Although the traditional system of resource use was formulated for a time long gone, contemporary experience in Fiji has shown the usefulness of some traditional practices. Customary Marine Tenure and the involvement of customary ground owners in the management of fishery resources today, illustrate the amicable amalgamation of the two systems. In addition, some of the activities of those involved in fishery resource management are possible only because of the traditional rights people have over fishery resources. The traditional ownership of fishing areas, for instance, alleviates most of the problems associated with open access. On the other hand, custom is often quoted as a reason why people are still having difficulty managing their fishery business.
The development of fishery resources is a major undertaking because of the importance of fish to people and the significance of the marine environment. The uncertainties within the marine environment require that careful planning be conducted to ensure the amicable development of all sectors. An emphasis on maximising production and development should be pursued cautiously because of the need to ensure that resources are sustainably exploited and that the environment is not overly degraded. Other users of the sea should be consulted so that they are included in management decisions to conserve the resources and the marine environment.
Major contemporary fishery development issues are associated with the increasing commercial exploitation of the resources and the continued degradation of the marine environment. The major issues associated with the commercial exploitation of inshore fisheries include: the successful development of small-scale or artisanal fisheries; the management of fisheries and fishing grounds; the use of appropriate fishing technology; the importance of fish and fishing income; marketing and the distribution systems; uncertainty over what constitutes the resource, and the loss of traditional management practices.
Issues relating to the degradation of the marine environment include: the changing availability of fishery stock; the difficulties of conducting resource assessments, changes in environmental conditions, pollution and the pressures of land based activities.
The sustainable utilisation of fisheries in the future will depend on how well these issues are addressed. The present low number of successful fishery projects seems to indicate our failure to find the magical formula. The fact that the technology or the capital is available from an external source should not be allowed to drive the development of fisheries.