BY LIONEL TAORAO – ISLES MEDIA FREELANCER
The Asi’ala tribe of Tawarodo on Ugi Island in the Makira Ulawa Province on December 2025 has formally declared and publicised its Tribal Marine Managed Area (MMA) Plan, reinforcing community-led efforts to protect marine resources and regulate fishing activities within its customary waters.
According to Mr. Commons Ikioa, a public notice erected in the area outlines the Asi’ala Tribal Marine Managed Area (MMA), clearly marking boundary coordinates and zoning arrangements designed to ensure sustainable use of the marine environment. The plan identifies No-Take Areas, where all forms of fishing are strictly prohibited, alongside Open and Closed Areas, where fishing activities are restricted, monitored, and managed under agreed rules.
He further adds that according to the governing rules of the Asi’ala MMA, Chief Nelson Sukera and his successors are granted supreme authority to authorise the harvesting of specific marine species when necessary. This provision is intended to prevent overpopulation of certain species and maintain ecological balance within the marine managed area, ensuring that conservation measures remain adaptive and responsive to environmental conditions.
Management responsibilities are overseen by the Asi’ala MMA Management Committee and sanctioned by Asi’ala Tribal Elders, reflecting the tribe’s customary ownership and authority over its marine resources. The plan also includes penalties for violations, applying to resource owners, non-resource owners, and non-nationals found breaching MMA regulations. Offenders may face fines in accordance with the Asi’ala Tribal Marine Management Plan and related community by-laws.
Community leaders say the MMA reflects a growing recognition of the need to balance traditional fishing practices with long-term conservation, particularly in the face of overfishing and environmental pressures.
The Asi’ala MMA joins a wider movement across Solomon Islands where customary land and sea owners are taking the lead in marine conservation, blending traditional leadership with modern resource management to safeguard marine ecosystems for future generations.