2012. Review of Significant Trade - Cites

Tridacna spp.
species Hippopus hippopus which occurs in the Solomon Islands.
Management: The harvesting of wild-sourced Tridacnidae species for commercial trade was
reportedly banned in the Solomon Islands under the Fisheries Regulation (1998)
(Horokou et al., 2010). The Section 23 of the current Fisheries Regulation stated that “any
person who has in his possession for sale, sells or buys or exports any clam meat or the
product of clams of the genus Tridacna and Hippopus harvested from the wild, shall be guilty
of an offence and liable to a fine of one hundred dollars or to imprisonment for three months
or to both such fine and imprisonment” (Solomon Islands Consolidated Legislation, 1996).
However, it was reported that the trade and export of farmed specimens were allowed
(Solomon Islands, 2009).
The conservation and management of CITES-listed species in the Solomon Islands is
regulated under the Wildlife Protection and Management Act (Horokou et al., 2010).
T. crocea, T. derasa, T. gigas, T. maxima and T. squamosa are included in Schedule II (regulated
and controlled species) of the Act, banning exports of any specimen unless with valid
permits (Solomon Islands Sessional Legislation, 1998). The Act states that an attempt to
export specimens for commercial purposes without a valid permit may lead to a fine of a
maximum of three thousand dollars or imprisonment of a maximum of three months
(Solomon Islands Sessional Legislation, 1998). Lack of capacity for implementation and
enforcement of CITES, and lack of education and awareness were considered factors that
limit the compliance with CITES in Solomon Islands (Kinch and Teitelbaum, 2010).
Green et al. (2006) considered the lack of regulations on subsistence harvesting within
Solomon Island as a possible threat to particularly T. gigas and T. derasa. However,
Kinch et al. (2006) noted that there were various forms of local, traditional management of
Tridacnidae, including fishing restrictions in certain areas or at certain times.
The giant clams have been included in the CITES Review of Significant Trade on a number
of occasions. In 1995, the family Tridacnidae was included in Phase 3 of the Review of
Significant Trade review, following which the Solomon Islands notified the Secretariat that
the export of wild-sourced specimens was prohibited, and that only exports of cultured
giant clams was allowed (AC22 Inf. 12; AC 13.14.1; IUCN, 2006b).
In 2004, at the 20 th meeting of the Animals Committee, all six Tridacnidae species (five
species of Tridacna and one species of Hippopus) occurring in the Solomon Islands were
included in the Review of Significant Trade (AC20 Summary Report). The Solomon Islands
was subsequently excluded from this process at the 21 st Animals Committee meeting. At the
22 nd meeting of the Animals Committee, it was noted that trade from the Solomon Islands
continued to be a concern and that some sources indicated a significant decrease in
aquaculture activities due to civil unrest, and CITES Parties had reported imports of wildsourced
specimens (IUCN, 2006b). It was recommended that the origin of the specimens in
trade should be verified (IUCN, 2006b). At the 24 th meeting of the Animals Committee, it
was agreed to include Tridacna spp. from the Solomon Islands in the Review of Significant
Trade as an urgent case (AC24 Summary document).
In 2009, representatives of Solomon Islands attended a CITES Regional Workshop that
aimed to ensure the ecological, social and economic sustainability of Tridacnidae fisheries
(Kinch and Teitelbaum, 2010). At the workshop, several challenges in the Pacific region were
identified in the sustainable management of Tridacnidae spp., including lack of capacity for
i) conducting stock assessments, ii) promoting giant clam culture, iii) enforcing harvesting
regulations and iv) managing and monitoring harvests (Kinch and Teitelbaum, 2010). It was
suggested that improvements in the management of Tridacnidae in the region could include
strengthening legislation at the national level and producing National Giant Clam
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