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SI#Marine#Research#Institute#
PACIFIC#HOPE#
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Purpose!
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The$mandates$and$purpose$ of$the$SI$Marine$Research$ Institute$are$shared$and$ explored.$$
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Benefits!
Implementation!
Learn$about$the$benefits$ and$advantages$that$the$ Marine$Research$Institute$ will$give$Solomon$Islands.$
How$this$unique$solution$ can$be$easily$incorporated$ in$the$Solomon$Islands$for$ the$betterment$of$all.$$
UNIQUE#SOLUTION#‌# UNLIMITED#POSSIBILITIES!# Solomon$Islands$vast$marine$economic$zone$ provides$challenges$and$benefits$to$be$explored$ The$Solomon$Islands$Marine$ Economical$zone$covers$the$size$of$ the$European$Union.$With$a$low$ population$of$less$than$600,000$its’$ marine$resource$benefit$is$large.$$ In$order$to$best$utilize$the$large$ marine$resources$contained$within$ the$Solomon$Islands$a$marine$ institute$is$being$proposed$for$ Solomon$Islands.$
This$Marine$Research$Institute$will$ be$a$private/public$partnership$ that$will$ensure$that$the$ information$and$benefits$of$the$ research$attained$are$for$the$ citizens$of$the$Solomon$Islands.$$ Without$being$able$to$study$and$ evaluate$the$marine$resource$value$ of$the$Country,$it$is$difficult$to$ ensure$the$best$management$plan$
is$incorporated$into$the$decision$ making$process$for$future$ development.$$ The$opportunities$that$such$an$ institute$will$have$for$Solomon$ Islands$is$shared$in$this$paper$ proposing$this$unique$solution$for$ the$Solomon$Islands.$Government$ in$creating$$
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MANDATE# The$SI$Marine$Research$Institue$will$ ensure$that$all$its$activities$and$ research$benefits$the$peoples$of$the$ Solomon$Islands$through;$ $ 1) Environmental$Stewardship$ 2) Economical$Development$ 3) Educational$enrichment$
Climate$change,$environmental$ uncertainty$and$a$continual$ demand$for$marine$resources$ makes$it$imperative$for$the$ Solomon$Islands$to$have$a$full$ understanding$of$its$vast$marine$ economical$zone.$$
ENVIRONMENTAL!STEWARDSHIP!
The$Institute$has$three$mandated$ areas$it$will$focus$on;$ Environmental$Stewardship,$ Economical$Development$and$ Educational$Enrichment.$
of$known$and$unknown$ economical$marine$resource$ opportunities.$Tuna$and$undersea$ mining$are$two$examples$of$rich$ resource$opportunities$for$the$ Solomon$Islands.$Knowledge$and$
Climate$change$has$a$direct$effect$ on$the$future$livelihood$and$ security$of$the$marine$people$of$ the$Solomon$Islands.$A$National$ Plan$of$environmental$stewardship$ can$only$be$validated,$formed$and$ The$purpose$of$the$Marine$ implemented$through$the$ Research$Institute$is$to$ensure$that$ knowledge$and$direct$research$of$ the$infinite$opportunities$of$the$ the$marine$conditions.$The$ marine$resources$of$the$Solomon$ institute$will$be$the$cornerstone$of$ Islands$are$understood$and$known$ research$for$such$a$plan.$$ for$the$commercial$and$ ECONOMICAL!DEVELOPMENT! environmental$benefit$of$the$ Country$and$its$people.$ Solomon$Island$has$a$vast$amount$
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direct$research$of$the$marine$ opportunities$is$necessary$to$ ensure$the$maximum$resource$ value$are$known$and$attained.$$ EDUCATIONAL!ENRICHMENT! Currently$within$the$Solomon$ Islands$there$is$no$formal$ opportunity$for$citizens$to$research$ and$study$at$the$doctorate$level.$ Vast$amount$of$funds$and$time$are$ spent$overseas$for$students$to$ achieve$their$educational$goals.$ Locally$derived$research$and$ investment$in$local$education$ development$will$ensure$that$the$ knowledge$and$information$shared$ maximizes$the$benefit$for$the$ Solomon$Islands$and$the$individual$ student.$This$collaborative$ relationship$instills$additional$pride$ in$participating$locally.$$
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A#Candidate#Research#Vessel#for## SI#Marine#Research#Institute#
INSTITUE!RESEARCH!VESSEL! Due$to$Solomon$Islands$vast$marine$economical$zone,$ a$research$vessel$is$imperative$in$providing$the$ educational,$environmental$and$economical$mandates$ the$SI$Marine$Research$Institute$holds.$ Provision$of$a$live$aboard$research$vessel$allows$the$ Institute$to$bring$the$research,$education$and$ economical$opportunities$right$to$the$doorstep$of$ local$reef$and$landowners.$This$direct$local$ opportunity$guarantees$that$the$individuals$being$ affected$in$that$local$marine$zone$participate$in$the$ discovery$of$its$potential.$$ The$ability$of$the$vessel$to$trans$bound$all$marine$ zones$of$the$Solomon$Islands,$allows$an$important$ overview$of$the$status$and$opportunities$of$the$ marine$resources.$$ !
Some$of$the$services$the$vessel$will$provide$are;$ •
Onboard$Laboratory$for$immediate$analysis$of$ items$of$study$interest$
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Video$production$studio$to$document$and$ record$institute$studies$for$future$distribution$
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Live$aboard$accommodation$for$students,$ researchers$and$other$key$personnel.$
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Local$logistical$support$for$outlying$ communities$and$villages$
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Marine$Emergency$Services$$
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Ecological$and$educational$tourism$
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International$certified$communication$ capabilities$for$live$conference$feeds$ 3!
