The Fisheries Ministry today raided a seafood processing facility in Suva and seized under-sized beche-de-mer along with some other species of fish that are banned from catching.

Fisheries officer, Meli Raicebe, says they received information from the workers of the facility following which a raid was conducted this morning.

The officials immediately seized the entire stock kept at the facility.

“What we found out inside was actually they also had under seized beach-der-me and basically, this is sand fish or Dairo which is known to the local community. So if it under seized – it’s within our powers and we are authorized to actually seize it. We also identified that they had three humphead wrasse. Under site, it is actually protected and no one is actually allowed to take, harvest or even go to the extent of selling it so basically we’re going to seize that as well.”

Raicebe says the Ministry also has information on those villagers who have been harvesting and selling this under-sized beche-de-mer.

He says they will be investigating these villagers.

In September this year, the Ministry enforced a total ban on harvesting, purchasing and sale of sea cucumber.