Solomon Islands Fisheries Overview

PRIORITY ADAPTATIONS TO CLIMATE CHANGE FOR FISHERIES AND AQUACULTURE IN

SOLOMON ISLANDS: REDUCING RISKS AND CAPITALISING ON OPPORTUNITIES

WORKSHOPIron Bottom Sound, Honiara

18th – 19th April 2013

By Rosalie MasuDeputy Director Inshore (ag)

Areas to be covered Brief Introduction of Solomon

Islands Current Fisheries Management Measures/Approaches Future Plans

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.

Introduction Cont… 85 % of the population are rural

coastal dwellers who rely heavily on marine resources

Fish consumption per capita is 33 kg/yr

Importance of Fisheries Provide food Source of income

- employment- traditional money- selling of resources

Traditional Medicine Cultural Values Contribute towards our country’s

economy

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.

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

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!!

Export Value for Inshore Fisheries

Major contributors to the Export Value

1. Beche-der-mer2. Trochus3. Button Blanks – from trochus4. Sea weed5. Coral (CurioTrade)6. Sharks-fin7. Reef fish/fillet8. Aquarium fish9. Cray Fish

Inshore fisheries purchased from Provinces by exporters 1991 -

20111. Choiseul2. Western 3. Malaita4. Isabel5. Central6. Guadalcanal7. Temotu8. Honiara9. Makira/Ulawa10. Renbel

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)

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

Tuna FisheryTuna Catch by Domestic and Foreign Vessels 2000 - 2011

Tuna Species From 2000 – 2011, Catch was

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

Tuna is exported as: Frozen Canned Smoked Fishmeal Chilled Loin

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

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

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

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

commercial species Strengthen Partnership:

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

Thank you!!