Staff from the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, Department of Environment, completed a CITES Enforcement Training Workshop to strengthen their capacity to protect Fiji’s wildlife and enforce laws against the illegal trade of endangered species.
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) is an international agreement that regulates trade in wild animals and plants to ensure it does not threaten their survival. Established in 1972 and coming into force in 1975, CITES now has 183 member countries and protects more than 38,000 species worldwide.
Fiji’s commitment to this global effort is embodied in the Endangered and Protected Species (EPS) Act 2002 and its amendments. The Act regulates all trade in endangered species within Fiji and across borders through a permit system. It also empowers enforcement officers from agencies such as Customs, Police, and others to implement and uphold the law.
The CITES Enforcement Training Workshop aimed to strengthen officers’ understanding of the EPS Act and build practical enforcement skills to detect, report, and prevent illegal wildlife trade.
Participants included representatives from the Fiji Revenue and Customs Service, Biosecurity Authority of Fiji, Fiji Police Force, Ministry of Forestry, Ministry of Fisheries, Fiji Ports Corporation, Ministry of iTaukei Affairs, and the Fiji Immigration Department, among others.
The training covered key areas such as:
The legal framework under the EPS Act and its amendments
Procedures for inspections, sampling, and investigations
Inter-agency roles and coordination in wildlife protection
Identification of CITES-listed species and enforcement of trade restrictions
This training forms part of the Ministry’s ongoing effort to improve enforcement across the Western, Northern, and Central divisions and strengthen collaboration among agencies and partners.
Permanent Secretary for Environment and Climate Change, Dr. Sivendra Michael, said effective enforcement requires strong coordination and accountability across all agencies:
“Protecting Fiji’s endangered species requires consistent enforcement and cooperation across government agencies. Every environment officer has a role to play in ensuring that Fiji’s wildlife is not exploited or traded illegally. This training helps us build the practical skills and partnerships needed to do that effectively.”
Participants reaffirmed their commitment to apply the knowledge gained to strengthen compliance and enforcement under the EPS Act. The trained officers will support ongoing efforts to enhance Fiji’s capacity to prevent illegal wildlife trade and protect its endangered and protected species.