Government has tabled a Bill in Parliament yesterday to strengthen enforcement powers and modernise compliance mechanisms in Fiji’s fisheries sector.
The Fisheries (Amendment) Bill 2025, tabled by Minister for Fisheries Alitia Bainivalu, introduces new definitions, expands the powers of authorised officers, and establishes an Inshore Fisheries Fixed Penalty Notice system for minor offences.
Under the proposed law, fisheries officers, police, customs and other authorised officers will have broader powers to search, inspect, and detain vessels, fishing gear, and offenders suspected of breaching the Fisheries Act.
The Bill also removes references to “honorary” fish wardens and gives the Minister authority to appoint authorised officers.
“The amendments modernise enforcement and compliance by introducing penalty notices as a first tier of deterrence against non-compliance, apart from prosecution,” the explanatory note to the Bill stated.
Offenders who fail to pay a fixed penalty within 21 days could face formal court proceedings under the Criminal Procedure Act 2009, with courts empowered to impose higher fines or imprisonment terms.
The Bill also increases penalties for breaching licence conditions to $1,000 or six months imprisonment, while certain offences may attract fines of up to $30,000 for individuals and $50,000 for companies.
Other key amendments include allowing the Permanent Secretary to suspend or cancel fishing licences for breaches or overdue payments, providing for appeals to the Minister where a licence is refused, suspended or cancelled and defining “fish” more broadly to include aquatic mammals, coral, turtles, and beche-de-mer.
The Bill will be debated under Standing Order 51 today.
