The Minister for Fisheries Semi Koroilavesau says that it is time for every few exporters that have benefited from the trade of beach-de-mer to give it back.
Koroilavesau highlighted this in Parliament while speaking on the bans imposed on Beach-de-mer.
He says that exporters need to invest on sustainable fisheries.
Koroilavesau highlighted that after a survey carried out by the Ministry, it was noted that there is an increase in scuba diving in the harvest of beach-de-mer.
He says that people have lost there lives in Vanua Levu, Viti Levu and in the Yasawa’s as a result of Beach-de-mer scuba diving.
Koroilavesau says that the 30 metres ban that was in place was not respected and Fiji is in the verge of losing two main species namely the golden fish and black fish.
Koroilavesau says that the current ban on Beach-de-mer was not a result of Fiji’s commitment in the Ocean conference or the COP23 rather it was based on the current stock facing extinction.
Meanwhile, SODELPA MP Viliame Gavoka says that the ban is implemented in a manner that has left a lot of people without their source of income.
He says in his proposal to the government, with the 410 qoliqoli in the country, if the government can carry out a progressive evaluation yearly on what are the bans in place and the qoliqoli owners be informed on what is the stock like.
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