Solomon Islands Minister for Fisheries and Marine Resources, Hon. Bradley Tovosia, told world leaders at a UN Ocean Conference side event today that protecting aquatic food systems is not just good policy — it’s a matter of survival for Pacific communities. Speaking at the high-level CGIAR and WorldFish event, “Leveraging Aquatic Food Systems to Restore Oceans – Good for People, Good for Planet,” Hon. Tovosia said sustainable fisheries and aquaculture are not aspirations but a lifeline for his people.
On behalf of the Solomon Islands Government, Minister Tovosia painted a vivid picture of a nation whose identity, nutrition, and resilience are deeply connected to the ocean. With fish as the primary source of protein for the country’s 700,000 people—over 85% of whom live in rural areas—the stakes are high as climate change intensifies.
“Rising seas, bleaching reefs, shifting tuna stocks — our communities are already feeling the pressure. When disaster strikes, it’s our coastal fisheries that keep people fed. But now, those safety nets are fraying.” Minister Tovosia highlighted the Solomon Islands’ Community-Based Resource Management (CBRM) approach as a model for the world—a grassroots strategy that empowers Indigenous communities to manage marine resources using traditional knowledge alongside modern science.
