Solander (Pacific) Ltd - Fiji, Fishing Company

Solander (Pacific) Ltd is one of Fiji's longest established fishing companies. Solander (Pacific) Ltd commenced operations in Fiji in 1987 and became a registered Fijian Company in 1988. Solander's owned fleet of longline vessels operate from Suva. Solander vessels are locally manned.

Every year Solander directly contributes FJD15 million to the economy, and employs around 300 persons with on-going training of skippers, crew and engineers.

Na Solander Pacific e dua vei ira na Kabani ni qoli veiqaravi vakabalavu e Viti. E tekivu na veiqaravi ni kabani na Solander Pacific ena 1987 me yacova na yabaki 1988 ni a mai vakaivolataki se register me kabani ni noda vanua.

O ira na waqa ni Qoli ni wasaliwa ni Solander era veiqaravi mai Suva, Era Kai mua veiraqavi e waqa na gone i taukei.

Ena vei yabaki e dau solia ki na matanitu o Viti na Solander e rauta ni tinikalima na milioni na dola (FJD15 million), ka vakacakacakataka e rauta ni tolu na drau (300) na gonei i taukei ka sala vata na vuli ni Kavetani, Kai mua kei na idinia.

Vessels Owned or Operating into Solander Pacific, Suva Fiji

Vessel	FIJI EEZ Licence # 2008	Call sign
Solander II	886	3DYJ
Solander III	887	SDQH
Solander IV	888	3DVB
Solander V	889	3DVL
Solander VI	890	3DVS
Solander IX	891	3DWW
Solander X	892	3DWN
Solander XI Solander XII Solander Kariqa	893	3DYK
Seaqual	895	3DWC
Seaka	894	3DWR
Seawill	902	3DYD
Lady Ama		3DN6572

Solander Kariqa	Solander IV
Solander X	Solander XI
Solander XII	Solander VI

Sustainable Fishing Statement

Solander fishes by the surface longline method for Tuna species (Big eye, Yellow Fin and Albacore) and associated pelagic species in the Fiji EEZ, congruent EEZ's and High Seas. It also fishes in the Fiji EEZ by the bottom line method for species such as Snappers (Onaga, Opakapaka) and Groupers.

All vessels supplying Solander, whether owned by Solander, contracted or privately owned are Fiji Flagged. As such these vessels operate under the licences and jurisdiction of the Fijian Ministry of Fisheries and Forests (FMFF). Our fleet is predominately manned by Fijian crew and all vessels are based in and operate from the port of Suva.

Fiji has a sophisticated fisheries research, management and monitoring system. Fiji is a signatory to the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) which was established by the Convention for the conservation and management of Highly Migratory fish stocks in the region. Fiji is signatory to UNCLOS and all relevant UN conventions on the management of fish stocks in the South Pacific.

Fiji is a member of the Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) in Honiara which agency monitors Solander vessels under its Vessel Monitoring Scheme (VMS). The Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) in Noumea provides the logbooks and catch data requests to which Solander complies under direction of the FMFF. The Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) provides direction and instruction on environmental issues specific to the area in which we fish.

Fiji adheres to the recommendations of WCPFC in relation to sustainability, ecologically related species (ERS) and catch reporting. The SPC undertake scientific and resource studies and provides input into the WCPFC scientific committee. Regional Total Allowable Catches (TAC's) are derived from this information. The WCPFC consider that Albacore and Skipjack are currently fished at sustainable levels. Big Eye and Yellow Fin are under some pressure and subject to likely catch reduction. Fiji - being a responsible fishing nation - has pre-empted any likely reduction by limiting available Tuna licences in its EEZ to 60. Previously the "cap" on Fiji Tuna licences was 110. Solander's right to fish is governed by Fiji's allocation and jurisdiction.

Longline caught Albacore taken from the Fiji EEZ is currently under pre-assessment for MSC accreditation.

Solander vessels have OPRT (Organisation for the Promotion of Responsible Tuna Fisheries) accreditation as responsible tuna fishers. OPRT is an international tuna monitoring organisation based in Tokyo.

There is virtually no "non fish" bycatch within the Fiji EEZ. Predation by whales is of serious concern to the fishing community but has no adverse effect on the whales themselves. Solander crews are trained in the release of seabirds and turtles but these incidences are rare indeed in tropical waters.

The longline fishing method creates no damage to the seabed or benthic communities. Arguably it is the most environmentally sensitive of all commercial fishing activity.

Solander prides itself in adhering to all relevant management regimes enacted in the interests of sustainable fishing, ERS and non fish by catch. Management and seagoing staff are acutely aware of environmental issues and our business is managed accordingly.

Suva, Fiji April 2009