Members of the community are raising concerns that since government owns the Qoliqoli or traditional fishing grounds, maybe they should also help with the enforcement of the management arrangements undertaken by the local communities.
Blue Prosperity Fiji Co-Science Principal Investigator, Dr Joeli Veitayaki says this was one of the issues that was highlighted to them when they visited some communities.
Dr Veitayaki says because members of the community are trying to handle the enforcement, most times they end up on the wrong side of the law.
The Blue Prosperity Fiji Science expedition was launched yesterday led by the government and supported by local NGOs, USP, international scientists, and the Waitt Institute.
You can watch the fijivillage Straight Talk interview on the first ever nationwide ocean science expedition below.
