Tip-Off Lead To Confiscation Of Kawakawa, Donu From Shipping Vessel
More than 40 individual consignments were opened and inspected and 19 of these were found to contain some Grouper (Kawakawa) or Coral Trout (Donu) species.
Friday 26 July 2019 | 15:26
Some of the banned species of fish, kawakawa and donu that were confiscated from a Goundar Shipping vessel. Photo: Ministry of Fisheries
Members of the public are reminded that the Seasonal Ban on Grouper (Kawakawa) and Coral Trout (Donu) will end on the last day of September and the Ministry of Fisheries will continue with it’s monitoring and enforcement work.
The strong reminder comes after the banned species were confiscated from a Goundar Shipping ferry upon its return from Vanua Balavu and docked at the Mua-i-walu Port in Suva.
After an anonymous tip off, fisheries officials from the Eastern Division and Inshore Fisheries Management Division carried out an inspection on board the ferry only to find the banned species packed in sacks and ready to be picked up.
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More than 40 individual consignments were opened and inspected and 19 of these were found to contain some Grouper (Kawakawa) or Coral Trout (Donu) species. This varied from small quantities to one individual consignment that contained 70 kg of the banned species.
In total, officers confiscated approximately 150 pieces of Kawakawa and Donu weighing over 260 kg and are conducting follow up enquiries in relation to all of these confiscations.
The consignments were sent unaccompanied (where the owner was not travelling on the vessel).
This resulted in some disappointed intended receivers in Suva, who were still required to pay for the freight of the fish but were unable to collect the illegal species.
The Ministry of Fisheries will continue to inspect shipments of fish on all of these services during the ban period to ensure that the ban provisions are being adhered to.
The ministry will be monitoring these services and will confiscate any illegal and banned species identified.
Overall the Ministry of Fisheries have noted increased compliance with the seasonal ban provisions this year which has been pleasing.
Minister for Fisheries, Semi Koroilavesau said that the interceptions yesterday send a message that the Ministry of Fisheries will be effectively enforcing the ban where ever Kawakawa and Donu may be being harvested, caught, sold or transported.
“The Ministry again encourages all Fijians to comply with the ban requirements to protect these important species during their peak breeding period,” said Mr Koroilavesau.
The ministry also acknowledges the support received from Goundar Shipping and their staff in conducting the inspections and reiterates that the ban needs to be supported as this will ensure more of these species in our oceans for years to come.
