Strategic review of inshore fisheries policies and strategies in Melanesia

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Biodiversity Conservation

At the Special Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG) Leaders Summit held in Suva from 29-30 March 2012 leaders decided to develop a roadmap for the protection of inshore fisheries. To this end the MSG has established an Inshore Fisheries Working Group (IFWG) citing the need for a concerted and coordinated sub-regional effort in addressing inshore fisheries resources sustainability because inshore activities have direct impact on the resources which impingeon people’s livelihood and food security of most small island communities. Livelihood approach and management of small scale fisheries is a key component that should be considered in the promotion of community based and comanagement approaches because of its correlation to promoting and preserving subsistence livelihoods of the majority of the people. The role of the IFWG is to consult, review and develop a regional Roadmap for the protection and promotion of inshore fisheries in Melanesia for consideration by the MSG Constituent Bodies. The SPC has been requested by the MSG to assist in the development of the roadmap, and the present report provides background materials for Fiji, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Vanuatu needed to take this process forward.