Cloudbreak may be a little more exclusive in the future. Photo: Sloane//WSL
Cloudbreak may be getting a little more exclusive. As Radio New Zealand reports, the Fijian government has confirmed that it has cleared a new bill to be tabled in Parliament that would pave the way to private ownership of Fijian surf areas – ending 15 years of public ownership and free access.
The Regulation of Surfing Areas Decree 2010 was enacted in order to promote Fiji as a surf travel destination by enabling unrestricted access to any surfing area by any person. It did this by canceling any existing leases or licenses without compensation and giving the ownership of all surfing areas to the government.
“Previously there were two resorts that had exclusivity on the Cloudbreak in Tavarua,” explained then Minister for Tourism and Attorney-General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum. “Since the liberalization, many should benefit as a result and also generate more activities in the tourism industry… It will also enable locals to participate in the industry in so many ways, for example, transportation and accommodation.”
However, the new Commercial Use of Marine Areas Bill 2025 is set to undo that. The bill has been endorsed by the cabinet of Fijian Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka and given the go-ahead to be tabled in Parliament on Monday. If passed, the bill would entirely repeal the Regulation of Surfing Areas Decree 2010 and replace it with a new framework for ownership – one that the government says will benefit the surfing areas’ traditional indigenous owners.
“The new framework, once passed by Parliament, will enable the reversion of the proprietary ownership of marine areas used for commercial purposes to the customary owners under a fair and equitable framework,” announced the Fijian government. “For the purpose of this bill, commercial purposes are largely focused on tourism activities.
“The bill further ensures that the process of reversion is undertaken in accordance with the rule of law and the principles of natural justice, provides for the active participation in the process of all parties impacted and empower existing indigenous institutions to take an active role in the control and administration of marine areas in Fiji for the benefit of the iTaukei (indigenous Fijians).”
