Qoli Veinanumi (Communal Fishing) is an important part of Fijian culture. It is about fishers sharing their catch with the Chief, the herald, the spokesperson, the elders every time so that fishers continue to be blessed when they go out to sea and so, the mana will remain in the ocean.

But the ocean is not as abundant as it once was because of how fishing has changed.

Alifereti Tawake, Council Chair & Technical Advisor at The LMMA Network explains how fishing has changed and what this means for Fiji’s fishing grounds and being able to practice Qoli Veinanumi.

There are many practical and local solutions to fish in ways that can help ensure our fishing grounds can support our needs today and tomorrow.

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Kivei kemuni na dau ni veitokoni ni 4FJ Movement, ka ni dau vakatudaliga tiko mai ena vei matai kei na i katolu ni Siga Vukelulu ena veivula ena parokaramu na Qoli Vakamatau, oqo e dua na kena katokatoni e rawa ni o ni na vakarorogo kina.

E dua na taro e laveti cake mai oya na i balebale ni vosa na qoli veinanumi. E taro vinaka baleta ni dabe koto kina e vica ka e rawa ni da veitalanoa kina.

Sa seavu yani na kena vakabulabulataki tale mai na veinanumi ni da lesu mai na qoli, ni ra wasei na kedra na noda Turaga, o ira na noda qase kei ira na yada se na uabula. Ni vakayagataki na qoli veinanumi e sautu na vanua, ra marau na lewena ka sobu na mana ni veivakalougatataki ena noda i qolioli.

Ni sa sureti mo ni na wasea na lavelave oqo, ka vakauasivi na nomuni soli vakasama ena noda rawa ni maroroya tiko na noda i qoliqoli kei na vei ka era bula kina.

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This show was first recorded on FBC Fiji Radio One, 2nd December 2020.

The 4FJ Fish Smart radio program is coordinated by cChange, supported by Pacific-European Union Marine Partnership (PEUMP) Programme, with guidance from the Pacific Community (SPC) and the Locally-Managed Marine Area Network, with funding from the European Union and the Government of Sweden, and also funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies Vibrant Oceans Initiative.

4FJ Qoli Vakamatau Radio Show: How fishing has changed in Fiji