Fiji Deregulates the Waves Part III--Interview with John Philp

John Philp, a founder of the Fiji Surf Association and one of Fiji’s most ardent advocates, sees the decree as a great deal more than a political or economic event. The fallout from the deregulation of the waves offers an opportunity for Fiji to ramp up interest in surfing among locals and, to set up a “cottage surf industry” in Fiji’s outer islands that would benefit indigenous Fijians.

Indeed, the decree should also prime the economic pump by ramping up surf tourism on Viti Levu and creating new job opportunities. In short, locals would have the incentive to provide boating transportation to breaks that were heretofore off limits as well as accommodations, taxis and van service from hotels to the beach and whatever other "infrastructure" that would serve visiting surfers.

Philp also sees the decree as a catalyst that would help establish surf lifesaving standards and training for the entire country.

With all waves open, he reckons the day will come more Fijian surfers compete overseas and even “get a few boys on the WQS and ASP tour.”

Recently I had the opportunity to interview John about the genesis of the decree in and other observations regarding the Fiji surf scene.

Q: How did this change in “open waves” policy come about? What precipitated this "deregulation" of the waves?

A: Ian Muller (founder of the Fijian Surf Company) and myself had been lobbying Tavarua and government since Feb 1998. I've worked with two Attorney Generals on this and the current AG also happens to be the Minister for Tourism. I'm not sure how decisions of this nature are finally made in the interim government, you would be best off asking him the question.

Q: Were you or Ian Muller or anyone else lobbying the Minister of Tourism or the Prime Minister?

A: Yes Ian Muller and I were the main lobbyists right up until the natural conclusion. There were others in the past, mostly foreigner surf businessmen, they were not able to continue a sustained lobby effort as they left Fiji after a time. The Fiji Hotel Association was also concerned about the possible ramifications of both the Special Licenses AND the proposed 2006 Qoliqoli Bill* and here the interests of The Fiji Surfing Association and the hoteliers came together. So the hoteliers kept this issue alive as well as we did. Ian and I met at times over the years with Dick Smith and his committee.

Q: The Minister was quoted in the Fiji Times story as having mentioned that surfers who "encroached" upon Restaurants or Cloudbreak been subject to assault or threats. Has there been occasional violence or bullying?

A: Oh there were many instances, but I prefer we not linger in the past and look to what we can achieve now and in the future,

Q: What will be the economic and social impacts of this decree?

A: The surfing industry benefits will be shared around and extend out from the few villages that gained from the Special Licenses on Tavarua and Namotu which were in existence since 1999. Now with Lau (Group) opening up to cruising yachts, these islands will also share in the inevitable surfing industry growth

"qoliqoli"* (pronounced like ungoalie-ungoalie in Fijian) are exclusive rights to fishing on reefs provided to Fijian landholding units dating back to ancient times. Based on those traditions, surf resorts negotiated with the Fijian chiefs to obtain exclusive access to surf breaks. The issue is that the "arrangements" collide with modern Fijian law. This is explained in detail in an excellent piece in Surfline (http://www.surfline.com).

In the next and final part of this series John will discuss how the decree will further impact indigenous Fijians and what changes we can expect for visitors.

(Photo credits: Top shot courtesy Ian Muller of Fiji Surf Company. Bottom three courtesy of FSA).