英文摘要 |
In the 1960's, the Fiji Islands joined with Japan to establish the Pacific Fishing Company Limited (PAFCO). This was followed by building freezer, ice manufacturing plant and cannery in Levuka. As the scope of operations gradually enlarged, fishing boats from Taiwan made their way to the South Pacific to catch albacore tuna to sell to the PAFCO cannery as well as bigeye tuna and yellowfin tuna for the Japanese sashimi market. This made the Fiji Islands Taiwan's largest fishing base in the South Pacific. While the Fiji Islands did become the base for Taiwan fishing boats, very little fishing was done on the Fiji Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ). Most of the fishing was being done in the seas nearby in the EEZ around Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands and Kiribiti. The reason, however, that the Fiji Islands were chosen as the base was because compared to the other island nations in the South Pacific, Fiji offered the largest land area, largest population, best public security, most complete harbor facilities and most suitable location in the South Pacific. The Nadi International Airport in Fiji is an international hub in the South Pacific. Sashimi grade tuna can thus be sent to Tokyo and Osaka through New Zealand, Australia and South Korea respectively. Furthermore, under the Cotonou Agreement (on international trade and duties) between the ACP and EU countries, Fiji receives preferential access to European market for PAFCO products. |