Creating rural livelihoods in Solomon islands through an environmentally-friendly trade of marine ornamentals for the aquarium trade: lessons learned

The marine ornamental trade became active in Solomon Islands in the mid-1980s, primarily through the wild harvest of corals and fish. The initiation of more sustainable techniques (cultured giant clams and farmed corals) did not occur until the late-1990’s through projects initiated under the auspices of ICLARM (former WorldFish) (Kinch, 2004). Since that time the marine ornamental trade (still primarily through wild harvest) has provided a modest income for some rural coastal communities in Solomon Islands (with a reduced trade and a cessation of the production of giant clams during the 1999 – 2001 ethnic tension), and two exporting companies remain active.