Solomon Islands Reefs Face Multiple Threats to Fish Stocks

Ben Waleilia, a community leader in Solomon Islands’ Langa Langa Lagoon, is working to protect local fish stocks through fish aggregating devices (FADs) and mangrove replanting, but faces challenges from overfishing, ocean warming, and destructive practices. Warming ocean temperatures are predicted to reduce fish stocks in the region by 20 percent by 2050, impacting food security and livelihoods.

Local fishers report declining catches over the past seven years. The lagoon is also threatened by dynamite fishing, utilizing unexploded ordnance from World War Two, which destroys coral reefs and the shells used for traditional currency.

Communities are diversifying with seaweed farming to relieve pressure on fish populations and restore biodiversity. A community-based resource management program involving over 2,500 people is replanting mangroves, vital for coastal protection and fish breeding, and enforcing sustainable fishing practices. Waleilia hopes these efforts will ensure future generations can rely on the lagoon’s resources.