Fisheries Management Regulations 2017 (L.N. No. 2 of 2017).

These Regulations, made by the Minister for Fisheries and Marine Resources, implement provisions of the Fisheries Management Act 2015 with respect to a wide variety of matters regarding, among other things, governance and administration, offences and protection of sharks and dolphins, control of fish aggregating devices (FADs) marking of vessels and gear, national register of access rights and licences, authorization to fish, use of ports, fisheries management measures, fish processing and storage, authorization of fishing on the high seas, records and returns, transshipment and bunkering and monitoring, control and surveillance (MCS). Some provisions concern traditional fishing.
Forms, set out in Schedule 1, and fees, charges, levies and costs specified in Schedule 2 are prescribed for the purposes of the Act. The Regulations regulate certain procedural matters regarding the Fisheries Licensing Committee and the Fisheries Appeals Committee. They define certain research tasks of the Fisheries Advisory Council. The Regulations define offences in relation to the catching of live dolphins and shark finning. They also provide with respect to safe release of protected sharks. All fishing vessels must be marked and identified consistent with national and the FAO Standard Specifications. A licensed fish processing, storage or export facility must comply with the specified standards as to its construction, equipment and sanitation and a licence to operate a fish processing, storage or export facility is granted on specified conditions. The Director may, after consultation with the Chief Health Inspector and the local authority for the area concerned declare any area to be a regulated area for the purpose of controlling the handling and marketing of fish or fish product. Any person who catches fish within Solomon Islands or the fishery limits with the intention to sell fish or fish products within any regulated area must comply with the specified provisions.
The Regulations establish standards for the use of port for purposes section 88 (1)(a) and section 89 (1) of the Act (port denial in case of suspected IUU fishing). Two designated ports for the transhipping and loading of fish are specified. A licensed fishing vessel upon entry into a designated port must be inspected by an authorised officer. Schedule 1 sets out forms, Schedule 2 sets out fees, Schedule 3 sets out terms and conditions of licences, Schedule 4 sets out standards for fish processing, storage or export facilities, and Schedule 5 sets out licensing guidelines.