Overuse of Coastal Resources

Commercial and subsistence activities are putting increasing pressure on coastal resources. Over-harvested resources include commercial invertebrates, turtles (despite a ban), and Mangroves.

• Most stocks of commercial invertebrates (trochus, many species of beche de mer, green snail and pearl shells) are routinely over harvested, leading to 'boom-bust' cycles in fishery productivity (with the 'booms' becoming less frequent and pronounced).
  
• Turtles are still widely and unsustainably hunted for subsistence despite a ban on all harvesting of turtles in the Fisheries legislation.
  
• Mangroves are over harvested in many areas, and few efforts are made to replant.
• Fin-fish stocks are coming under increasing pressure through local and export markets. This is especially the case for species of groupers (Epinephelus and Plectropomus spp), wrasses (Chelinus undulatus) and a few other species exploited for the live reef fish trade, which targets spawning aggregations of the groupers, resulting in decimation of large populations in a single season.
• The aquarium fish and marine ornamentals trade is also proceeding without regulation and it is likely that harvesting rates are currently unsustainable. 

With accelerating population growth and urban drift, domestic fish markets are increasing the pressure on reef fish stocks in the vicinity of regional centres. Over harvesting, and consequent collapse of these stocks will result in acute economic and social impacts which will further exacerbate existing pressures on marine resources.

Destructive fishing practices
Legislation bans the use of explosives and poisons for fishing. However, these practices still occur in some localities. In particular, dynamite fishing is on the increase, notably in Langa Langa Lagoon (Malaita Province), Ngella (Central Province) and Marovo Lagoon (Western Province).