Underwater Breathing Apparatus and harvesting and exporting of sea cucumber banned from tomorrow

All underwater breathing apparatus and the harvesting and exporting of sea cucumber or bech-de-mer will be banned from tomorrow.

This has been confirmed by the Ministry of Fisheries following a major concern in the significant number of premature deaths arising from the over use of UBA’s in the harvesting of sea cucumbers.

Minister Semi Koroilavesau says that a stand has to be taken in order to protect people’s lives.

Koroilavesau says that during his visits around the country, he got to know of various cases of such incidents where some have died while many are still bed ridden because of the impact of UBA’s.

He adds that they will be looking into the matter as people’s lives are at stake and often family members are burdened with the duty of providing proper care for those who may have been paralysed for such issues.

Koroilavesau says that there is also a need to restock Fiji’s customary fishing grounds as it has been over exploited.

He urges people to think about the children and the generations to come as Fiji’s marine resources may soon be wiped out.

Meanwhile the Ministry will also be banning the exemptions of turtles from the 3rd of next month to the end of May next year as it is now their breeding season.