Solomon Islands has taken an important step toward strengthening national marine management with the successful completion of a two‑day validation workshop for the Marine Managed Area/Marine Protected Area (MMA/MPA) Management Effectiveness Assessment Guide. Held on 13–14 August 2026 at the Honiara Hotel, the workshop brought together officers from the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources (MFMR), the Ministry of Environment (MECDM), WorldFish, The Nature Conservancy, Wildlife Conservation Society and Ecological Solutions Solomon Islands.
The assessment guide, developed since 2013 with technical support from the Coral Triangle Initiative, has undergone years of consultations, technical reviews and a pilot test at the Tiaro Marine Managed Area in 2020. This week’s workshop marked the final stage of technical validation, ensuring the document is accurate, practical and ready for national use.
Participants successfully reviewed the guide’s content, identified gaps, refined assessment scorecards and recommended final improvements. The scorecards measure management progress across four levels: Initiated, Established, Effectively Managed, and Sustainable & Self‑Reliant. These indicators align with the Coral Triangle Initiative Regional Plan of Action 2.0 and will help Solomon Islands consistently track and strengthen the management of its coastal and marine resources.
In her opening remarks, Deputy Director of the Inshore Division, Ms Faye Siota, expressed confidence that the decade‑long effort has now reached completion and will soon move into editing, graphic design, printing and implementation.
For a nation deeply connected to the ocean, the successful validation of this guide represents a major step toward protecting ecosystems, supporting communities and securing marine resources for future generations.
Source : Ministry of Fisheries
