The Ministry of Fisheries has announced that the ban on harvesting and trading sea cucumbers, also known as beche-de-mer, will be temporarily lifted from today to May 31, 2026, subject to strict regulatory conditions.
The move is part of a tightly controlled rotational harvesting system aimed at protecting vulnerable marine resources.
The Ministry stressed that several species remain strictly prohibited at all times as they are protected under CITES Appendix II.
These include white teat fish (Sucuwalu), black teat fish (Loaloa), golden sand fish (Dairokula), amber fish, and prickly red fish (Sucudrau).
Approved companies will be allowed a two-month window, from June 1 to July 31, 2026, to clean, process and export beche-de-mer.
All processing and exports must be carried out at HACCP-certified facilities, and no exports will be permitted after July 31.
The Ministry said only approved harvesting areas and timeframes, to be published in an official Gazette notice, will be authorised.
Harvesting, selling, possessing or trading sea cucumbers outside these conditions will be illegal and punishable by law.
All participants must hold a valid fishing licence under the Fisheries Act 1941.
Only free diving and gleaning are allowed, while the use of underwater breathing equipment or hookah diving is strictly prohibited.
The Ministry warned that any individual or company breaching the conditions will face penalties under the law.
