Twenty dolphins have been released from captivity and 14 suspects arrested in a joint operation by Police officers in Gizo and Noro, Western Province and officers from the Ministry of Fisheries at Rapata Village on Kolombangara Island on 1 November 2017.
This came about after Police and Ministry of Fisheries received information that the dolphins have been allegedly trapped and kept for illegal export.
“During the operations, the team released more than twenty dolphins. We also confiscated the traps that were used to trap the dolphins,” says PPC Western Province, chief superintendent Mathias Lenialu of Gizo Police Station.
Exportation of live fish is illegal in the country according to the Fisheries Act 1998.
PPC Western Province, Chief Superintendent Mathias Lenialu commend his officers for the job well done in assisting other government stake holders and calls on the general public to refrain from such illegal practices. Investigations continue into the matter.