The Fisheries Department in Fiji is thankful to the Northern Development Program for providing $4.5million to help more than 400 fishermen in the past year.
Divisional Fisheries Officer North Joji Vakawaletabua said the funding had helped 437 men and women around the division.
Mr Vakawaletabua said fishermen often complained about the high price involved to obtain proper documents in order to fish and earn an income.
He said fishermen usually had issues with the high amount they had to pay to qoliqoli owners to be given the green light to fish in the area.
Mr Naiqamu said other challenges fishermen and boat owners faced included having to meet the requirements of the Maritime Safety Authority of Fiji.
He said most of the fishermen could not afford to pay for all the processes they had to go through to start a fish business but thanks to NDP they were able to.
Mr Naiqamu said the capital provided by NDP financed almost everything fishermen needed to start a business when they were given assistance.
The NDP had allocated $5m for projects in the North last year, most of which was used by the fisheries industry.
2014, Fiji Times Limited