Fisheries Regulation
Please consider our Fisheries regulatoin which are in place for a reason, so that the waters of Vanuatu are not depleted of its marine ecosystem, reefs and fisheries.
Check out the Vanuatu Fisheries Regulations 2009 (Fisheries Regulation Order No.28 for 2009) so you know the regulations and don't end of paying a heavy fine.
Please remember that visitors come to Vanuatu to enjoy the unspoiled beauty so show some responsibility and not encourage the destruction of our marine life. The sea provides a major source of food for the Ni-Vanuatu people, and some species are becoming depleted, parts of our reefs are dying and overfishing is becoming more and more apparent. So know the rules and say NO when offered an illegal catch.
Coconut crabs are coming under immense pressure, especially with the accessibility today of produce from the outer islands where healthy populations, previously untapped by the restaurant trade, still struggle to exist.Man is putting immense pressure on many species, particularly Triton ( Trumpet), Trochus and Green snails and it is illegal for any person to have in his or her possession, sell or purchase any trumpet shell from 1 January 2009 to 1 January 2019. Same goes for the Trochus shell if it is less than 9 centimetres or more than 13 centimetres in length, its not allowed. Think about these rules before you buy such a shell in the market.
In order to give the remaining coconut crab population of Vanuatu the best chances to reproduce successfully, Vanuatu fisheries regulations aim to protect females carrying eggs and any crabs smaller than 9cm across the carapace. Closed seasons when no coconut crabs can be taken ; Torba Province 30 Aug – 1 Nov, Sanma Province 1 May – 31 March,Maewo Island 1 Nov – 1 April and Erromango Island 1 Sep – 31 March. Remember when looking at your menu or being offered coconut crab on those islands.
Lobsters are the reef cleaners. Regulations are in place to protect the Rock lobster and the Slipper lobster so its illegal to take any female carrying eggs and any Rock lobster less than 22 cm from head to tail or 7.5 cm in carapace length or a slipper lobster less than 15cm in total length. Also know that its illegal to spear any lobsters – so carefully check out the mode of dispatch before accepting any lobster. Lobsters can not be taken on SCUBA apparatus.
