BY LORETTA BRIGIDIA MANELE
ACCORDING to the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources (MFMR), there are emerging opportunities that the ministry can exploit to increase revenue collection for the government and trigger community fisheries livelihood related enterprises.
The above was stated in MFMR’s Business Plan (2018-2023), a document supported by their Communication Strategy (2018-2020) which were both launched this month.
Speaking of opportunities, the ministry said they are linked to Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA), increased domestication of Solomon Islands tuna fishery, processing and operations and commercialisation of economically viable and sustainable aquaculture.
Some of the specific opportunities under the above initiatives outlined by MFMR are; PNA promotion of free school tuna fishery in the region under its MSC certification, PNA initiated VDS for purse seine and long line gear vessels, contracting of Solomon Islands Observers to any reputable providers of international fishery observers’ services and to lead the national onshore processing project at Bina Harbour with the inclusion of private partnerships to support its development.
In the business plan, the ministry explains that they have in recent years been focussing on efforts to manage, develop and ensure that the country generates sustainable benefits from its offshore related fishing operations, particularly, commercial tuna fishery.
MFMR mentioned that it also recognises the social benefit and value of inshore domestic and export-led market fisheries and is aspiring to accelerate efforts to secure those fisheries and enable sustainable inshore related commercial activities.
“This aspiration is evidenced by the building of Constituency Fisheries Centres and increased emphasis on aquaculture development,” said MFMR.
The ministry furthered that donor support will be needed to meet some of the aspirations for capital investments in infrastructure.
