At the end of October 2025, a team of Open Plan experts travelled to Suva, Fiji, to for the kick off of the “FIJI BLUE FISHING – Increasing sustainability for fishing products value chain in Fiji” (Ref.: NDICI/ASIA/2024/461-963.) The project, funded by the EU under the “Asia Switch” programme, aims to support the green transition of the fishing industry in Fiji by enhancing the role of fishing communities, increasing their professionalism, and improving commercial and entrepreneurial opportunities for the fishing sector.
The partnership includes Italian and Fijian organizations, with the National Research Council (CNR) acting as Project Leader through its Institute for Research on Innovation and Services for Development (CNR IRISS).
During the mission in Suva, the Open Plan experts worked with the staff of the local project partner LMMA (Locally Managed Marine Area Network). Together, they started activities of raising the awareness of the Fijian fishing communities and economic studies of the fishery value chain, as well as providing training for local fishery sector operators. The mission concluded with a workshop of project launch, attended by the EU Ambassador to the Pacific, H.E. Barbara Plinkert, the Minister of Fisheries and Forests, Hon. Alitia Bainivalu, the Minister of Environment, Hon. Mosese Bulitavu, and the Minister of the iTaukei communities, Hon. Ifereimi Vasu. During this meeting, the Open Plan experts presented the calendar of activities and the programme of awareness-raising and training activities to be carried out in the coming months.
