A team from Fiji’s Ministry of Fisheries yesterday raided a Vatuwaqa building and seized undersized beche-de-mer and three humphead wrasse.
The building houses a seafood processing facility.
The humphead wrasse is a species of wrasse fish found on coral reefs.
Fisheries officer Meli Raicebe said: if it is not protected across its range, the species may become extinct.
The humphead wrasse is on the banned list of fish that cannot be caught, or processed.
Mr Raicebe said they raided the company after gathering enough information.
We were doing our own investigation and once we had enough information we raided the place and we found undersized beche-de-mer and other species of fish that are banned from catching, he said.
They were still purchasing as of yesterday and today. In terms of fines, an individual can be fined with $10,000 per head and for a company it will be $20,000.
This raid also comes as a warning to the public who are involved in similar activities.
The ministry is trying to sustain the resources.
A man linked to the processing plant said he could only comment on Tuesday.
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