Seaka II, a tuna long-line vessel, sailed out to sea this week with a piece of history. On board was a group of eight females who earlier in the day became what is claimed as the first all-female deck crew on a tuna long-line fishing vessel.
These women were trendsetters and no doubt they inspire the many women and girls who are eager to one day join the male-dominated fishing industry.
The pioneering eight included chief officer Joana Vakacautadra, engineer cadet Linda Fong, bosun Sereana Cakacaka and deckhands Kasanita Vakarairai, Joana Kasani, Adi Kelera Lutunauga, Viviana Bogitini and one other.
The initiative was made possible via a collaboration between Fijian-owned company SeaQuest Fiji and the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency(FFA).
For 22-year-old Kasanita Vakarairai, she vividly remembers the day she came home in a Fiji School of Maritime uniform instead of nursing threads.
Her family, who was eager to have her as a familty nightingale, was disappointed.
However, all that changed on Monday when she created history by being one of eight all-female deck hands to traverse the high seas. Vakarairai believes that apart from offering a steady source of livelihood, the fisheries sector has given her an opportunity to travel.
Chief Officer Joana Vakacautadra said nine years ago she had her break when she received a call from one of the fishing companies.
“They offered me a job to be a crew member in one of their vessels. I was excited,” she said.
One her first day at work, she went with bags of shopping, thinking the crew would not have enough food on the ship to last the journey She was so wrong.
“I can remember the look on the men’s faces when they saw me with all the food I was bringing. I was briefed about all the things that could go wrong and was reminded that there were no facilities for women on board.”
“I think they really didn’t think that I was going to last the trip. Of course, the first trip wasn’t easy. Working on long-line fishing vessels is tough, but I loved it.”
Vakacautadra said she hoped their recent journey would inspire young girls to reach for their dreams even if they may seem impossible. SeaQuest Fiji CEO Brett Haywood said they were imbuing this program with as many elements as they could to ensure success.
“This is, what I hope, will be the beginning of an industry-wide shift,” Haywood said, “So the journey today is the culmination of all of the training that the women have already undertaken.”
“Over the next six months the two cohorts of women who have undertaken the training will take a nine day training trip starting today (Monday) with our first female cohort.”
Haywood said the eight females would learn things such as how to become familiar with the vessel, safety training, training on long-line fishing techniques and how to handle the catch to maximise its quality.
Then they would have a six month programme of two commercial fishing trips per month over the next six months to attain levels of catch and efficiency that can be expected of an experienced commercial long-line crew.
This period of upskilling, sea time and practical experience is also being supported by Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency(FFA).
“We feel strongly that by the end of all of this intensive training and support we will have a confident, skilled, successful cohort of fishing professionals,” Haywood said.
“These groups of women will make a long term contribution to their communities. A community, that you would be aware, has been terribly impacted by these recent tough times.” Haywood said as a proud Fijian, the initiative has made him determined that Seaquest should always be ‘a 100 per cent Fijian company, for 100 per cent Fijian jobs’.
He said this was his small part in helping the Pacific and specifically Fiji in its economic recovery
“I would like to urge all the other brave and adventurous women who have thought about a career in our industry. Do it! Don’t give up!
“No matter whether you have a qualification or not, there is an opportunity for you in the Fijian fishing industry”.
Haywood hopes the FFA and Sea Quest initiative will inspire anyone that has ‘a penchant for the sea and lifestyle’, which involves hard work, but also moments of great beauty on the sea, to give it a go.
“I hope this initiative encourages a new generation of seafarers to advance their own lives, communities and Fiji as a whole.
“I note with pride, that our team of strong, brave, determined eight women have set their own benchmark.”
Mr Haywood believes there are many opportunities for advancement, with industry support for those that showed commitment.
