In view of strengthening the current artisanal and subsistence catch sampling an appraisal of
the two monitoring programmes of Fiji Fisheries Department was carried out. An overview of
the artisanal fishery sampling programme and its related strengths, weaknesses, opportunities
and threats revealed a major limitation of the Department not having the capacity to follow
the current sampling regime. Thus statistical analysis was carried out to determine if this
sampling regime organised by month, which necessitates sampling each day from Monday to
Saturday was warranted. Survey data from markets Lautoka, Ba, and Nadi for the period
April to August 2005 were analysed as an indicator. Analysis of the variations in total landed
catch weights (by performing analysis of variance) and associated species composition (by
applying hierarchical cluster analysis) between the markets, days and months, indicated that
the sampling strategy is not warranted. Sampling can be organised by season since there were
no significant variations in catch landings and species composition between the months April
and –August, which indicate a season. Saturday and Monday are exceptional days in the
fishery. Saturday has the highest landed catch and species composition and Monday the
lowest. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday are similar with a slight increase in landed catch
and species assemblage as the week progresses. Equal sampling for all days is not warranted
but sampling on Saturdays and Mondays is important. Subsistence catch (tonnes) for the
seven communities namely Namatakula, Komave, Taqage, Lami, Suvavou, Vugalei and
Nasavusavu tikina were evaluated using the socio-economic household survey data.
Bootstrapping was done to obtain a standard deviation for the estimated catch and a CV for
the sampling. Some suggestions were provided for strengthening the survey as this is an ongoing
programme and in future the samples can be utilised in estimating the total subsistence
catch for Fiji.