The government has placed Bina Harbour, coastal livelihoods, food security and stronger protection of Solomon Islands’ fisheries resources at the centre of its 90-day delivery plan for the fisheries sector.
Responding to the Governor-General’s Speech from the Throne, Minister for Fisheries and Marine Resources Polycarp Paea said the sector must deliver greater economic and social value to Solomon Islanders while protecting marine resources for future generations.
“Fisheries must continue to provide food, jobs, export earnings and public revenue. At the same time, we must retain more value in Solomon Islands and manage our marine resources responsibly for future generations,” he said.
The Ministry’s August-December 2026 90-day implementation plan will focus on:
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the Bina Harbour tuna processing plant;
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coastal livelihoods and seaweed farming;
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electronic monitoring and fisheries traceability;
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fisheries legislation and community-based management;
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the Aruligo GIFT Tilapia Project; and
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stronger monitoring, control and surveillance of Solomon Islands’ waters.
At Bina Harbour, the government will advance the business case, financing strategy, statutory approvals, land and community arrangements, enabling infrastructure and investor engagement.
It will also continue discussions with development and commercial partners and pursue regional tuna-supply arrangements, while protecting customary rights and ensuring affected communities are meaningfully involved.
“Our approach will protect customary rights, ensure meaningful participation by affected communities and avoid major commitments until the necessary safeguards, financing and responsibilities are clear,” Paea said.
Bina Harbour will remain the central new fisheries investment priority through April 2028, alongside efforts to strengthen existing processing at Noro and increase local tuna landings, domestic processing and value addition.
Beyond tuna processing, the ministry will support seaweed farmers, fishers’ associations and cooperatives to improve production, access to finance and markets, cold storage and bargaining power.
Stronger fisheries centres and supply chains are expected to reduce spoilage and ensure more income reaches coastal households.
The government will also expand aquaculture and seaweed farming, support farmer training and explore commercially viable processing and responsible blue-enterprise opportunities.
“Diversification must create livelihoods without transferring unsustainable pressure from one resource to another,” Paea said.
Stronger traceability and enforcement
The ministry will strengthen electronic reporting, port and landing systems, catch documentation and traceability to improve transparency, compliance and access to high-value export markets.
“These improvements will provide greater transparency from vessel to port and from port to processor. They will strengthen detection of non-compliance and demonstrate that Solomon Islands tuna is legally caught and fully traceable,” Paea said.
Stronger monitoring, control and surveillance — including observer and inspection capabilities, coordinated patrols and port state measures — will help protect Solomon Islands’ sovereign fisheries rights and deter illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.
The Aruligo GIFT Tilapia Project will be prepared for reliable hatchery production, farmer training and provincial aquaculture support. Fisheries legislation and community-based management will also be strengthened to support the sustainable use of coastal resources.
The ministry will further strengthen research, workforce development and institutional systems, ensuring major initiatives have clear leadership, milestones, risk-management measures and reporting arrangements.
The 90-day plan is the first delivery window of a wider programme extending to April 2028. The ministry will report regularly on progress, constraints and corrective actions while working with provincial governments, customary rights holders, industry, communities, development partners and regional fisheries organisations.
“Our fisheries resources are among the nation’s greatest assets. Our duty is to manage them wisely, defend them firmly and convert them into lasting opportunities for our people — not only for today, but for the generations that will follow,” Paea said.
