Residents of Shortlands Island in the far Western Province are experiencing an abundance of fresh fish catches, which are now being sold in large quantities at Kangu Beach Market in Bougainville.
The steady flow of seafood has seen the market overflowing with fresh supplies, attracting many customers and buyers from surrounding communities.
This activity has existed for some time and has been gaining momentum as the cost of living continues to skyrocket.
Fishermen from Shortlands especially Gaomai, Koleai, Aleang from Inner to Outta Shortlands rely heavily on the rich fishing grounds around their islands, using traditional fishing methods as well as small-scale modern equipment to secure their daily catch.
To maintain freshness, many residents now use solar refrigerators at home to store large quantities of fish before transporting them for sale.
This practice allows sellers to preserve their catch for longer periods and ensures the fish remain fresh upon arrival at the market.
After each fishing trip, the fishermen travel by boat across the border to Bougainville, making the journey early in the morning to reach Kangu Beach Market.
The market usually opens every Thursdays and Saturdays.
Despite the distance and fuel costs, the trip is considered worthwhile due to the high demand for fresh fish.
Within minutes of arriving at the market, most of the fish are quickly sold, highlighting the strong relationship between supply from Shortlands and demand in Bougainville.
This cross-border trade reflects the continuation of traditional trading practices that have existed for generations between the people of Shortlands and Bougainville.
Fish-for-cash and fish-for-goods exchanges remain an important source of income for families, supporting daily household needs such as school fees, food, and transportation costs.
Local sellers say the strong sales are also due to the quality and freshness of the fish, which include tuna, reef fish, and other popular species.
Community leaders have welcomed the trade, noting that it strengthens social and economic ties between neighboring islands.
Last year, the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Shortlands Island Constituency delivered cool storage units and refrigerators to communities in Shortlands to support the fisheries project.
However, it is unclear whether fishermen are currently using these facilities.
At present, most fishermen rely on their own refrigerators and eskies to store fish in preparation for sale at Kangu Beach Market.
By ULUTAH GINA
Solomon Star, Gizo
Photo caption: All the fishermen boats from Shortlands Island lining up the Kangu Beach sea front in Bougainville. Photo supplied
