Village elder Lui Bale said they had noted a decrease in fish stock.

"In the past years, we didn't have to go out to sea as there was so much fish in the shallow waters."

"But now, we have to go out far into the deep seas to catch fish because there are no more in the shallow waters," Mr Bale said.

He added that a lot of boats and fishermen have been seen in their fishing ground of Laucala District which covers Qamea and Yanuca Island.

"They may have fishing licenses but there are some who don't have fishing licenses and we have already apprehended those involved," he said.

"It is a concern because the qoliqoli is the only source of income for us in Yanuca and when these people come in to fish, it depletes our fish stock in the seas."

"The men here support their families from the qoliqoli and if we face shortage of fish supplies, then our families will feel the pinch," Mr Bale said.

Men of Yanuca have travelled as far as Labasa to sell their sea slugs and fish.

"It brings us good money so we are pleading to those poachers to be considerate especially when the people of Yanuca depend on their qoliqoli for income."

Mr Bale said they had been working with police in dealing with poachers.

Divisional fisheries officer north Gerald Billings could not be reached for a comment yesterday.