Seven turtles seized from the Macuata Provincial Council meeting at Nabubu Village in Namuka yesterday were released into the ocean.

Fisheries officers released the creatures while traditional ceremony was conducted at the opening of the meeting.

The villagers had caught nine turtles for the two-day meeting.

They said they could not afford “pigs and cows” and turtle meat was the traditional food of chiefs.

Fisheries officers said the villagers had exceeded the quantity they had applied for.

They could not comment on whether anyone would be fined for the excess catch.

Namuka district rep and Nabubu Village headman Kalivereti Vuwaka said the Tui Namuka Ratu Tevita Niumataiwalu, their traditional head, had applied for a permit to include turtles in the traditional function.

He said from the time of their forefathers, turtles were used as a traditional food for chiefs.

“We can’t afford to buy cows or pigs because our income is limited so we catch turtles for traditional functions when our chief is present,” he said.

“We don’t kill turtles anyhow except during traditional functions when we apply for approval from the Ministry of Fisheries.”