Most Fijians are not aware that a permit is needed to export Tabua or whales tooth.
Hence this has become one of the top priority areas for the Environment Ministry to look into.
Department of Environment Acting Awareness Officer Iva Josivini says the need to strengthen awareness on Tabua export permit is vital.
Josivini says Fijians gets disappointed at the airport when their Tabua is confiscated and one of the major reasons behind is that they are not aware of the permit.
“We have received some cases whereby people have come in to enquire or to ask about the Tabua permit and in relation to that if the Tabua is confiscated to that, they need to get an approval from the Ministry of Itaukei in terms of the authorization letter.”
Meanwhile, Acting Permanent Secretary for Environment Joshua Wycliffe has clarified the Tabua export permit will not be issued for trade purposes since it’s not allowed under the Endangered Protection Regulation 2002.
