The Environment Protection Agency has prohibited collecting of coastal sand without adequate authorisation, and those found to do so will face ‘hefty’ fines.

The EPA  said, through a statement on Sunday, that it has been receiving complaints of sand and sediment being collected from islands and lagoons that are leased, as well as the inhabited outlying islands. 

The agency said in the statement that the decision was made primarily to limit the impact and scope of soil erosion in local islands.

Local laws on environmental protection and conservation give the EPA authority to decide on amounts when imposing fines and setting compensation. 

The EPA has set zones from where collecting sand and sediment is authorised, information on which is available at local government councils, the statement said.