1. Solomon Islands Fisheries Overview
PRIORITY ADAPTATIONS TO CLIMATE CHANGE FOR FISHERIES AND AQUACULTURE IN SOLOMON ISLANDS: REDUCING RISKS AND CAPITALISING ON OPPORTUNITIES WORKSHOP
Iron Bottom Sound, Honiara
18th – 19th April 2013
By Rosalie Masu
Deputy Director Inshore (ag)

2. Areas to be covered Brief Introduction of Solomon Islands
Current Fisheries
Management Measures/Approaches
Future Plans

3. Introduction Vast archipelago of 992 islands, 347 inhabited
Landmass is 28,000 sq km
EEZ is 1.63 million sq km
Reef area is 5,750 sq km
Population estimate is > .5 million persons (2005)
Annual growth rate in 1999 was 2.8% and doubled to 4.4% in 2005 (one of the highest)
40% below 15yrs, 58% between 15 – 64 yrs, 2% over 65 yrs
Meaning SI has a very young population which is growing very fast.

4. Introduction Cont…
85 % of the population are rural coastal dwellers who rely heavily on marine resources
Fish consumption per capita is 33 kg/yr

5. Importance of Fisheries
Provide food
Source of income
- employment
- traditional money
- selling of resources
Traditional Medicine
Cultural Values
Contribute towards our country’s economy

6. Coastal or Inshore Fisheries
Kile (2000) estimated that subsistence – artisanal annual production at $SBD60 million which is about $USD7 million.
Gillett and Lightfoot (2002) estimated the subsistence – artisanal annual production at $US9.963 million.

7. Target Species FINFISH Sharks for fins but rarely for meat
Women – Coastal finfish sp.
Children – Coastal finfish sp.
Men – Outer reef
INVERTERBRATES
Sea-cucumber
Trochus
Crayfish
Mangrove-shells
Mud crab
Clams

8. Type of fishing methods
Spear-fishing
Gill-netting
Hand-linning
Collection by hand for inverterbrate
Traditional methods – using coconut frowns
Traps
Even dynamite fishing too!!

9. Export Value for Inshore Fisheries

10. Major contributors to the Export Value
Beche-der-mer
Trochus
Button Blanks – from trochus
Sea weed
Coral (CurioTrade)
Sharks-fin
Reef fish/fillet
Aquarium fish
Cray Fish

11. Inshore fisheries purchased from Provinces by exporters 1991 - 2011
Choiseul
Western
Malaita
Isabel
Central
Guadalcanal
Temotu
Honiara
Makira/Ulawa
Renbel

12. Aquaculture 90’s – export of farmed tiger prawns
Current Efforts: Seaweed Farming as an alternative. Target production for 2013: 1500mt
Small backyard ponds – Tilapia (Mosambique)
GIFT Tilapia – Risk Assessment Complete, Biosecurity Protocols.
Current Research: Milkfish&Mullet
Peanut Fish (Sticopus Horrens)

13. Fresh Water Fishery Mostly for subsistence only
Shells (gastropods, bivalve)
Prawns
Fish eg. Tilapia
Eels

14. Tuna Fishery
Tuna Catch by Domestic and Foreign Vessels

15. Tuna Species From 2000 – 2011, Catch was dominated by Skipjack.
Yellow Fin – 24%
Big Eye – 1%
Albacore – 2%
Others – 1%

16. Tuna is exported as:
Frozen
Canned
Smoked
Fishmeal
Chilled
Loin

17. Effort Trend Depletion of important commercial species is very evident
Generally effort is higher as compared to the “good old days”
Due to high fishing pressure
- shift from subsistence to cash base
- increase population

18. Management Measures for Inshore Fisheries
Ban for Export
Size Limits
Gear Restrictions
Reduce fishing pressure – Aquaculture Options
- iFADs
Management Plans for key commercial species.
Encourage Marine Protected Areas and Managed Areas through CBRM/CBFM and EAFM approaches.
NGO partners – Monitoring in project Sites

19. Management Measures for Tuna Fisheries
Solomon Islands managing Tuna together with other countries as part of Regional Cooperation through: PNA (Parties to the Nauru Agreement), FFA, W
Tuna management Plan.
Vessel Day Scheme (VDS)
New Policy: To land tuna catches onshore
Encourage Onshore based investments

20. Future: Near Fisheries Bill: Pass June/July sitting
Management Plans finalised for key commercial species
Strengthen Partnership: Communities (CBOs), NGOs, Provincial, Regional Organisations, Industries.

21. Thank you!!