Acting Police Commissioner, Walter Kola, said police can only conduct an investigation into the beche-de-mer network if they are requested to do so by the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources.

Speaking at a press conference yesterday Mr Kola said there are certain misconceptions by the public in terms of the role the Police should play in the ongoing beche-de-mer saga.

"The public should be aware of the different responsibilities of the Police and the Ministry of Fisheries...the beche-de-mer issue is a breach of the Fisheries Act, the Ministry of Fisheries administers the Act as they are mandated to do so under that very Act," said Mr Kola.

"So what we have here is a breach of the Fisheries Act or Regulation, so it is the responsibility of the Ministry of Fisheries to conduct its own investigation into the matter...they are the appropriate government agency."

He said while police could support and assist in the investigations there must be a request or a report forwarded to the police by the Ministry of Fisheries before they can act.

"There is huge media coverage so there is strong public interest and pressure, but we must follow the right procedures."