Kawakawa, donu seasonal ban takes effect today

A nationwide ban on the fishing, sale, transport and export of grouper (kawakawa) and coral trout (donu) comes into force today as authorities move to protect the species during their peak breeding season.

The Ministry of Fisheries announced that the seasonal closure will run from June 1 to September 30, 2026, and applies to all species of grouper and coral trout.

Acting Permanent Secretary for Fisheries and Forestry Saimone Tauvoli said the ban was aimed at safeguarding fish stocks and ensuring the long-term sustainability of Fiji’s marine resources.

Under the closure, the fishing and collection of kawakawa and donu are prohibited, along with the sale, offering or exposing the fish for sale, transportation, receiving, possession and export of the species.

The restrictions also apply to the movement of fish between local markets, including transportation from Vanua Levu to Viti Levu.

The Ministry has also imposed strict requirements on fishermen and vendors holding stocks caught before the ban came into effect.

Existing stocks could only be sold locally until 11pm on Sunday, May 31.

Any unsold fish caught before the closure must now be frozen, bagged and clearly labelled with the fisherman’s or vendor’s name and the date received.

The fish must remain in storage and cannot be sold during the four-month ban.

Fishermen and vendors retaining frozen stocks are required to report their quantities in writing to their respective Divisional Fisheries Offices by today and make the fish available for inspection.

Mr Tauvoli said the closure was enforced under Regulation 4 of the Offshore Fisheries Management Regulation.

“A person shall not kill, take, land, sell or offer or expose for sale, deal in, transport, receive or possess any fish identified in Schedule 2A in accordance with the requirements described in that Schedule,” the regulation states.

The Ministry has warned that any person or business found breaching the regulation commits an offence.

Members of the public, commercial fishers and seafood exporters have been urged to comply with the ban to support the protection and recovery of Fiji’s grouper and coral trout populations during their spawning season.