ILLEGAL fishing is a major problem for qoliqoli owners in the North and to fight the crime, Macuata province organised a rugby tournament to raise funds to equip fish wardens.
Known as the Great Sea Reef tournament, 16 teams participated paying $200 fee and a good crowd turned out. The organising committee said money raised would be used to buy equipment for the fish wardens.
A team from Namalata in Kubulau, Bua entered the tournament because they suffered from the same problem.
"We are from a different province but we entered the tournament to support people of Macuata against illegal fishing because we know what it's like when people steal fish from our qoliqoli, says team chairman Paula Kolikata.
"We have caught people from Cakaudrove and islands outside Bua fishing in our qoliqoli and taken them to the Fisheries department and police."
Mr Kolikata said in the past two years, villagers especially women saw how their catch from the sea continued to decrease.
"We started to put men from the village to monitor our qoliqoli. As a result, we caught some people but we need to better equip our men and we are grateful Macuata has set an example to raise funds and equip our wardens," he said.
Tournament spokesman Solo Cakau said the tournament was a success.
Money from the tournament was enough to buy two speedboats and diving gear for the wardens who will patrol qoliqoli from Udu Point to Dreketi.
