Ministry aware of people still harvesting turtles

The Ministry of Fisheries is aware that many people are still harvesting turtles and instead of just butchering them, people in remote areas are refrigerating them and transporting them to towns and cities for sale.

This was stressed by the Minister for Fisheries and Forest Semi Koroilavesau.

Permanent Secretary for Fisheries, Sanaila Naqali also says that a temporary ban is in place to safeguard turtles and people must understand that it takes 27-30 years for turtles to reach an age to reproduce.

Naqali says that the government has also pledged a voluntary commitment at the Ocean conference that before the end of the current temporary ban they will have in place national conservation regulation for Fijian sea turtle.

The conservation will take into account key factors such as reducing of marine pollution and the protection of turtles nesting areas and foraging ground.

Naqali says that an allowable annual quota for harvesting turtles which will be given by the Ministry is only applicable for traditional protocols such as installation or death of a chief.

However the breeding season for turtle is from the month of December to February and the Minister for Fisheries is advising the public to refrain from harvesting of turtle as well as Kawakawa and Donu.