Fishermen in outer islands will be monitored by members of the Fishing Association during the spawning period of Kawakawa and Donu.

The association was established last year and consists of village headmen and other authorities in the outer islands.

The association is based in the outer islands and works closely with the Ministry of Fisheries.

Fisheries Officer Meli Raicebe says the authority will also be responsible to identify sites that may be high risk to fish species.

“Basically what we would like to do is to use the association to raise awareness and also help them to teach fishers within their community on the important of sustaining these two species during its spawning period.”

The Fisheries Department will put in place a ban on the harvesting of the two species from June to September.