It’s a family business that started in the 1960s and has continued through four generations.
Although village based in the province of Macuata, the Rokoika family of Vunikodi Village have depended on mullet fish (kanace) for their business which has financially supported them.
Eparama Rokoika said the business started from his grandfather’s time, then to his dad and now to his children.
“Four generations have been involved in this business beginning from my grandfather and now to our children and it has been a success,” he said.
“Everyday we go out fishing and we return with a good catch of kanace fish which is cleaned and gutted by the beachside.
“We then cut the fish in the middle, clean it out properly ensuring that all unwanted stuff are removed and then we salt it and dry it out in the sun for a few days.
“Sometimes it takes three to four days if it’s a good weather but if it rains, then it might take a week but so far we have had a good market for it.”
Mr Rokoika said one of the most important things they needed was having sharp knives.
“This is very important because we don’t want to damage or tear the flesh of the fish if we use a blunt knife so first and foremost, have very sharp knives,” he said.
“These knives are kept separately from the ones we use at home because it’s too sharp and we don’t want people getting hurt.
“Once the fish are nicely dried, we then pack it for the market and so far, we have had no problems with our customers.”
He said the fish was packed and transported to vendors in the Labasa Market and Savusavu at times.
“These vendors sell the dried fish and most people buy it because you can use one fish for three meals so it’s cheap too,” he said.
“People usually cook this fish with vegetables or with rice and is a popular food among our Fijian friends with Indo-Fijian descent.
“From the time of my grandfather until today with our children, we have not had any problems with marketing our fish products to customers.
“Sometimes, they call from Viti Levu to order or some families have functions and they want to use the fish in their meals so we supply their orders too.”
Good income, he said had been generated from this business. His brother Vilitati described the business as one that had improved their livelihoods.
“We have been able to build better and bigger houses as a result, we contribute towards development projects of the village and help those in need when we can,” he said.
“Sometimes, when it’s bad weather or after a cyclone, we don’t go out fishing because you can’t get any fish during this kind of days.
“That is why we go out every week and bring in a lot of fish to cover for the days we cannot go out to sea and we have operated that way for many years.”
In a week, he family can sell five bags of dried fish.
“And we have never run out of fish. For all these many years we have existed, we have never run out of fish from the sea because we always offer our business operation to God,” Vilitati said.
“We have never run out of fish and so we’re safe in that regard because our business depends on nature, given by God and not man. So we are blessed.
“The interesting thing about this business is that we teach our children, like how were taught by our parents.”
