Ministry of Fisheries Conducts Review of Regulated and Unregulated Fees

Honiara, April 9, 2024: A two-day workshop aimed at conducting a comprehensive review of fees within the fisheries sector, encompassing both regulated and unregulated aspects gets underway in Honiara this morning.

The regulated fees under scrutiny primarily relate to the Inshore, Aquaculture, and Offshore divisions.

Speaking prior to the workshop, Mr. Allan Aba, Chief Fisheries Officer, Policy and Planning Division, highlighted the significance of the workshop to ensure maximum benefits for resource owners.

“As a maritime nation, 80 percent of our population relies heavily on marine resources for sustenance, livelihoods, and developmental aspirations,” said Mr. Aba.

Participants are expected to actively engage in discussions, exchanging ideas and strategies over the course of the two-day session, with particular attention to marine resources.

A key issue under examination is the question of license fees—whether an increase is necessary to ensure fair economic returns for rural coastal communities.

Mr. Aba highlighted challenges such as illegal fishing and harvesting, climate change impacts, pollution, and acidification, all of which have adverse effects on reef ecosystems and fish distribution. Additionally, with high population growth in the country, more practical solutions are needed to address these challenges.

Community concerns about the insufficient benefits derived from their resources further emphasize the need to bridge existing gaps.

The commodities addressed in this workshop include shark fin, dead and live coral, dried seaweed, and dead trochus, with a specific focus on examining export values for Solomon Islands.

It is anticipated that, following this meeting, consensus will be reached on appropriately regulated fees for these commodities, to be enforced by the Ministry of Fisheries.