Solomon Islands police have warned people against taking outboard motor boats out to foreign vessels anchored off Honiara's main port.
The main port in Honiara. Photo: Solomon Islands Ports Authority
The police Maritime Division is assisting the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources in an ongoing Covid-19 operation in Point Cruz harbour that began last week.
The division's Commander Chief Superintendent, Charles Fox says police maritime officers are patrolling the vicinity of the transhipment vessels to make sure no locals go out to them.
He appealed to fish sellers in particular to follow the regulation put in place to protect Solomon Islanders from covid.
"OBMs (outboard-motors) and all other canoes are prohibited. Any body found breaching the COVID-19 Maritime Regulation will be prosecuted," he said.
"Sea patrols will be done regularly to closely monitor the movement of OBMs and other small crafts.
"The crew on the foreign vessels are not allowed to go ashore from the vessels and no one is allowed to board the vessels as stipulated under the Covid-19 regulations," Chief Superintendent Fox said.