Cabinet has agreed that public consultations be undertaken on Fiji’s intention to accede to the International Convention on Standards of Training, Certification and Watchkeeping for Fishing Vessel Personnel (STCW-F) 1995.
The STCW-F 1995 was adopted to establish internationally recognised standards for the training, certification, and watchkeeping of fishing vessel personnel. It applies to fishing vessels 24 metres or more in length that operate beyond inshore limits, specifically outside the 12-nautical mile territorial waters.
Acceding to the STCW-F Convention will empower the Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji (MSAF) to enforce training, certification, and watchkeeping standards for all foreign fishing vessels of 24 metres or more entering Fiji’s ports and operating within Fiji’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).
This oversight, under port state control measures, will significantly enhance maritime safety and reduce the likelihood of accidents and incidents within Fiji’s Search and Rescue (SAR) region.
Fiji’s move to accede to the STCW-F Convention reflects our ongoing commitment to safer seas, stronger regulation, and the protection of lives at sea.
The 1995 STCW-F Convention is a binding treaty that sets certification and minimum training requirements for crews of seagoing fishing vessels with the aim to promote the safety of life at sea and the protection of the marine environment, taking into account the unique nature of the fishing industry and the fishing work environment.
