Provincial fisheries officers from across Solomon Islands gathered in Honiara, not only to sharpen their inspection skills but also to reaffirm their role as protectors of the sea and the communities who depend on it.
The Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources (MFMR), with support from the Pacific Community (SPC) and New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries’ Te Pātuitanga Ahumoana a Kiwa (Te Patui), hosted the week-long Provincial Monitoring, Control, Surveillance and Enforcement (MCS+E) Refresher Training for inshore fisheries from 18 to 22 August.
The training was designed to refresh technical knowledge while placing equal emphasis on community trust and cultural identity. Officers explored new ways of engaging with people, from using awareness toolkits and audience-mapping techniques to identifying respected local “champions” who could encourage voluntary compliance. Trainers stressed that kastom remains central to successful enforcement, with cultural values giving legitimacy to modern fisheries laws.
Practical exercises were at the heart of the programme. Officers conducted inspections at Honiara’s Central Market, restaurants and retail outlets, practising structured introductions, inspection protocols and safety procedures. Each activity ended with debrief sessions to refine their methods. Scenario-based exercises built confidence in casefile management, incident reporting and maintaining evidentiary standards—reinforcing that good record-keeping is key to fairness as well as prosecution.
For many participants, the week was about more than enforcing regulations. It was a reminder of their dual responsibility—as enforcers of the law and as stewards of coastal resources for future generations. “We are not just inspectors,” one officer shared during the reflection session. “We are guardians for our communities.”
The refresher training underscored the need to balance law, ethics, culture and communication in fisheries compliance. By bringing these elements together, officers left not only with improved skills but also with a renewed commitment to serve their people with professionalism and integrity.
“This programme is part of our vision to manage fisheries sustainably for the benefit of all Solomon Islanders,” the MFMR said in a statement.
The SPC provided financial support for the training. Facilitators included Mark Nicholson (Team Leader), William Sokimi Jnr, Hugo Nguyen, Jeff Dunlop of Te Patui and MFMR’s Mark Seda.
