The Fisheries Ministry raided a number of outlets this week that were allegedly illegally selling the reef fish – Kawakawa and Donu which has been banned from sale, consumption and export for the next four months.

Director Fisheries, Aisake Batibasaga says the penalties are steep and they’re officers will be out to enforce the legislation from June until September when the seasonal ban will end.

Batibasaga says around 10 kilograms of the banned fish species was confiscated from vendors in Vatuwaqa and Nakasi during routine inspections.

“For compliance on our policy here, we want all our fish vendors, all our market outlets to be following the rule for the next four months, we want a complete stoppage to selling of all Kawakawa and Donu.”

Sellers can be fined on the spot 10 thousand dollars and 20 thousand dollars for corporations.

Batibasaga says for violators, the fine for individuals is up to 50 thousand dollars and for corporations up to 100 thousand dollars.

Change, the organization that created the 4FJ campaign that initially started the campaign for voluntary pledges for a seasonal ban on the specifies noted that in one survey conducted in the Suva-Nausori corridor, there was 93 percent public support for the ban.