A gazettal notice has been issued through the Fisheries Board permitting the National Fisheries Authority (NFA) to ban the use of stun guns or electric fishing spears in harvesting tropical lobsters in Torres Strait and Western Province Fisheries waters.
The NFA’s Acting Managing Director, Mr Justin Ilakini said the National Fisheries Board by virtue of powers vested on them under the Fisheries Act 1998 as amended all other powers enabling,
The Gazettal Notice # G337 prohibit all person at all times, the use of Stun Guns or Electric Fishing spears to take or harvest Tropical Rock Lobster in the Torres Strait and Western Province Tropical Rock Lobster fishery waters of Papua New Guinea.
And also, this said notice prohibit the buying, processing, selling, landing, sale, receiving, possession or export of Tropical Rock Lobster that are taken or harvested in breach of this prohibition.
“Breach of prohibition notice is an offence under the Fisheries Management Act 1998 as amended and may subject an offender to a sever penalties,” said Mr Ilakini.
The prohibition is effective as of April 28, 2022.