Close to eighty percent of Fiji’s Kawakawa and Donu breeding sites have either declined or have died out.
As the breeding season for these two fish species starts- the Fisheries Ministry is warning Fijians to refrain from buying, selling and eating them.
Minister responsible, Semi Koroilavesau says Kawakawa and Donu are the most sought after fish and as a result there is a huge decline in its stock.
“The assessments done in the past these two species because of its commercial use with restaurants and within the hotel industry and commercial demand for it, the stock has greatly been reduced so to be able to reduce and revamp this stock of the two species, we have decided to ban the commercial activities.”
The ban will be in place between June and September as it is the breeding season for these fish species.
The minister says they’re also working on finalizing penalties on this issue which might come in the form of fines and confiscations of stocks if found.
Fisheries officer, Meli Raicebe says they will be working with enforcement officers from other agencies to monitor all fish markets and usual selling spots.
