Acting Principal Fisheries Officer Western Division, Katangateman Tokabwebwe receiving his training certificate.
7 May 2025, Lautoka, Fiji – In a small, focused training room filled with discussions and collaborations, Katangateman Tokabwebwe, Acting Principal Fisheries Officer for the Western Division of Fiji’s Ministry of Fisheries, joined ten of his colleagues for a week of professional development. The Micro Qualification Training on Establishing and Operating a Small Seafood Business, delivered by the USP component of the Pacific European Union Marine Partnership (PEUMP) Programme and funded by the European Union and the Government of Sweden, marked a major step forward for fisheries officers within the Western Division.
Toka, as he’s commonly known, is a Senior Fisheries Officer in the West and currently acting Principle Scientific Officer for the Western Division. With the Ministry of Fisheries spearheading the establishment of fishing cooperatives in local communities, this training came at a critical time. These cooperatives aim to empower communities by giving them the tools to run and manage their own seafood businesses, and the officers attending the workshop were key to making that vision a reality.
“This was the first training of its kind for fisheries officers,” Toka shared. “And we learnt a lot in just one week.”
One of the standout lessons for Toka was how to develop a robust business plan—a skill that fisheries officers like him often support fisherfolk with. “This training has built our capacity and improved our understanding,” he said. “We now feel more confident in providing sound advice and actively assisting our fishing communities in creating business plans that are practical, tailored, and achievable.”
Toka also reflected on the training’s focus on entrepreneurial traits—a topic not often covered in traditional fisheries work. “Understanding what makes an entrepreneur will help us identify potential leaders within communities and strengthen existing business owners through our cooperative trainings,” he explained.
The ripple effect of this training is already beginning. The ten fisheries officers in attendance are set to cascade their learnings back into their communities, working hand-in-hand with local representatives who also attended the training. Together, they will mentor and educate other fisherfolk, creating a growing network of empowered, business-savvy fishing communities.
While the officers acknowledged their prior lack of financial knowledge, the training has sparked a newfound confidence. “We now understand more about basic business setup and operations,” said Toka. “We’re looking forward to more follow-up trainings in the future.”
From capacity-building to community empowerment, this training has laid the groundwork for resilient, community-led seafood businesses in Fiji. And for Toka and his fellow officers, it is just the beginning of a deeper transformation—one cast not just in nets, but in knowledge.
USP is one of four key implementing partners of the PEUMP Programme, a EUR 45 million 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).
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Media Contact
Lore Croker, USP PEUMP Communications, lore.croker@usp.ac.fj
