FISHERMEN of Vutuna settlement in Yasiyasi, Tavua have taken necessary measures to cushion the impact of the rising fuel costs.
Fisherman Viliame Uqeuqe – who is part of a group of fishermen in the area who all depend on their daily catch as a major source of income – said a significant portion of their earnings were spent on fuel now following the recent price hike.
“Now we have resorted to camping at Vatia, so we will fish and camp there until the next morning,” Mr Uqeuqe said.
“The families here depend on how much income we can get from fishing; it’s just three of us fishing, that includes my brother and father.”
Mr Uqeuqe said the high price of food have added to their hardship.
“Previously, we would take two gallons of fuel, and the small yellow gallon was about $50, now it’s $70 for one; and the larger gallons are about $80. We would buy about three gallons, which would amount to about $200 but we now take two gallons, which is $180.” While many fishermen may sell their catch at the fish market, Mr Uqeuqe said men in the settlement had opted to sell from the Yasiyasi main road.
“Sometimes the middleman would come directly to the settlement and agree on a price which is much easier for us. Otherwise, we would buy ice and store the fish, and sometimes when we run out of ice in Tavua, we go right to Ba.”
Mr Uqeuqe said members of the fishing community feared another hike in the fuel price.
“This morning, we caught busa and salala but the winds were too strong, so my father told us to return since we had enough fish to sell to buy our fuel.”
Mr Uqeuqe’s wife Mere Ilisoni Buli normally sells fish to the village men on the roadside at Yasiyasi.
“We sell the fish for $6 but if I’m buying it from someone else to sell here, then I’ll charge $10,” she said.
