"4FJ Fish Smart App has all the information you need to avoid undersized fish and comply with Fiji’s coastal fisheries regulations.

It shares the Legal Minimum Sizes and recommended “Set Sizes” for common food fish, as well as the laws for seasonal bans and common banned marine species. There are different laws to protect Fiji’s coastal resources and this app makes it easy to understand what size your fish should be, in the water and at the market, and what banned marine species you should completely avoid.

For the common food fish section, there are 38 illustrated species listed including common food fish, mud crabs, trochus shells and pearl oysters. The illustrations offer a quick reference guide and Fijian names, common names and scientific names further helps confirm identification. This section also highlights the legal and recommended “Set Sizes” for listed species, which helps with compliance and raises awareness on what size fish should be before they are caught so the future of Fiji’s fisheries is Set!

The banned marine species section has 31 illustrated listed species that have special bans and/or restrictions on killing, capturing, selling, or exporting. Listed species are species that have restrictions placed on them as they are at such low numbers and are at risk of becoming critically endangered or extinct.

Other app features include learning about what you can do help revive Fiji’s fishing grounds and how to get into contact with the Ministry of Fisheries and the 4FJ campaign.

Why should everyone in Fiji download this app? Fish catches are smaller across Fiji and fishers are spending more time and money, which is hurting coastal communities who depend on the sea for their food and income needs. But avoiding undersize and banned marine species gives Fiji a chance to reverse these declines.

Download the 4FJ Fish Smart App today. Note: Once downloaded, the information is available even when you have no coverage.

About the 4FJ campaign:

The 4FJ campaign was launched in 2014 to help revive declining kawakawa and donu fisheries, called grouper in English. More than 16,000 people pledged to forego the fish during their peak spawning season (June through to September), which led to a national seasonal ban.

The 4FJ campaign re-launched in 2020 as the 4FJ Fish Smart campaign to start a national talanoa to help revive the rest of Fiji’s fish and critters. It has an ambitious mission to reach ALL coastal communities with information on how they can take action to better manage their fishing grounds. And empower urban-based communities to Say No to buying and selling undersized and banned marine species at Fiji’s markets.

Everyone can be part of Fiji’s national talanoa to help Fiji’s fishing grounds thrive again!"