The Ministry of Fisheries is calling on all fishers, vendors, and exporters to follow the seasonal ban on catching, keeping, moving, and selling Grouper (Kawakawa) and Coral Trout (Donu) from yesterday to the 30th of September.
The Ministry says the Government officially started this seasonal ban in 2019 to protect these fish during their main breeding months, from June to September.
They say these measures are part of a plan to protect these fish while they are breeding, to stop overfishing and help keep Fiji’s marine life healthy.
The Ministry notes these species are highly prized for their taste and market value, making them important both economically and culturally.
The say fisheries officers across the country have been actively visiting villages and communities to remind them of the ban dates, as strict monitoring will be in place throughout the four-month period.
The Ministry says they are also visiting fish markets, fish shops, and individuals selling fish from their homes to raise awareness and enforce the ban.
The Ministry says it is strictly forbidden to kill, catch, sell, transport, or keep any Kawakawa or Donu during the ban.
They say anyone who breaks the ban may be fined up to $10,000 if they are an individual, or $20,000 if they are a business or organisation.
The four-month ban matches the main breeding season, helping to protect the fish while causing less harm to fishers' incomes, and while some breeding happens outside this time, most of it happens during these months.
The Ministry says that by stopping fishing during this important time, fish populations can grow stronger, leading to better catches and steadier incomes for fishers in the future.
They add that they will continue to promote awareness and community engagement to support the enforcement of this ban.
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