A bid to reduce the number of fishing licences through the "last in, first out" option is not a viable solution to the fisheries industry, the Fiji Offshore Fisheries Association says.
Association spokesman Jiten Mohan called for more local participation in regional waters in an attempt to raise the capacity of fish harvest.
His comments come as stakeholders completed the first round of the Tuna Management Development Plan.
He reiterated the concerns of the Fiji Tuna Boat Owners Association over the increased presence of foreign vessels in regional waters which contributed to shrinking marine resources.
"The effort outside Fiji has increased meaning less fish in our Exclusive Economic Zone, while we on the other hand have reduced our effort," Mr Mohan said.
He said Fiji's EEZ was not part of the tuna belt adding that Fiji did not have resident tuna stock.
"Fiji does not own any tuna stock. The tuna that comes in is from those that break away from the schools," Mr Mohan said.
He called for political pressure on foreign countries operating fishing vessels in regional waters.
"The 98 per cent impact on the fisheries industry is outside us," Mr Mohan said.