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SURFING INDUSTRY TRAVEL NEWS: surfing news, surf information, surfing industry news — FIJI’S CLOUDBREAK TURNS INTO CROWDBREAK

CROWDBREAK
Iconic Fijian Wave Open to the Public Starting Today

photo Servais

JULY 8, 2010 – The Fiji Times is reporting that the new decree, which was passed Fij, lawmakers June 30th, goes into effect starting today (Friday, July 9 Fiji time). Radio Fiji and New Zealand news sources are also picking up this story.

The decree takes away any and all powers formerly held or negotiated in surfing areas and overrides all title claims and possibilities of payments for the use of those areas. In other words Cloudbreak has been liberated.

According to the news report, Attorney General and Minister for Tourism Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum said the Regulation of Surfing Areas Decree 2010 will assist in creating a marine industry that will create jobs, upskilling and economic growth. Sayed-Khaiyum said the decree “absolutely vests in the Director of Lands any interest in any surfing area in Fiji. Any existing licence or any other instrument of title issued to any person or body in relation to any surfing area is cancelled”.

“The decree gives access to and the use of any surfing area in Fiji by any person. Any person may now, whether individually or in a group, access and use any surfing area in Fiji for the purposes of surfing or any water sport, without obtaining any permit or approval from any person and without the payment of any monies or compensation to any person.”

So which Aussie will test the waters first?

The newspaper went on to report that Fijian Police will help enforce the new decree.

“Fiji’s police force says it is ready to enforce the provisions of a decree that provides unrestricted access to surfing and marine sports areas to tourists and locals alike.

Police spokeswoman Ema Mua said the force will have to quickly understand the decree and provide enforcement.

Under the Regulation of Surfing Areas Decree 2010 which comes into force tomorrow, it is illegal to create exclusive use of any surfing area.

It is also a crime punishable by a fine and/or imprisonment to obstruct or prevent anyone from accessing or using any surfing area for surfing or for any water sport.

Mua told FijiLive that the Police Tourism Unit will play a part in enforcing the decree while the Community Policing Unit will ensure that awareness is carried out about the decree.

Attorney General and Minister for Tourism Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, while announcing the decree yesterday, said that previously, a number of surfing areas in Fiji were exclusively licensed to a couple of hotel operators, which deprived other tourists and Fijians from accessing these surfing areas.

He said there had been numerous reports of tourists and Fijian surfers being physically and violently harassed and assaulted for surfing at these exclusive surfing areas.

http://www.fijilive.com/news/2010/07/08/26881.Fijilive