Trainees with trainers.
[19 December 2024: Suva, Fiji] – The Certificate IV in Coastal Fisheries and Aquaculture Compliance recently completed its competency-based face-to-face assessment in Suva, Fiji, from 2nd to 13th December 2024. This marks a significant milestone for participants as they gain critical skills and knowledge needed to excel in Monitoring, Control, and Surveillance (MCS) roles.
This programme is supported through scholarships funded by the European Union and the Government of Sweden under the USP component of the Pacific-European Union Marine Partnership (PEUMP) programme. It is co-facilitated by USP TAFE and the Pacific Community, offering essential capacity-building opportunities for fisheries officers across the Pacific.
“The USP PEUMP component has been supporting TVET and CPD training programs through USP TAFE, particularly in coastal fisheries and marine sustainable development.” said Lavenie Tawake, Team Leader, USP PEUMP, at the closing of the face to face session. “The aim is to increase the number of Pacific Islanders with accredited qualifications while upskilling fisheries and marine professionals with technical knowledge and skills, such as those of MCS officers.”
The Certificate IV in Coastal Fisheries and Aquaculture Compliance qualification equips participants with the technical expertise and competencies required of MCS officers.
Tou Berenato, Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean Resources, Kiribati, expressed her gratitude for the training: “This training has been very interesting from the start until the end. It has given me new knowledge and experience. When I get back, I will use the skills and knowledge I have gained to implement changes in my country.”
The curriculum focuses on real-world applications, including effective coastal fisheries and aquaculture monitoring, community engagement strategies, and the enforcement of fisheries laws while fostering partnerships with communities for sustainable resource management.
Saula Rokonawale, Compliance Officer, Ministry of Fisheries, Lautoka, Fiji, emphasized the importance of community engagement in enforcement: “We are dealing with people who must comply with national legislation. What I learned the most is how to approach them and pass on the message effectively. We cannot just enforce the law immediately; there must be awareness. That is one of the key lessons from this training.”
Tonga Tuiano, OIC, Ministry of Fisheries, Vava’u, Tonga, highlighted the practical nature of the course: “From the start of the course, I was very eager to learn because the content deals directly with our daily work and activities at Fisheries.”
Saula Rokonawale also reflected on shared goals with communities: “The main thing is that we should have the same aim or goal as the community—to achieve a sustainable coastal environment. Strengthening partnerships with public members, fisheries officials, and community levels is essential, and that is one thing I learned from this course.”
Congratulations to all participants for achieving this key milestone. The completion of this qualification marks a vital step toward building stronger capacities for the sustainable management of Pacific marine resources. Through enhanced skills, knowledge, and community partnerships, these officers will play a critical role in safeguarding coastal fisheries and aquaculture operations for future generations.
Together, we are fostering resilient and sustainable marine resource management across the Pacific.
USP is one of four key implementing partners of the PEUMP Programme, a EUR 45million program which promotes sustainable management and sound ocean governance for food security and economic growth while addressing climate change resilience and conservation of marine biodiversity.
It follows a comprehensive approach, integrating issues related to ocean fisheries, coastal fisheries, community development, marine conservation and capacity building under one single regional action. The PEUMP Programme is housed within the Institute of Marine Resources within the School of Agriculture, Geography, Environment, Ocean and Natural Sciences (SAGEONS).
Media contact:
Lore Croker, USP Communications, lore.croker@usp.ac.fj
