Government does not regulate beche-de-mer prices: Bainivalu

The Ministry of Fisheries and Forests does not regulate the price of beche-de-mer because it is not provided for under the Fisheries Act.

Minister for Fisheries and Forests Alitia Bainivalu said the ministry’s role was limited to licensing and monitoring approved buyers and exporters.

She said 10 companies had been approved to buy, process and export beche-de-mer. These companies were required to submit their proposed buying prices as part of the application process.

“We work with the approved companies. They submitted the prices they intend to buy from sellers, and we monitor whether they are purchasing according to those submitted rates,” she said.

Beche-de-mer sellers are required to operate from their respective fisheries offices, where ministry staff monitor licences, species brought in and compliance with approved pricing.

Ms Bainivalu said fishers must obtain a special licence to harvest sea cucumber through the normal licensing process.

However, those who still hold valid licences from last year and are awaiting renewal for this season are allowed to continue operating while their applications are being processed.

She said sea cucumber licences were issued to individuals registered within their respective fishing grounds.

Special consideration is also given to spouses of registered members listed in the Vola ni Kawa Bula (VKB), provided they reside within the community.

Ms Bainivalu confirmed that she had received complaints from fishers about prices and had referred the concerns to divisional fisheries officers.

There is no specific budget allocation for beche-de-mer, she said, but funding is provided under the Coastal Fisheries Development Programme.

The allocation supports operations following the lifting of the sea cucumber ban and monitoring activities over the next six months.