FISHERMEN in outer islands face storage hardship while waiting for boats to transport their fish to ready markets on the mainland.
Transporting fish by boat can be a hard task for outer island fishermen, especially since fish quality can be affected if there isn’t any proper storage.
Witnessing the hardship that these fishermen face in Udu Village on Totoya, Minister for Fisheries Semi Koroilavesau gave a solar freezer to assist in their daily operations.
According to the ministry the $20,000 solar freezer would ease storage woes that fishermen often face when waiting for the next boat to bring their fish to mainland markets.
Udu Village headman Railala Bilitaki said it was a huge relief for the fishermen on the island and they were grateful for the assistance.
Fishermen will have to report back on catch data to the ministry to determine the species and weight of fish caught in their waters.
Also a second solar freezer was handed over to Doi Village on the island of Ono-i-Lau by the permanent secretary of Fisheries, Craig Strong.
Mr Strong reiterated the need for villagers to work together to ensure they maintained all government assistance to the island.
“This is a start of many more collaborations and we will certainly be working with the fishermen’s association to try and work out sustainable methods which will see them develop into the future,” said Mr Strong.
