Honiara, May 8, 2025 — Weeks after lifting a ban on the harvesting and trade of beche-de-mer, the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources released prices for local sales and export prices for beche-de-mer products.
Beche-de-mer harvesting was banned for more than two years to protect stocks of the endangered sea cucumber. When the ban proved ineffective in controlling trade, the government opted for a sustainable management approach. Its decision to lift the ban followed careful consideration of environmental and economic factors, with an emphasis on restoring the balance between industry growth and management, marine conservation, and sustainable use.
MFMR Permanent Secretary Dr Christain Ramofafia said, “The pricing structure we have set will support the sustainable harvesting of beche-de-mer while also ensuring that local fishermen and suppliers are adequately compensated for their products, whether for local consumption or export.”
The minimum benchmark prices set for local buying and export of beche-de-mer are seen as offering transparency and stability to fishers, buyers, sellers, and exporters within the sector.
The local fishing community has welcomed the Ministry’s action, with many seeing it as an opportunity to rejuvenate their livelihoods and contribute to the development of the nation’s fisheries sector.
The Ministry hopes to stimulate growth in the industry, promote responsible fishing practices, and ensure that the beche-de-mer fishery remains a valuable resource for local communities and the people of Solomon Islands.
Details on prices and the fishery are available through the Ministry’s official platforms.
Golden sandfish and sandfish are the highly priced sea-cucumber species with both valuing at $2300 and $2,200 per kilo respectively.
These are the top two — with just a hundred dollar a part on the domestic market– but the export price is $2,500 for both.
Besides the two, curryfish is the only other BDM species that is priced at $2,000 per kilo with the rest below $2,000.
The minimum benchmark prices set for local buying and export of beche-de-mer are seen as offering transparency and stability to fishers, buyers, sellers, and exporters within the sector.
Source: Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources
