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Further export restrictions may be provided for in specific legislation. For example, out-of-season exports of sea cucumber are restricted for conservation purposes under the Fisheries Management Act.

(…) Commercial harvesting of sea cucumber started in the 1980s and became a major export business; however, due to overfishing, a ten-year moratorium was imposed in 1998-07 (Table A4.2). Since 2008, a seasonal quota has been in place for commercial harvesting (closed season from 30 September to 31 March). Sea cucumber exports are destined mainly for China.

Coastal fisheries, including sea cucumber, are reserved for Tongans (Table 2.6). Access is open to all communities on a first-come-first-served basis. To address the depletion of fish stocks, some coastal fisheries have been declared Special Management Areas by the Minister (FMA Article 13) to give local communities some management control over fishery resources. (…)

Exports of fish, fish products and other marine products, including live aquarium fish, giant clams, and corals, are subject to licensing (FMA Article 35). Licensing conditions include compliance with the relevant fisheries management plan and any export restrictions that may be in force (Fisheries Conservation Regulations 2008). Export licences are issued by the Fisheries Department, subject to a fee of T$20. Violations of export licensing requirements are liable to fines of up to T$500,000. The export levy (tax) on fish was zero in 2013 (Chapter 3.3.2).

The processing and exportation of endangered species is prohibited under the Business Licences Act, Schedule 1. Other items are prohibited for export under the Customs and Excise Management Order (Table 3.6).

Prohibited and restricted imports: (…)
7. All toxic and hazardous wastes
(…)

Business activities requiring the fulfilment of additional conditions:
Activity: Recycling operators
Additional requirement: Letter of approval from the Waste Authority

The main challenges faced by the fisheries sector include the need to effectively enforce and strengthen the implementation of management plans so as to address the sustainable development of fisheries resources, lack of appropriate infrastructure (e.g. storage and handling), distance to overseas market destinations, inadequate production, limited resources for law enforcement and tight lending criteria which hinder access to funds for development of local fishing vessels. Despite these challenges, strong growth of 4.6% is projected for 2012/13, mainly attributable to anticipated significant increases in exports of tuna and seaweed.

(…) The fisheries sector has been in a down-turn since 2004, which is partly of a cyclical nature due to poor tuna fishing conditions, partly due to overfishing of some marine resources (particularly bêche-de-mer), and partly due to the high cost structure and a loss of competitiveness of the industry, amongst other factors. (…)

The Ministry of Agriculture, Food, Forests and Fisheries (MAFFF) is responsible for the formulation and implementation of agricultural policy. While there is no formal strategy in force for the agriculture sector, the main policy objectives relate to export promotion, food security, and climate change, according to the authorities. Various projects, often donor-funded, are aimed at stimulating exports (e.g. water melons for export to New Zealand) or substituting imports, in order to contain the trade deficit in food.