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The COVID-19 crisis has hit tourism-dependent Pacific Island countries severely. Fiji, the largest of these states, is feeling the impact badly, with laid-off workers of tourism-related industries, such as hotels and travel companies, turning to farming and fishing for survival.

The Solomon Islands prime minister has called on the leaders of distant water fishing nations to curb illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing by their fleets in the Pacific.

New findings uncovered by researchers at the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) and the University of Queensland (UQ) demonstrate that logging activity in Solomon Islands is associated with lower coral cover and structural complexity on adjacent reefs, as well as lower abundance of many types of

Minister Semi Koroilavesau says they are establishing fish warden programs and the Ministry is providing equipment for these officials to patrol traditional i-Qoliqoli areas.

With reports of increased pressure on Fiji’s inshore fisheries due to the COVID-19-induced economic fallout, experts have renewed calls for stronger management of the resource, which was already vulnerable due to overfishing, outdated regulations and pollution.

The fishing and seafood industries are worth billions of dollars each year globally, and almost every country plays some role in the supply chain, from fishing and processing to buying and consumption.

A visit by Executive Officers of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) to the Pacific Islands Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA) Headquarters Tuesday this week has highlighted the commitment to continuous cooperation between the two organisations, especially during this period of the COVID-19

New Zealand’s government last week announced plans to put cameras on board 345 fishing vessels, a plan that will cost more than NZD 40 million (USD 27 million, EUR 23 million).