BY JOHN HOUANIHAU

The Solwata blo iumi, Kipim fisaries blo Solomon Aelans team from the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources (MFMR) successfully completed an awareness campaign on Rennell Island.

The Inshore Fisheries Regulations Awareness Campaign in partnership with the Renbel Province Fisheries Division was held on Rennell Island from October 14-17, 2025.

Ministry of Fisheries said the campaign which aims to strengthen understanding of fisheries rules and promote responsible use of marine resources was carried out at three schools and three communities that were not covered in previous visits.

The ministry in their statement said more than 147 students and teachers from New Place, Henua, and Moa schools, and 72 community members from Kaagua, Tigoa, Avatai, and Teavamagu joined the sessions.

These sessions included interactive presentations, role plays, and quizzes with small prizes awarded to participants.

All sessions were held in Pidgin and local dialects to make sure everyone could fully participate and learn.

Key messages from this campaign were;

-Protect coastal fishing areas from overharvesting

– Follow rules that help manage fishing and protect marine ecosystems

– Respect size limits and seasonal bans so fish can grow and reproduce

– Taking responsibility as stewards of the ocean resources

The team is said to have received valuable feedback on improving community compliance and outreach, and participants requested more awareness on marine species of concern, traditional fishing practices and inshore marine export requirements.

As noted, this Solwata blo iumi campaign will continue to spread awareness to help communities across Solomon Islands.

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