Goodwill payment is unlawful – Director of Fisheries

Director for Fisheries Mere Lakeba has highlighted that the goodwill payment being asked by some customary fishing right owners is unlawful.

This is after many concerns were raised to the Prime Minister from ordinary Fijians intending to fish within the Customary Fishing Rights Areas for business or trade.

Lakeba says some of the concerns being raised are from Provincial Council meetings, Tikina Meetings and awareness programs, that some owners are charging fishermen a fee although they have already paid for the license and permit to fish in that area.

She says due to the lack of evidence provided, they can not take people to task.

Lakeba says the unlawful practice of goodwill payment has been an ongoing issue for a couple of years which is why some owners do not know that goodwill payment is unlawful.

She adds that they did a joint awareness program with the Ministry of iTaukei Affairs and the Ministry for Rural and Maritime Development around the country so that customary fishing rights owners understand the issue at hand.

The Director is urging all qoliqoli owners to adhere to the rules and regulations in the Fisheries Act so that their fishing ground is protected for future needs.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama has highlighted that apart from the regulated government fees and proposed access fees, no other payment of money is involved in the licensing and permit process to fish within the Customary Fishing Right Areas.