$10k fine on sale of sea slugs
THE ban on beche-de-mer is still in place, though Government has decided to lift the ban soon in attempts to boost livelihoods of traditional fishing rights owners affected by COVID-19.
Minister for Fisheries Semi Koroilavesau, however, said since the lifting of the ban had not been formalised, those caught collecting or selling bechede-mer could face a fine of $10,000.
Mr Koroilavesau clarified the lifting of the ban would be subjected to conditions that would be strictly monitored by the ministry.
He added that a stock assessment would be carried out on the results of the ban during the past three years.
“Government has agreed to a standard reference to be applied in areas where the ban will be lifted and these conditions will be worked out by the ministry which will be taken to Government for endorsement before it is publicly announced,” he said.
“We want resource owners to benefit from the trader once the ban, if lifted, and they need to have z licence for these trade.
“Then we will work out a sustainable stock that could be extracted from a qoliqoli so there is a quota that each qoliqoli owner could extract from their fishing grounds.
“We are not sure how long the ban will be lifted because no one knows when we would return to a state of normalcy but the ministry intends to extend the ban for two more years to complete the initial five-year ban period.”
Mr Koroilavesau said the five-year ban on the extraction of beche-de-mer in Tonga and Vanuatu were a success with both countries establishing a sustainable harvest method.
“Likewise we need to do the same in Fiji to ensure that we have enough stock in our waters.”