Future Perfect

[

] 100

ustainable

agriculture

wildlife

food

security

consumption

and

production

patterns

Governance of marine resources is central to success

beyond the community level. ACIAR’s support of the

Strategy will also focus on strengthening the capacity

of the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources and

the development of an impact assessment programme

for the Ministry will be central to this work. The frame-

work that is being developed through this research

will also be transferred to Vanuatu and Kiribati, using

the lessons learned in the Solomon Islands to identify

approaches for other island nations.

ACIAR is also supporting other aspects of the blue

economies of the Pacific region, by examining returns

from sustainable management of deep-sea fisheries.

With the Forum Fisheries Agency, a bioeconomic

model used in determining harvest levels and rents

payable for the South Pacific tuna fishery was updated

with biological, catch, price and cost parameters. Two

potential charging systems for obtaining access fees

from distant-water fleet nations fishing in the exclu-

sive economic zones of the Pacific Island nations were

examined. The project identified that ‘charge-on-effort’

schemes should be considered, using a formula based

on catch limits and fishing days.

A sustainable management plan for the live reef fish

trade in the Solomon Islands was developed, with the

plan presented at a final seminar attended by poli-

cymakers, local communities, fishery managers and

researchers in Honiara. The seminar covered potentially

controversial aspects, such as seasonal closures.

A second support component for blue economies is

developing aquaculture capacity in the region. Farming

freshwater fish and marine species can be a sustainable

alternative to fishing, while reducing pressure on wild

capture fisheries.

Numerous communities in Papua New Guinea (PNG)

are dependent on coastline marine resources for the

livelihoods of their families. Whilst coastal waters, reefs

and fish stocks are comparatively healthy, communities

are failing to capitalize on the potential economic and

job opportunities this environment provides.

The development of mariculture in PNG can now be

supported by the recently completed National Fisheries

Authority Nago Island marine hatchery and training facil-

ity. The role of the facility is to develop marine aquaculture

opportunities for PNG and to become a training centre for

students from the National Fishing Centre. However, for

the facility to achieve its goals, there is an immediate need

for capacity-building from both technical and mariculture

perspectives. This ACIAR project will develop Nago Island’s

capacity relating to the management of the facility and the

husbandry of cultured marine organisms and will involve

training facility staff at established research institutions that

have similar roles, expectations and support needs. It includes

basic production trials using coral and spiny lobsters, which

will generate baseline information relating to their potential

as food or income sources. Another part of this research is the

restocking of depleted fisheries, with particular attention to

sea cucumbers, which have been chronically overexploited

throughout the Asia-Pacific region.

From 2005 to 2008, ACIAR and the WorldFish Center worked with

communities in Kia District (Santa Isabel Island and Isabel Province) and

Jorio (Vella Lavella Island and Western Province) to establish commu-

nity-basedmanagement plans for the sea cucumber. At community level,

the project involved a participatory process of household interviews and

focal group discussions to facilitate the development of a management

plan. At the request of the community, plans were broadened to cover

all marine resources. From the Kia community, the project expanded in

2007 to include all of Kia district and led to the establishment of a marine

managed area covering approximately 450 km2.

Through a similar participatory process, a management plan

covering 170 km2 of the Jorio region was implemented in September

2008. Responsibilities for administration, enforcement and penalties

now rest with communities through their own governance struc-

tures. Community technical teams have been trained in simple

methods for conducting reef surveys of benthic invertebrates, such

as the sea cucumber.

In mid-2008, representatives from both Kia and Jorio (along with

representatives from related projects in other parts of the country)

attended the first community workshop for coastal fisheries, held

by the Solomon Islands Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources.

The goal was to tap into community knowledge to ensure better

coastal community participation within the Solomon Islands inshore

and coastal fisheries management.

Rich forest resources offer job opportunities if sustainably managed

Image: ACIAR