State of the Coral Triangle: Solomon Islands
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State of the Coral Triangle: Solomon Islands One of a series of six reports on the status of marine resources in the western Pacific Ocean, the State of the Coral Triangle: Solomon Islands describes the biophysical characteristics of Solomon Islands’ coastal and marine ecosystems, the manner in which they are being exploited, the framework in place that governs their use, the socioeconomic characteristics of the communities that use them, and the environmental threats posed by the manner in which STATE OF THE CORAL TRIANGLE: they are being used. It explains the country’s national plan of action to address these threats and improve marine resource management. Solomon Islands About the Asian Development Bank ADB’s vision is an Asia and Pacific region free of poverty. Its mission is to help its developing member countries reduce poverty and improve the quality of life of their people. Despite the region’s many successes, it remains home to approximately two-thirds of the world’s poor: 1.6 billion people who live on less than $2 a day, with 733 million struggling on less than $1.25 a day. ADB is committed to reducing poverty through inclusive economic growth, environmentally sustainable growth, and regional integration. Based in Manila, ADB is owned by 67 members, including 48 from the region. Its main instruments for helping its developing member countries are policy dialogue, loans, equity investments, guarantees, grants, and technical assistance. Asian Development Bank 6 ADB Avenue, Mandaluyong City 1550 Metro Manila, Philippines www.adb.org Printed on recycled paper Printed in the Philippines STATE OF THE CORAL TRIANGLE: Solomon Islands © 2014 Asian Development Bank All rights reserved. Published in 2014. ©Printed 2014 inAsian the Philippines.Development Bank All rights reserved. Published in 2014. PrintedISBN 978-92-9254-528-4 in the Philippines. (Print), 978-92-9254-529-1 (PDF) Publication Stock No. RPT146478-3 ISBNCataloging-in-Publication 978-92-9254-524-6 Data(Print), 978-92-9254-525-3 (PDF) Publication Stock No. RPT146482-3 Cataloging-in-PublicationAsian Development Bank. Data Regional state of the Coral Triangle—Coral Triangle marine resources: Their status, economies, and management. AsianMandaluyong Development City, Philippines:Bank. Asian Development Bank, 2014. State of the Coral Triangle: Solomon Islands. Mandaluyong1. Marine resources. City, Philippines: 2. Marine Asian environment. Development Bank, 3. Coral2014. Triangle. 4. Indonesia. 5. Malaysia. 6. Papua New Guinea. 7. Philippines. 8. Solomon Islands. 1.9. CoralTimor-Leste. Triangle. I. 2.Asian Marine Development environment. Bank. 3. Marine fisheries. 4. Solomon Islands. I. Asian Development Bank. 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Photo credit PhotoFront cover:credit ADB photo library FrontBack cover:cover (Oscarfrom left Dennis to right Espenilla): ADB photo library and Sally Shute-Trembath Back cover: ADB photo library 6 ADB Avenue,Avenue, MandaluyongMandaluyong City City 1550 Metro Manila,Manila, PhilippinesPhilippines Tel +63 22 632632 44444444 Fax +63+63 22 636636 24442444 www.adb.org For orders,orders, pleaseplease contact:contact: Public InformationInformation CenterCenter Fax +63+63 22 636636 25842584 [email protected] Printed on recycled paper Contents Tables and Figures v Foreword vi Acknowledgments viii Executive Summary ix Abbreviations xiii Introduction 1 Biophysical Characteristics 3 Physical Geography 3 Coastal and Marine Ecosystem Biodiversity 4 Governance 10 Policy and Legislation 10 Compliance 11 Socioeconomic Characteristics 15 Demography 15 Traditional Management Systems 15 Gender Issues 20 Payment for Ecosystem Services 21 Capture Fisheries 22 Aquaculture 28 Marine Ornamental Trade 31 Coastal Tourism 33 Minerals, Oil, and Gas 33 Domestic Shipping 34 International Shipping 35 Transport and Shipping Issues 36 Threats and Vulnerabilities 37 Current Issues in Marine Resource Management 37 Rehabilitation, Restoration, and Restocking 45 Emerging Issues in Marine Resource Use 46 National Plan of Action Initiatives and Future Plans 51 Formulation of the Solomon Islands NPOA 52 Goal 1: Designation and Effective Management of Priority Seascapes 53 Goal 2: Application of an Ecosystem Approach to Management of Fisheries and Other Marine Resources 55 iii iv SameContents Energy, More Power Goal 3: Establishment and Effective Management of Marine Protected Areas 55 Goal 4: Application of Climate Change Adaptation Measures 56 Goal 5: Improvement of the Status of Threatened Species 60 Capacity Building 62 Financial Considerations 63 Public Awareness 63 Conclusion 65 References 67 Tables and Figures Tables 1 Multilateral Marine Resource Agreements to which Solomon Islands Is Signatory 12 2 Demographic Parameters in Urban and Rural Areas of Solomon Islands 16 3 Fish Production and Consumption Statistics for Rural and Urban Areas of Solomon Islands 27 4 Annual Per Capita Fish Consumption in Solomon Islands 1983–2009 27 5 Potential Economic Development Impact and Financial Feasibility of Aquaculture-Based Commodities Suggested for Production in Solomon Islands 28 6 Coral Families Subject to Solomon Islands Export Quotas 33 7 Dolphin Catches at Fanalei, 1965–2005 41 8 Exports of Live Dolphins from Solomon Islands, 2003–2011 41 9 Coral Triangle Initiatives for Improving the Management Capacity of Marine Protected Areas and Locally Managed Marine Areas 57 10 Initiatives for Ensuring Standardized Protocols and Guidelines for Monitoring and Data Management 58 11 Marine Protected Areas in Solomon Islands and Species Specifically Targeted for Protection 61 Figures 1 Age Composition of the Solomon Islands Population, 2011 16 2 Annual Tuna Catch in Solomon Waters by Foreign and Domestic Fleets, 2000–2010 25 3 Tuna Catch by Species, 2000–2010 26 4 Volume and Value of Seaweed Exports from Solomon Islands 2005–2010 30 5 Volume and Value of Exports of Live and Dead Corals from Solomon Islands, 2004–2011 32 6 Dynamite Fishing Apprehensions and Convictions, 2002–2008 39 v Foreword he Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries, and Food Security (referred to in this report as Coral Triangle Initiative [CTI]) was launched in 2007 as a multilateral partnership T of the governments of Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Solomon Islands, and Timor-Leste. The CTI recognizes the need to safeguard the coastal and marine resources of the seas that surround these countries, which together constitute a uniquely diverse and economically important region often referred to as the Coral Triangle. In 2009, these six countries adopted a 10-year, five-point CTI regional plan of action for improving management of the region’s coastal and marine resources. The State of the Coral Triangle (SCT) reports describe the current condition of coastal ecosystems—and their exploited resources—in each Coral Triangle country. As these are the first SCT reports to be published, they provide a baseline against which progress in improving and sustaining Coral Triangle marine resources can be measured. These reports also document and promote the commitments of Coral Triangle countries through elaboration of goals and a national plan of action for achieving sustainable use of marine resources within the region. Through its technical assistance—Regional Cooperation on Knowledge Management, Policy, and Institutional Support to the CTI—the Asian Development Bank (ADB) helps (i) strengthen regional policy dialogue and coordination among the six Coral Triangle countries (CT6), (ii) facilitate CTI-wide information exchange and learning, and (iii) encourage policy and program development based on global best practices. As part of this technical assistance, ADB is publishing