LOCAL divers in the eastern region of Western Province (WP) are racing to the lagoon waters in a frenzied pursuit of bech-de-mer (sea cucumbers) as some buyers offering prices as high as $800 per kilogram for the commodity, it was revealed.
Reports indicated intense competition amongst locals, particularly in Vonavona Lagoon, where various species are being targeted.
According to sources, buyers are actively operating in Noro, Munda, Seghe and Gizo, comprising both locals and Asian merchants.
Alarmingly, the Department of Fisheries of the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources (MFMR) has yet to issue any statement regarding the illegal harvesting of this lucrative resource even as demand appears to be escalating.
In the Marovo Lagoon, the illegal trade continues to flourish under the watch of government officials and the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF), it was claimed.
Locals in Munda and surrounding villages are reportedly conducting night-time harvests, which is now a common practice, raising questions about who is permitting these illegal activities.
Local conservation experts have noted that misinformation is rampant, complicating efforts to address the issue.
In Munda, one individual is allegedly purchasing bech-de-mer from locals both day and night, further fuelling the illegal market.
“It’s concerning that illegal harvesting has intensified this year, with buyers from Marovo still active in Munda,” a local source told Solomon Star in an interview yesterday.
The buyer in question is reportedly operating on a property owned by a church in Lokulolu village.
Furthermore, there are claims that officials at the Fisheries Office in Noro have not conducted any investigation into the ongoing illegal activities.
Concerns are growing among local community members as law enforcement appears to be absent.
By ULUTAH GINA
Solomon Star, Gizo
