Under section 3 of Fiji’s Fisheries Act Cap. 158, the Minister responsible for fisheries “may appoint honorary fish wardens whose duties shall be the prevention and detection of offences under this Act and the enforcement of the provisions thereof.” The appointment and broad responsibility of honorary fish wardens has been recognised in Fiji law since 1959 (s.2, Ordinance 34 of 1959).
Honorary fish wardens are vital in the policing of iqoliqoli or customary fishing grounds in Fiji. The area covered by an iqoliqoli commonly does not go beyond the outer limits of reefs. Within iqoliqoli, customary owners in parts of Fiji have established Locally Managed Marine Areas (LMMAs). Such LMMAs may provide local rules on the harvesting of certain species, management of fishing and other uses, or set a moratorium on fishing or other activities. By providing incentives and resources, there is great potential for wardens to also police other activities in near-shore areas that may affect marine ecosystems.
An honorary warden is usually a member of the tribe or clan that owns an iqoliqoli. While their responsibilities under the Fisheries Act is broad to include the prevention, detection, and enforcement of offences in Fijian fisheries waters, wardens also play a critical role in monitoring, controlling, and surveillance activities within their respective fishing grounds. Their effectiveness is constrained by the vast areas of sea to police and the limited financial resources, incentives, and equipment.
The effectiveness of fish wardens into the future rests on the adequate provisions of training, incentives, resources, and tools to carry out their tasks. At the legislative level, there is a need to further define roles and responsibilities and elaborate on the relationship between wardens at the village level and law enforcement authorities and courts at the national level.
For further information, see http://www.wwfpacific.org.fj/fiji_flmma_info.htm or contact manoa_p@usp.ac.fj