More jobs and working hours are expected to be created as a 2011 National Budget initiative was implemented today which would encourage more on-shore fish processing rather than the trans-shipment of the catch to another country.

Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum confirmed that as announced in the budget, there will be a $350 levy per tonne of fish trans-shipped from Fiji.

He said this will encourage the fishing vessel owners to sell fish to the local processing companies rather than selling it off-shore through the middlemen.