked together to identify priority species important for food security, livelihoods and cultural practices, while also looking at practical ways to strengthen local fisheries management through catch monitoring and data collection.
Community champions have now been selected and will receive training in fish catch measurement and data collection using measuring boards.
The information collected will support fisheries officers and technical experts in preparing fisheries health reports and recommending practical management measures for communities to consider within their qoliqoli.
Mafa Wilson said the strength of the initiative was that communities were leading the process themselves.
“They are identifying species of concern, collecting information from their own fishing activities, and working together to decide how best to protect their qoliqoli,” Ms Wilson said.
“This approach builds local ownership, knowledge, and responsibility for sustainable fisheries management for future generations.”
The Learning Site Approach forms part of the wider 4FJ Fish Smart Campaign, which promotes responsible fishing practices, community leadership, climate resilience and food security across Fiji.
4FJ said the rollout would continue across Lomaloma district with the long-term goal of developing a practical model that could be used in other districts throughout Fiji.
The initiative was supported through the coordination of mata ni Tikina Lomaloma Jone Foiakau, with contributions from Roko Vanuabalavu and Cicia Semisi Bukiamasi, Lau Provincial Conservation Officer Teresia Vakacegu, and mata ni Yaubula Lomaloma Ulaiyasi Bulu.
The 4FJ Fish Smart Learning Site Initiative is implemented by cChange in partnership with the Ministry of Fisheries, the Ministry of iTaukei Affairs and the Lau Provincial Council, with support from the Kiwa Initiative and funding from Agence Française de Développement in partnership with the European Union and the governments of Australia, New Zealand and Canada.
