The Ministry of Fisheries has extended Fiji’s sea cucumber, or beche-de-mer (BDM), harvesting and trading season, allowing approved activities to continue from 1 August 2026 until 31 January 2027 under strict management conditions.

The ministry said all harvesting, purchasing, processing and export activities must end after 31 January 2027 as part of efforts to ensure the sustainable management of the country’s sea cucumber resources.

The harvesting and export of five protected species listed under CITES Appendix II remain prohibited. These include White Teatfish (Sucuwalu), Black Teatfish (Loaloa), Golden Sandfish (Dairokula), Amberfish (Basi) and Prickly Redfish (Sucudrau).

The ministry also warned that harvesting banned species or undersized sea cucumbers is strictly forbidden.

Harvesting and trade will only be permitted in areas and during times approved and published by the ministry in the Government Gazette.

Anyone harvesting or possessing sea cucumbers outside the authorised schedule will be committing an offence.

The ministry also reminded the public that anyone involved in harvesting, transporting, selling, receiving, processing or possessing beche-de-mer must hold a valid licence issued under the Fisheries Act 1941.

Only free diving and gleaning are permitted during the season, while the use of underwater breathing apparatus and hookah diving equipment remains prohibited.

All catches must also be landed at ministry-approved sites.

Approved buyers and exporters are required to purchase beche-de-mer from villages under the supervision of a Fisheries Officer to allow inspections and proper data collection.

Exporters may only receive products at designated facilities between 8am and 5pm, with pre-export inspections and verification mandatory before shipments leave Fiji.

The ministry added that exporters must provide proof of payment matching the declared export value before cargo is cleared for export. Penalties will apply to individuals, village harvesters and export companies found breaching any of the conditions.