Where Old Fishing Boats Come to Die – by Gary

Like Australia, Fiji sells off the farm to maintain its day-to-day economy.  The nations offshore fishing rights appear to be largely in the hands of others, with a huge Asian fishing fleet working out of Suva.  I guess they come to this spacious, well equipped harbour for a bit of maintenance, fuel, provisions, ice and water, R&R and maybe to await tuna migrations??  Whatever the case there are large numbers of these boats 'hanging out' with minimal on-board activity, tied up alongside or lying to moorings in huge rafts.

I'm guessing the fishing is less than lucrative.  Maintenance standards look low.  Some boats appear near derelict.  Others are quite obviously totally so, stripped of deck equipment like nets, buoys, lights, radio whips and windows.  Some have burnt, several have sunk!  Nobody seems to be minding much.  Gotta be good for the fish too!

Rafted up five and ten deep alongside wharves

Lying to moorings rafted up in the middle of the bay.

Undertaking a bit of needed maintenance.

Although maintenance standards appear to be pretty average, some look near derelict.

Others obviously are derelict, stripped of valuable deck equipment.

Some are burnt ...

...others sunk.

It's quite a sight.

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