Severe penalties will be issued to Papua New Guinea fishermen who ignore a new order postponing the start of the sea cucumber harvesting season.
Sea Cucumber Photo: CC by 3.0 Dubai Aquarium
The Post Courier newspaper reported the beche-de-mer season was due to commence in July but had now been deferred until the 17 August.
The National Fisheries Authority said the delay would allow stock assesments to be completed in maritime provinces to determine the allowable catch.
The season ends when the catch limit has been reached.
The authority's managing director, John Kasu, said harvesting two species of sea cucumber, the black and white teatfish, would be prohibited from the end of August, when they are added to the endangered species list.