Source: The Fiji Times
The reintroduction of a fish levy tax has forced foreign boats off our shores and tarnished Fiji¡¯s international image, the Fiji Tuna Association of Stakeholders said.
The association, representing the interest of service providers to the tuna industry, said the levy of $350/ton imposed on foreign fish exported directly from Fiji cost locals their jobs.
Association spokesman John Lee said the tax, which was imposed in June last year, was executed without consultation with the service providers.
¡°The fish is caught outside Fiji's waters and is considered foreign,¡± he said.
He said the government¡¯s endeavor to protect the industry fell short of considering the negative economic impact the levy would pose to service providers.
"Imposing tax on trans-shipment of cargo or fish on an international port is in breach of World Customs Organization and World Trade Organization in which Fiji's Customs Authority and the government is party to.¡±
"The alternate way this levy could be imposed is through an affordable service fee as mentioned in the budget on the Fisheries segment,¡± Mr. Lee said.
He said most fishing boat owners were looking for alternative countries to conduct trans-shipment with eight months into the imposition of the fish tax levy in Fiji.
"To see the downturn of fishing vessels into Fiji has forced some businesses to downsize by laying off workers and shifting business altogether,¡± Mr. Lee said.
Questions sent to Director Fisheries Sanaila Naqali remained unanswered.
Fiji Tuna Boat Owners Association spokesman Grahame Southwick said two years ago the fisheries authority began to allow foreign fishing vessels based in Fiji to export without the use of Fiji processing plants.
"This allowed them to come to the Kings Wharf, and using their own crew, unload the fish directly into containers and ship it out. This meant no fish for all the Fiji processors, and PAFCO was reduced to three-day weeks, the five Suva processors had empty factories and staff members were laid off.
