Identification and characterization of Western Province reef fisheries; Developing management and conservation protocols using traditional ecological knowledge, underwater monitoring and catch assessments

Solomon Islands has highly biodiverse coral reef ecosystems critically important to cultural identity and socio-economic security. Because Solomon Islanders maintain among the highest global fish consumption rates largely from inshore fisheries valued at USD$65 million yr-1, maintaining these resources is critical to livelihoods and health. Among these resources are coral reef fish that form (fish) spawning aggregations (FSA). For these species, FSAs are the primary means of population replenishment and form the basis of a trophic web ranging from detritivores to marine megafauna. FSAs are highly vulnerable to overfishing and in Solomon Islands have experienced increasing fishing pressure from a changing economy and a domestic export fishery. Recent estimates show Western Province exporting at least 6 mt mo-1 to Honiara markets, with an unknown but substantial quantity of this supply derived from FSAs. In Solomon Islands, marine tenure remains a core element of coral reef management, but its effectiveness relies on community awareness and participation in monitoring. The project seeks to improve site-based and national scale enabling conditions for FSA management through: (1) evaluating FSA sites known to be experiencing fishing; (2) providing awareness presentations to traditional reef owners; (3) training local communities and dive operator staff in developing appropriate monitoring protocols; (3) implementing these protocols at known FSA sites; (4) co-developing EAFM plans with traditional reef owners and dive operators; (5) providing information sharing from successful regional LMMAs; (6) working to improve enforcement of existing FSA regulations and local and provincial scales; and (7) building consensus to adapt existing regulations to improve management effectiveness.