Livestock owners who repeatedly allow their animals to roam freely could face higher fines, as the Ministry of Agriculture reviews existing laws to ensure stronger action is taken against those who neglect their responsibilities.
Minister for Agriculture, Waterways and Sugar Industry Tomasi Tunabuna highlighted this in Parliament while responding to a question from Opposition MP Joseph Nand, who asked how many fines or legal penalties had been successfully issued to owners of stray livestock over the past 12 months and whether the Government planned to increase the fines to act as a stronger deterrent.
Tunabuna says the Government recognises that the uncontrolled movement of livestock, particularly cattle, horses, goats, pigs and sheep, presents significant challenges to farming communities, road users and the general public.
He says livestock owners must ensure their animals are properly confined, securely tied up, adequately supervised and prevented from wandering onto public roads, agricultural lands and neighbouring properties.
He says over the past 12 months, the Ministry has continued to respond to public complaints, conduct field inspections, impound stray livestock and work with relevant stakeholders to address animals roaming on public roads and private properties.
Tunabuna says a total of 95 livestock owners were recorded as having paid the prescribed fees for the release of their impounded animals during this period; of these, 77 were from the Western Division, 2 from the Central Division and 16 from the Northern Division.
However, he clarifies that these payments are fees and charges associated with impounding and releasing livestock, and should not be counted as fines or successful prosecutions.
He says the Ministry helps identify livestock owners and refers their details to the respective police stations for investigation and appropriate action.
Tunabuna says the Ministry is currently reviewing the effectiveness of existing laws, including the Pound Act of 1877, the Trespass of Animals Act of 1955 and the Brand Act of 1928.
INSERT: Tunabuna on stray livestock 5th Nov
He says the review will consider whether existing fines should be increased for repeated offences and cases where negligence causes significant damage to property or compromises public safety.
The Minister says the Government also continues to focus on public awareness, community involvement, livestock identification, responsible animal management and working with police and other relevant agencies.
He says the Government's approach is not only about imposing penalties, but also encouraging livestock owners to follow the rules, preventing unnecessary losses, protecting communities and ensuring owners take responsibility for their animals.
Meanwhile, Opposition MP Vijay Nath raised concerns about horses running along highways and said agricultural officers sometimes have difficulty identifying their owners.
Nath asked whether the Government was considering a digital animal identification system that would make it easier for officers to identify the actual owners of stray animals.
In response, Tunabuna says the Ministry already has procedures and systems for recording livestock, but farmers' failure to properly identify their animals has created problems.
He says the Government will continue working with farmers, livestock owners, communities and relevant enforcement agencies to strengthen compliance and improve the management of stray livestock throughout Fiji.
