01/08/2026
#๐๐ถ๐ท๐ถ๐๐ถ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ถ๐ฒ๐ ๐ | โ ๏ธ ๐ช๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ป๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ผ๐ป ๐จ๐ป๐ฎ๐๐๐ต๐ผ๐ฟ๐ถ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ๐น๐ถ๐ป๐ด ๐ผ๐ณ ๐ฃ๐ฟ๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฐ๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฎ ๐ง๐๐ฟ๐๐น๐ฒ๐ ๐ถ๐ป ๐๐ถ๐ท๐ถ ๐ข
The Ministry of Fisheries is issuing a strict reminder following recent incidents involving the misuse and handling of sea turtles for financial gain.
The Ministry of Fisheries reminds the public that sea turtles are strictly protected and any misuse, capture, or handling for financial gain is a serious offence.
Under Fijiโs national laws, sea turtles are recognized as endangered and cannot be taken, sold, or kept in any form. The Offshore Fisheries Management Act sets their protection status, while the Offshore Fisheries Management Regulations 2014 make it clear that no one may kill, take, land, sell, transport, or possess these species.
These rules are not just legal requirements, they are vital to safeguarding Fijiโs marine heritage. Communities, fishers, and tourism operators are urged to respect these protections and adopt valid and best practices for marine tourism, ensuring that sea turtles remain a living part of our oceans for generations to come.
๐ฉ๐๐๐ ๐ท๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ด๐๐๐๐๐ ๐ป๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐
๐ซ๐๐๐๐๐.
To safeguard these iconic species and respect legal jurisdictions, all marine operators, divers, and tourists must adhere to the following compliance guidelines:
โข Maintain Distance: Operators and swimmers must keep a respectful distance of at least 3 to 5 meters from sea turtles.
โข Do Not Touch: Never attempt to touch, hold, ride, lift, or chase a sea turtle.
โข Do Not Feed: Avoid offering food to turtles, as artificial feeding severely disrupts their natural foraging behaviors.
โข Control Vessels: Boats and jet skis must strictly reduce speed when operating in known turtle foraging and nesting areas.
Protecting sea turtles is everyoneโs responsibility. Respecting these guidelines supports Fijiโs commitment to ocean stewardship and ensures our marine environment remains healthy and resilient.
