Solomon Islands Tuna Longline Fishery Improvement Project Ensuring the sustainable future of wild fisheries and coastal communities

Fisheries Improvement Projects: A Fishery Improvement Project, or FIP, is a multi-stakeholder effort aimed at improving the health and condition of a

particular fishery. Stakeholders involved in FIPs can range from private businesses and management organizations, to

environmental NGO’s or governments. By combining resources, these groups promote improved sustainability with the

ultimate goal of performing at a level consistent with an unconditional pass of the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)

standard. Credible FIPs must:

NFD and Solomon Islands Longline Tuna FIP: Species Albacore, yellowfin, and bigeye tuna

Geographical Area Solomon Islands EEZ

Catch Method Longline

Management Authority Western & Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) and the Solomon Islands Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources (MFMR).

Stakeholders Tri Marine, boat owners, customers, MFMR, FFA, WCPFC members, NGOs

Draw on market forces by gaining support from suppliers and other industry players to

motivate improvements

Have a budgeted, publicically available work plan with measurable performance indicators and timelines

Employ a tracking and reporting system to measure progress against work plan objectives

Ensure participation among supply chain companies involved

in the fishery

FIP Action Plan: The Solomon Islands Longline Tuna FIP has in place a specific action plan consisting of three main goals, eight expected

outcomes of these goals, 30 activities to support the outcomes, and fifty individual milestones for tracking progress. This

comprehensive plan is supported by a timeline based tracking document which ultimately correlate to the MSC scoring

guideposts. The results generated from the action plan will undergo regular internal and external reviews to ensure that

they will eventually meet the MSC standard.

Goals: Stock status and fisheries management: To ensure that the tuna catches do not exceed sustainable

levels

Ecosystem management: To promote the ecosystem based approach to fisheries management

Governance systems: To strengthen governance systems in the WCPFC and Solomon Island Tuna fishery

Outcomes: Sustainable stock status achieved for albacore and yellowfin that are consistent with MSY (maximum

sustainable yield) and management systems strengthened to achieve this;

Bigeye stock status reaches the point where recruitment would not be impaired and management

systems strengthened;

Information systems strengthened;

ETP and retained species subject to a management strategy;

Consultation and decision making process strengthened;

Effective application of compliance systems;

Performance evaluation implemented.

FIP Timeline:

FIP Stakeholders: Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA)

International Finance Corporation (IFC)

National Fisheries Developments (NFD)

Solomon Islands Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources (MFMR)

Tri Marine

World Wildlife Fund (WWF)

MRAG

2014

•MSC Pre-assessment

•FIP Scoping Document

•FIP Stakeholder Meeting

2015

•FIP Action Plan and Budget

•FIP Tracker

•Progress against milestones

2016-2018

•Progress against milestones

Dec 2019

•Bigeye rebuilding strategy in place

Jan 2020

•Ready for MSC full assessment