Knowledge and information gaps in fisheries management among indigenous communities in Solomon Islands

The recent proliferation of research on fisheries and coastal management in the Pacific region has been integrated to inform agreements at national and regional levels to promote community-based fisheries management (CBFM). However, it appears that this information is not reaching the grassroots to the same extent as indigenous people often note having knowledge gaps that impede management of their resources. This research paper presents a summary of two sets of data, namely 1) expressions of interest from communities to the national fisheries ministry for information and awareness, and 2) questions related to coastal resources management asked by community members to provincial and national government staff. The findings present fisheries-related knowledge gaps per geographic region and characterise the specific types of knowledge gaps impeding CBFM. From this understanding we can assess which types of information have not reached certain communities in Solomon Islands, and how CBFM awareness can be designed more appropriately for different communities to help them better understand CBFM activities. Our data indicate that policy and practice to date have not always translated into community members understanding the principles of fisheries management, life cycles of key species, and laws and regulations regarding their own fisheries. This assessment can inform scientists, government officials, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and others on the knowledge and information gaps in communities so that interventions can be framed accordingly.