It will be illegal to fish, harvest, sell or consume either species of Kawakawa and Donu from next year during their breeding months from June through to September.

Minister for Fisheries Semi Koroilavesau says this is ensure sustainable management of our ocean resources.

“From next year we will make it illegal to harvest, which is fish, consume and the selling of these two breeds. We have also just recently submitted to cabinet the spawning areas, we have greatly lost the spawning areas around Fiji because of the commercial activities surrounding our waters.”

Koroilavesau says a legislation is currently being drafted which will include fines and imprisonment terms to deter Fijians from breaching the proposed law.

Over the last four years, voluntary pledges through the 4FJ campaign aimed to increase public awareness on the plight of the Kawakawa and Donu.

Last year, the Ministry of Fisheries issued a seasonal ban on the harvest, sale and consumption of the species over the five months of its breeding cycle.