Beche-de-mer Fishery Closure Set for 31 October
Honiara, 01st October 2026: The Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources wishes to inform all fishermen, exporters, local agents, consumers, and other relevant stakeholders that the beche-de-mer fishery will close effective Saturday, 31 October 2026.
The closure date will allow sufficient time for all stakeholders to conclude their activities and for the Ministry and relevant enforcement agencies to undertake the necessary compliance measures.
The closure will allow the Ministry’s Compliance Officers to:
- Complete the stock-take and verification of beche-de-mere intended for export and local consumption;
- Provide exporters with an opportunity to export all legally held beche-de-mere before the closure date;
- Provide local fishermen with an opportunity to sell their legally harvested beche-de-mere before the closure date; and
- Give adequate notice to all stakeholders and relevant enforcement agencies, including the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force, Customs and Excise Division, and Honiara City Council, to ensure compliance with the closure.
All beche-de-mere-related activities must cease from the effective closure date. Following the closure, no beche-de-mere should be harvested, received, landed, processed, sold, possessed, or exported.
All fishermen, exporters, traders, vendors, agents, consumers, and other persons involved in the beche-de-mere trade are therefore urged to take note of the closure date and ensure that they comply fully with the requirements.
The Ministry further reminds all stakeholders that enforcement measures will apply to activities undertaken in breach of the closure.
The Ministry appreciates the cooperation and support of all stakeholders in ensuring the sustainable management and conservation of Solomon Islands’ beche-de-mere resources.