Financial assessment of the marine trade of corals in Solomon Islands

Abstract

For the Pacific Islands, the aquarium trade based on wild harvest of coral and other marine aquarium products is an important source of livelihoods for rural communities. However, concerns over its environmental effects have led to experimentation with and promotion of the culture of coral and other products. Until recently, very few studies have seriously investigated the scope, potential, impacts, costbenefits or long-term financial and bio-economic viability of wild collecting over the culture of marine aquarium commodities, particularly coral, or a combination of both activities.