SUVA, Feb. 1 (Xinhua) -- The Fiji Navy, which is responsible for maritime needs in border control such as watching over Fiji's exclusive economic zone and organizing task and rescue missions, is recruiting female officers for the first time.

According to state owned radio Fiji Broadcasting Corporation on Thursday, Fiji's Navy Commander Captain Humphrey Tawake said that the Fiji Navy had decided to recruit female officers as gender equality is important in any workforce and everyone should be given equal opportunity in the island nation.

A total of 3,000 applications were received in January during the Fiji Navy's recruitment drive and 1,200 applications were from women. There are 400 including 150 females and 250 males on the shortlist, said Tawake.

Currently, Fiji has a 300-man Navy Unit within the Fiji Military Forces. It was formed in 1975 as the Naval squadron Royal Fiji Military Forces following the Fijian government's ratification of the formal legislation to control Fiji's fisheries was enacted in the Fiji Marine Spaces Act.

The Fiji Navy now operates nine patrol boats.