Coastal fisheries in a pandemic: Solomon Islands and Vanuatu experiences

Abstract

Almost everyone in the Pacific eats fish regularly, but most people are not fishers. Fish is caught, distributed and then acquired by consumers through purchase, gifting or bartering. We estimate through our research at Auki Market in Malaita, Solomon Islands, that well over 100 t of fish caught across the province changes hands at the market in a year. This system of producing and distributing fish connects remote sources of supply with urban areas of demand and generates indispensable value, both in the form of fish-based livelihoods for the many people involved and in terms of food and nutrition security in island populations. In this blogpost we summarise appraisals from changes and adaptations in village food systems to COVID in Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.