Inshore fisheries resources of Solomon Islands

Abstract

Solomon Islanders rely heavily on marine resources and have one of the highest per capita rates of seafood consumption in the world. In 1982, the national average annual consumption of fish per person was estimated to be 25.7 kg, ranging from <10 kg in rural Guadalcanal and San Cristobal, to 54 kg in the Western Province (Cook, 1988). Another survey conducted in Honiara in 1992, found that 31 per cent of households consumed fresh fish each day and that 82.4 per cent of meals containing animal protein were based on fish. The annual per capita consumption of fish was estimated to be 45.5 kg, comprising 36.7 per cent fresh fish, 31.0 per cent frozen fish and 32.3 percent canned fish (Crossland & Phihpson, 1993).