THE Commerce Commission will look into boat fares charged by ferry owners servicing the Natuvu-Taveuni route following complaints by customers of fluctuating fares.
Commission chairman Dr Mahendra Reddy said the commission would deploy a team to investigate the issue.
Some passengers had complained that whenever boats were full, fares are reduced but when there a few passengers, the opposite occurs.
Dr Reddy said appropriate action would be taken if the allegations were proved to be in breach of the Commerce Commission Decree 2010.
Dr Reddy confirmed the commission had not received any complaints apart from the concerns of the passengers which were published in this newspaper recently.
"We encourage consumers who have such grievances to lodge a complaint with the commission together with their boat tickets purchased so that the commission can investigate," said Dr Reddy.
"Currently, the passenger fare is not under price control and at the moment we need to deal with such complaints under the unfair trading section.
"However, should we have a price control on fares, then it would be a breach of the Price Control Order."
Dr Reddy said a ports and wharfs survey had been completed and the commission was in the process of analysing the data.
"Commission staff were based at Suva, Natovi, Nabouwalu, Malau, Lautoka, Port Denarau, and Savusavu for 12 weeks to gather primary data," said Dr Reddy.
"The Taveuni and Buca Bay route were also part of the survey."