Solomon Islands Fisheries Solomon Islands Fisheries OverviewOverview

PRIORITY ADAPTATIONS TO CLIMATE CHANGE PRIORITY ADAPTATIONS TO CLIMATE CHANGE FOR FISHERIES AND AQUACULTURE IN FOR FISHERIES AND AQUACULTURE IN

SOLOMON ISLANDS: REDUCING RISKS AND SOLOMON ISLANDS: REDUCING RISKS AND CAPITALISING ON OPPORTUNITIES WORKSHOPCAPITALISING ON OPPORTUNITIES WORKSHOP

Iron Bottom Sound, HoniaraIron Bottom Sound, Honiara 1818thth – 19 – 19thth April 2013 April 2013

By Rosalie MasuBy Rosalie MasuDeputy Director Inshore (ag)Deputy Director Inshore (ag)

Areas to be coveredAreas to be covered Brief Introduction of Solomon Brief Introduction of Solomon

IslandsIslands Current Fisheries Current Fisheries Management Measures/ApproachesManagement Measures/Approaches Future PlansFuture Plans

IntroductionIntroduction Vast archipelago of 992 islands, 347 Vast archipelago of 992 islands, 347

inhabitedinhabited Landmass is 28,000 sq kmLandmass is 28,000 sq km EEZ is 1.63 million sq kmEEZ is 1.63 million sq km Reef area is 5,750 sq kmReef area is 5,750 sq km Population estimate is > .5 million persons Population estimate is > .5 million persons

(2005)(2005) Annual growth rate in 1999 was 2.8% and Annual growth rate in 1999 was 2.8% and

doubled to 4.4% in 2005 (one of the highest)doubled to 4.4% in 2005 (one of the highest) 40% below 15yrs, 58% between 15 – 64 yrs, 40% below 15yrs, 58% between 15 – 64 yrs,

2% over 65 yrs2% over 65 yrs Meaning SI has a very young population Meaning SI has a very young population

which is growing very fast.which is growing very fast.

Introduction Cont…Introduction Cont… 85 % of the population are rural 85 % of the population are rural

coastal dwellers who rely heavily on coastal dwellers who rely heavily on marine resourcesmarine resources

Fish consumption per capita is 33 Fish consumption per capita is 33 kg/yr kg/yr

Importance of FisheriesImportance of Fisheries Provide foodProvide food Source of incomeSource of income

- employment- employment- traditional money- traditional money- selling of resources- selling of resources

Traditional MedicineTraditional Medicine Cultural ValuesCultural Values Contribute towards our country’s Contribute towards our country’s

economyeconomy

Coastal or Inshore Coastal or Inshore FisheriesFisheries

Kile (2000) estimated that Kile (2000) estimated that subsistence – artisanal annual subsistence – artisanal annual production at $SBD60 million which production at $SBD60 million which is about $USD7 million.is about $USD7 million.

Gillett and Lightfoot (2002) Gillett and Lightfoot (2002) estimated the subsistence – artisanal estimated the subsistence – artisanal annual production at $US9.963 annual production at $US9.963 million. million.

Target SpeciesTarget Species

FINFISHFINFISH Sharks for fins but Sharks for fins but

rarely for meatrarely for meat Women – Coastal Women – Coastal

finfish sp.finfish sp. Children – Coastal Children – Coastal

finfish sp.finfish sp. Men – Outer reefMen – Outer reef

INVERTERBRATESINVERTERBRATES Sea-cucumberSea-cucumber TrochusTrochus CrayfishCrayfish Mangrove-shellsMangrove-shells Mud crabMud crab ClamsClams

Type of fishing methodsType of fishing methods Spear-fishingSpear-fishing Gill-nettingGill-netting Hand-linningHand-linning Collection by hand for inverterbrateCollection by hand for inverterbrate Traditional methods – using coconut Traditional methods – using coconut

frownsfrowns TrapsTraps

Even dynamite fishing too!!Even dynamite fishing too!!

