NATIONAL REPORT

NATIONAL LEVEL ANNUAL REPORT
TO THE
OCEANIC FISHERIES MANAGEMENT PROJECT
REGIONAL STEERING COMMITTEE (OFM RSC)
Reporting Period, 1 July 2007 ­ 30 June 2008

1. Country: Solomon Islands

2. Project Title: Oceanic Fisheries Management: Implementation of the Strategic
Action Programme of the Pacific SIDs (Pacific SAP II)

3. Period Covered: 1 July 2007 ­ 30 June 2008

4. Summary of Overall Project Progress
Like other countries in the region, Solomon Islands also involve and benefited from
number of projects/activities funded by GEF in both national and regional level.
Solomon Islands pleased to acknowledge the level of assistance provided under the
GEF project to facilitate capacity building at the national level, enable the country to
participate well in the commission meetings and meet its obligation as required under
the commission and other regional organization. The following the known list of
activities provided with the support of the GEF for this reporting period.


5. Specific Outputs/Results Achieved (as per annual work-plan):

National level activities
· Development of TUFMAN SYSTEM: With the assistance of OFP/SPC
staff, the Tufman System was installed in August, 2007. The system
has enhanced the data manager and data entry officers to effectively
manage the Solomon Islands Tuna data as compared to other system
previously use. Under this particular activity, training was provided to
our National Tuna Data Coordinator (NTDC) of how to manage and
use this system. The NTDC and OFP/SPC staff provides in-house
training for other staffs using the Tufman System.
· Observer Coordinator's Attachment (December 2007.Noumea).
· Observer Training (April 2008. Honiara).
· Data Officers Salary: The Salary of our NTDC and two Temporary
officers was funded under GEF for the past 18 month. The initial
agreement will laps by the end of this year but the SI Government is
not in a position to absolve the NTDC and data entry staff into its
system as agreed in the initial MOU. It is of national and regional
interest if the contract of these officers can renewed at least for another
year in order to bridge and minimize the that data gaps experience at
both national and regional level.
· Follow up visit: In the past project period OFC Staff (statistic had
made two follow up visit especially to help train staffs who involve in
using Tufman system.
· Development of National Tuna Data Procedures: OFP staffs also assist
us with developing of our National Tuna Data Procedure which now
about 90% complete. The works involved include and one week visit

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by OFP staff to Solomon Islands Fisheries and a week visit by NTDC
to SPC, Noumea.
· Computer support: Solomon Islands request procurement of 1 set of
computers to support and maintain TUFMAN in the offshore Division.
This request has accepted and the computer is already with the NTDC.

Regional level activities

· Observer Coordinator to Observer Coordinators' workshop ­ Palau,
July 2008
· 2nd Tuna Data Workshop: Solomon Islands participated in the
workshop hosted by OFP/SPC in Noumea in April, 2008. The
workshop delivered technical skills and knowledge required to produce
estimates for national fleets, another national obligation under the
commission.
· Stock Assessment & ERA Workshop: Participant from Solomon
Islands attended the workshop organized by OFP/SPC. The workshop
facilitates scientific knowledge essential for participation in scientific
committee as well as required in sustainable management of tuna
resources.
· High Seas Boarding and Inspection Procedure Workshop: Enable the
country to meet obligation to the commission and upgrade skills for
boarding and inspection of FFVs.
· Observer Coordinator to Observer Coordinators' workshop ­ Palau,
july 2008

6. Challenges/Issues Encountered
At this stage it is quite difficult to capture full report of activities supported by the
project due to lack of readily available information. Solomon Islands still lack the
understanding of some projects supported under GEF.

7. Solutions Applied (to address issues and challenges)
Increase the level of awareness on all activities implemented under the
project.
Country visits by relevant staff of the Project.
Built national data base to record and to keep track of Project activities
that are funded under the GEF project for monitoring and evaluation
purposes.

9. Recommendations for Future Action

To better fully understand the project and to enable Solomon Islands to participate
effectively in the project, a follow up on all activities implemented under the project
to ensure maximum benefits is derived and full understanding of the Project realized
at national level.

10. Report Prepared By: Hudson Wakio (NTDC).


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