Many villagers in Fiji have earned hundreds of dollars from exporters by breaking the ban on harvesting and selling beach-der-mer and live coral.
Fisheries Minister Semi Koroilavesau says there are also reports of the continuing use of Underwater Breathing Apparatus, which have resulted in many fatalities in the past.
“If you continue to harvest at this rate future generation will be deprived of what you enjoy now they don’t want to hear that, to them it is basically the short term benefit that they get from providing the export quota to the exporters is the major attraction for them and they don’t want to think about future generation. All they’re interested in- is if i do this i will sell it to the exporter I will get hundreds of dollars.”
Koroilavesau says they’ve also identified where these illegal activities are and will be out in these areas to enforce the law.
The Fisheries Ministry says people need to understand that the bans are in place to ensure live corals and beach-der-mer grow back to sustainable levels for future generations.
