Stimulating investment in pearl farming in ... - World Fish Center

Page 3The regulatory approach proposed focusses on the following primary controls:• location of farm sites, and restrictions on their relocation once approved;• limits on the total number of pearl oysters held under culture at any one farm site;• limits on stocking densities of pearl oysters, expressed as numbers of oysters per unitof volume occupied by the farm;• minimum spacing between farm sites;• restrictions on the importation and translocation of live pearl oysters;• regulation of the use of noxious or polluting substances;• minimum standards for waste disposal processes and procedures, including fromhatcheries;• implementation of environmental management plans and codes of practice;• restrictions on the transfer of licences.It is proposed that Government give priority to pearl farming investment proposals thatinclude:• the degree to which local communities are likely to benefit from the project in termsof employment, collection and processing of spat, lease payments, training and skillsdevelopment, and other advantages;• the likely benefits to Solomon Islands in terms of exports and foreign exchangeearnings;• the commitment of the investor to environmentally responsible operations, asevidenced by the environmental management plan or code of practice for the project.Forms of support that Government may be able to provide to prospective pearl farmersinclude:• provision of historical information held by the Government that may be relevant topearl farming operations;• access to hatchery and/ or analytical laboratory facilities in which the Government hasan interest;• jointly financed or executed pearl farming research activities;• community extension and training activities by Government in support of pearlfarming development.As the Solomon Islands pearl industry develops, the Government should establish andparticipate in consultative mechanisms that will ensure full and open dialogue betweencommercial pearl farmers, participating communities, and relevant government agencies. TheGovernment needs to work closely with the industry to ensure that pearl farmingmanagement arrangements remain appropriate to the needs and development of the sector,and to ensure that the interest of all participants are fully protected.