The Vanua Levuka Congress which consists of ten villages is now seeking legal action in-order to have the Sinuiwasa Tolu removed.
Washed ashore during Tropical Cyclone Winston, the derelict vessel is now a threat to food source.
Vanua Levuka Congress includes ten villages located along Levuka on the island of Ovalau.
For six months now, villages have had to find alternative food source after the Sinuiwasa Tolu washed up shore.
“The owners of Venus Shipping have just left it there. It got washed up there, left it there, leaking oil and its rusting and everything. This one the Sinuiwasa Three and the Sinuiwasa One at the Levuka Kings wharf,” said Vanua Levuka Congress spokesman Inoke Navuetaki.
With no communication from vessel owners, the Vanua has no choice but to seek legal advice.
“The vanua cannot do much. The only avenue the vanua can chase is legal avenue, so we found a lawyer. And we are getting our own consultant, marine consultant, just to come and dive and make a special report to the ecosystem and biodiversity.”
The Vanua Levuka Congress says their primary food source has been polluted by fuel sipping from the derelict vessel.
“This has really threatened our food security because we feed on daniva – small sardines. That is our local dish here in Levuka. Now we can’t, the daniva is full of oil and all acidic residue from whatever here.”
“We are calling on Ports Authority to act urgently and ask Mr Naidu or owners to do what they need to do to get the vessel removed. It is affecting our marine diversity and food security.”
The Sinuiwasa Tolu has been washed ashore since February.