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.所罗门群岛拥有生物多样性极为丰富的珊瑚礁生态系统，其对于当地文化认同与社会经济安全具有举足轻重的意义。由于所罗门群岛居民的鱼类消费量位居全球前列，其中大部分来自年产值达6500万美元的近岸渔业，因此保护这些渔业资源对民生与民众健康至关重要。在这些资源中，存在形成（鱼类）产卵集群（fish spawning aggregations, FSA）的珊瑚礁鱼类。对于此类物种而言，产卵集群是种群补充的主要途径，同时也是构建从食腐生物到海洋巨型生物的食物网的基础。产卵集群极易受到过度捕捞的影响，而所罗门群岛的产卵集群正面临着不断加剧的捕捞压力，这一压力来自于不断变化的经济结构与国内出口渔业。最新估算显示，西部省每月至少向霍尼亚拉市场出口6公吨鱼类，其中有相当一部分（具体占比不明）的供应来自产卵集群。在所罗门群岛，海洋权属仍是珊瑚礁管理的核心要素，但其管理成效取决于社区的认知水平与参与监测的积极性。本项目旨在通过以下举措，优化基于站点及国家级尺度的产卵集群管理支撑条件：（1）评估已知存在捕捞活动的产卵集群位点；（2）向传统珊瑚礁所有者开展认知宣讲；（3）培训当地社区与潜水运营商员工制定适宜的监测规程；（3）在已知的产卵集群位点落实上述监测规程；（4）与传统珊瑚礁所有者及潜水运营商共同制定生态系统渔业管理（EAFM）计划；（5）分享来自成功区域地方管理海洋区（Locally Managed Marine Areas, LMMAs）的经验信息；（6）推动强化现有产卵集群法规在地方及省级层面的执法力度；（7）凝聚共识以修订现有法规，提升管理效能。