THE Government has not lift the ban on sea cucumber (beche-de-mer) since imposing it last April.
An official in the Ministry of Fishery and Marine Resources clarifies this to Solomon Star yesterday.
The officer said the Ministry is still monitoring companies in Honiara that normally buy these products from the islands.
However, the Solomon Star understands despite the ban on harvesting and export, the practice continues unabated.
One of the people from Lord Howe in the Malaita Outer Islands said beche-de-mer is their main source of income.
He said banning beche-de-mer will put them in a difficult position to earn money.
But the Fishery officer said the ban covers the whole country.
He said beside the ban, the Ministry has stopped issuing any new licence to exporters as of 30th November last year.
Last year, an investigation by media found that two Chinese were still exporting the marine delicacy after the ban came in force.
The media witnessed the sale of bags of beche-de-mer, worth $380 a kilogramme between two locals and two Chinese businessmen at Ranadi, east Honiara.
Government is imposing the ban on beche-de-mer as sustainable measure.
Solomon Islands earns millions of dollars from beche-de-mer exports every year.
By EDDIE OSIFELO
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