Just weeks after the Solomon Islands Government (SIG) through Ministry of Fisheries of Marine Resources (MFMR) officially reopened the harvesting season for beche-de-mer, a flurry of activity is already underway across the Western Province.
Since last month after the ban lifted, Honiara Port saw its first major unloading of the high-value sea cucumber species, marking a significant moment for local livelihoods and the broader national economy.
Sources at the various ports in western province confirmed that large quantities of the dried marine product were offloaded from vessels believed to have originated from key coastal communities in the Western Province, including Gizo, Noro, and parts of the Shortland Islands, New Georgia islands and Marovo region.
Once unloaded in Honiara, the cargo was swiftly moved into secured storage and later transported to buyers, many of whom are Asian exporters long engaged in the lucrative trade.
Beche-de-mer, alongside tuna and other marine products, continues to be one of the most important resources supporting rural Solomon Islanders. It provides vital income for remote coastal communities who rely on the sea for both sustenance and economic survival.
“This is a welcome sight for many of our villagers,” a local fisheries officer in Gizo.
“The reopening of the harvesting season means much-needed cash income, especially as many households are still recovering from economic setbacks caused by last year’s restrictions,’’ the officer added.
The export of beche-de-mer is strictly regulated under Solomon Islands law due to concerns about overharvesting and environmental sustainability. The Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources had previously suspended harvesting to allow stocks to replenish.
The ban of the sea cucumber began since 2022 and now has been lifted last month.
However it is also reported that many of the fishermen have already been conducting illegal harvesting of sea cucumbers since it was banned.
As a result since the ban was lifted, piles of bags have been shifted and transported to ships.
Now with the season reopened, authorities are urging harvesters and buyers to adhere strictly to legal guidelines, including size limits and licensing requirements, to ensure the resource remains viable for future generations.
By ULUTAH GINA
Solomon Star, Gizo
