The contribution of locally managed marine areas to food security of Solomon Islands (2009-2012)

Pip Cohen (principal investigator)

The predominantly coastal population of Solomon Islands depends on reef fisheries as the primary source of protein and in many areas, small scale commercial fisheries offer one of the few viable livelihood opportunities.  Locally managed marine areas (LMMAs), resulting from collaborative initiatives involving coastal communities, government and NGOs, are the primary means of managing small scale fisheries exploitation in Solomon Islands.  The research has four key objectives: (1) To determine whether LMMA rules mediate fisher behaviour to reduce the vulnerability of fisheries resources to decline and the vulnerability of households to future food insecurity; (2) To determine if taboo areas are an effective fisheries management institution with potential to contribute to food security; (3) To determine whether taboo areas are an institution robust to increasing demand for fish; (4) To determine whether knowledge transfer (regarding marine resource management successes, failures, innovations) between management support agencies, and communities, influences uptake of fisheries management and national level up-scaling of marine resource management via LMMAs.

Related publications 

Cohen P, Evans L, and Mills M. (2012) Social networks supporting governance of coastal ecosystems in Solomon Islands. Conservation Letters. doi 10.1111/j.1755-263X.2012.00255.x

Cohen PJ, and Foale SJ. (2012) Sustaining small-scale fisheries with periodically harvested marine reserves. Marine Policy. 10.1016/j.marpol.2012.05.010

Cohen P, and Foale S. (2011) Fishing Taboos: Securing Pacific Fisheries for the future? SPC Traditional Marine Resource Management and Knowledge Information Bulletin. 28:3-13.

Foale S, Cohen P, Januchowski-Hartley S, Wenger A, and Macintyre M. (2011) Tenure and taboos: origins and implications for fisheries in the Pacific. Fish and Fisheries. 12:357-69.