Export Value for Inshore Export Value for Inshore FisheriesFisheries

Major contributors to the Major contributors to the Export Value Export Value

1.1. Beche-der-merBeche-der-mer2.2. TrochusTrochus3.3. Button Blanks – from trochusButton Blanks – from trochus4.4. Sea weedSea weed5.5. Coral (CurioTrade)Coral (CurioTrade)6.6. Sharks-finSharks-fin7.7. Reef fish/filletReef fish/fillet8.8. Aquarium fishAquarium fish9.9. Cray FishCray Fish

Inshore fisheries purchased from Inshore fisheries purchased from Provinces by exporters 1991 - Provinces by exporters 1991 -

201120111.1. ChoiseulChoiseul2.2. Western Western 3.3. MalaitaMalaita4.4. IsabelIsabel5.5. CentralCentral6.6. GuadalcanalGuadalcanal7.7. TemotuTemotu8.8. HoniaraHoniara9.9. Makira/UlawaMakira/Ulawa10.10. RenbelRenbel

AquacultureAquaculture 90’s – export of farmed tiger prawns90’s – export of farmed tiger prawns Current Efforts: Seaweed Farming as an Current Efforts: Seaweed Farming as an

alternative. Target production for 2013: alternative. Target production for 2013: 1500mt1500mt

Small backyard ponds – Tilapia (Small backyard ponds – Tilapia (MosambiqueMosambique) ) GIFT Tilapia – Risk Assessment Complete, GIFT Tilapia – Risk Assessment Complete,

Biosecurity Protocols.Biosecurity Protocols. Current Research: Milkfish&MulletCurrent Research: Milkfish&Mullet Peanut Fish (Peanut Fish (Sticopus HorrensSticopus Horrens))

Fresh Water FisheryFresh Water Fishery Mostly for subsistence onlyMostly for subsistence only Shells (gastropods, bivalve)Shells (gastropods, bivalve) PrawnsPrawns Fish eg. Tilapia Fish eg. Tilapia EelsEels

Tuna FisheryTuna FisheryTuna Catch by Domestic and Foreign Tuna Catch by Domestic and Foreign Vessels 2000 - 2011Vessels 2000 - 2011

Tuna SpeciesTuna Species From 2000 – 2011, Catch was From 2000 – 2011, Catch was

dominated by Skipjack.dominated by Skipjack. Skip Jack – 72%Skip Jack – 72% Yellow Fin – 24%Yellow Fin – 24% Big Eye – 1%Big Eye – 1% Albacore – 2%Albacore – 2% Others – 1%Others – 1%

Tuna is exported as:Tuna is exported as: FrozenFrozen CannedCanned SmokedSmoked FishmealFishmeal ChilledChilled LoinLoin

Effort TrendEffort Trend Depletion of important commercial Depletion of important commercial

species is very evident species is very evident Generally effort is higher as Generally effort is higher as

compared to the “good old days”compared to the “good old days” Due to high fishing pressure Due to high fishing pressure

- shift from subsistence to cash - shift from subsistence to cash basebase

- increase population- increase population

Management Measures for Management Measures for Inshore FisheriesInshore Fisheries

Ban for ExportBan for Export Size LimitsSize Limits Gear RestrictionsGear Restrictions Reduce fishing pressure – Aquaculture Reduce fishing pressure – Aquaculture

OptionsOptions - iFADs - iFADs

Management Plans for key commercial Management Plans for key commercial species.species.

Encourage Marine Protected Areas and Encourage Marine Protected Areas and Managed Areas through CBRM/CBFM and Managed Areas through CBRM/CBFM and EAFM approaches.EAFM approaches.

NGO partners – Monitoring in project SitesNGO partners – Monitoring in project Sites

Management Measures Management Measures for Tuna Fisheriesfor Tuna Fisheries

Solomon Islands managing Tuna Solomon Islands managing Tuna together with other countries as part of together with other countries as part of Regional Cooperation through: PNA Regional Cooperation through: PNA (Parties to the Nauru Agreement), (Parties to the Nauru Agreement), FFA, WFFA, W

Tuna management Plan.Tuna management Plan. Vessel Day Scheme (VDS)Vessel Day Scheme (VDS) New Policy: To land tuna catches New Policy: To land tuna catches

onshoreonshore Encourage Onshore based investmentsEncourage Onshore based investments

Future: Near Future: Near Fisheries Bill: Pass June/July sittingFisheries Bill: Pass June/July sitting Management Plans finalised for key Management Plans finalised for key

commercial speciescommercial species Strengthen Partnership: Strengthen Partnership:

Communities (CBOs), NGOs, Communities (CBOs), NGOs, Provincial, Regional Organisations, Provincial, Regional Organisations, Industries. Industries.

Thank you!!Thank you!!