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! LAND!BASED!RESEARCH!SUPPORT! CENTRE! Gavutu,$a$30]acre$private$island,$is$ perfectly$situated$in$Central$ Province$to$serve$as$the$land$base$ support$center$for$the$Institute’s$ Research$Vessel.$$ With$its$protected$harbor$and$large$ cement$wharf$it$will$provide$the$ logistical$and$operational$ requirements$of$the$vessel$with$ minimal$infrastructure$investment$ required.$$ Gavutu$Island$for$the$last$ten$years$ has$been$the$home$for$the$first$ dolphin$export$and$tourism$ opportunities$in$the$Solomon$Islands.$
POTENTIAL!RESEARCH!INITIATIVES! !ENVIRONMENTAL!STEWARDSHIP!
EDUCATIONAL!ENRICHMENT!!
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CORAL$CONSERVATION$
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UNDERSEA$MINING$
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CULTURE$
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RISING$SEA$WATERS$
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AQUACULTURE$
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ANTHROPOLOGY$
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MARINE$MAMMAL$CENSUS$
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CORAL$TRIANGLE$
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PACIFIC$ARTS$
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SPECIES$PROTECTION$
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TOURISM$$
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CONSERVATION$
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CLIMATE$CHANGE$
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GRASSROOTS$$
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BIOLOGY$
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ETC.$
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ETC.$
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ETC.$
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ECONOMICAL!DEVELOPMENT!!
!! IMPLEMENTATION!SCHEDULE!
PLANNING$ LOGISTICS$ OPERATIONS$ MONITORING$
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$ PLANNING$ THE!BEST!WAY!TO!CONSERVE!THE! VALUE!OF!SOMETHING!IS!TO! ASSURE!THAT!YOU!KNOW!THE!TRUE! VALUE!OF!IT.!! !
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LOGISTICS$
HISTORY$OF$SIMMEC$IN$THE$ SOLOMON$ISLANDS$ 2002]$Building$of$the$first$dolphin$ management$center$in$the$South$ Pacific$ 2002]2006$–$Provision$of$ management$services$for$the$export$ of$dolphins$to$world$class$aquarium$ facilities$ 2006]2010]$Tourism$facilities$ finalized$for$day$and$overnight$ visitors$on$Gavutu$Island.$Including$ Governor$General$of$Solomon$ Islands.$ 2010]2012$–$Embarked$on$ conservation$program$FREE$THE$POD$ to$highlight$Solomon$Islands$as$the$ World’s$Largest$Natural$Aquarium.$ Received$support$and$interest$from$ a$number$of$International$NGOs.$ STATS:$ Directly$employed:$40$ Local$Fish$procured:$+5$million$SBD$ Visitors:$+2100$
Development$of$private/public$partnership$$ Outlining$duties$and$responsibilities$of$each$side$ Authorization$of$governing$body$for$Institute$
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Securing/transfer$of$research$vessel$ Island$Improvements$needed$for$vessel$support$ Permissions$and$requirements$need$$
OPERATIONS$ • • •
Initiation$of$research$studies$ SI$Marine$Tour$following$Provincial$Zones$$ Student/Researcher$placements$
MONITORING$ • • •
Collaboration$of$Village,$Provincial$and$National$authorities$ Institute$Research$Protocols$established$and$adhered$to$ Assurance$institute$maintain$mandate$priority$
$ FINANCIAL!REQUIREMENTS! Research$Vessel$Budget$Operational$Requirements$$ $SBD$30,000$/$day$
(inclusive$of$fuel,$crew$and$necessary$living$expenses)$
$SBD$2.1$MILLION$
(Island$Infrastructure$investment$for$vessel$services)$
The$daily$operational$budget$is$based$on$a$vessel$accommodating$28$ researchers$and$21$crew.$Research$projects$will$support$the$daily$operations$through$ individual$funding$of$their$research$requirements.$Funding$will$be$available$through$ sister$marine$institute$relationships,$NGO’s$and$other$worldwide$development$aid$ organizations.$All$efforts$to$minimize$the$operational$costs$will$be$taken$to$allow$the$ vessel$to$remain$available$for$as$many$research$initiatives$as$possible.$ $
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SI#MARINE#RESEARCH#INSTITUTE## A#Unique#South#Pacific#Solution#to#Marine#Viability# Due$to$the$large$marine$resources$available$to$the$ Solomon$Islands$it$is$imperative$that$a$National$SI$ Marine$Institute$be$created.$The$Institute$will$ensure$ that$the$research$and$information$needed$to$make$ future$decisions$on$environmental$stewardship,$ economical$development$and$educational$
enrichment$is$available$for$the$betterment$of$the$ Solomon$Islands$and$its$people.$$ $ This$unique$solution$provides$a$viable$operational$ capability$to$address$the$$immense$marine$resource$ potential$of$the$Solomon$Islands.$$
$ November$27,$2012$ SIMMEC$stands$dedicated$to$ensure$that$the$economical,$educational$and$environmental$values$of$the$ Solomon$Island$resources$are$known$and$available$for$the$betterment$of$the$Country$and$its$people.$It$asks$ the$Solomon$Island$Government$to$create$an$open$and$clean$investment$private/public$partnership$ ! opportunity$to$ensure$the$realization$of$the$SI$Marine$Research$Institute.$$ At$its$November$Annual$General$Meeting,$the$Directors$of$SIMMEC$passed$a$resolution$to$approach$the$SI$ Government$through$Cabinet$to$review$and$facilitate$the$development$of$the$SI$Marine$Research$Centre.$$ SIMMEC$is$prepared$to$offer$investment$and$implementation$assets$through$provision$of$a$Research$Vessel$ as$well$as$its$use$of$Gavutu$Island$for$a$permanent$base$for$ship$logistical$and$operational$support.$$ The$Directors$of$SIMMEC$are$encouraged$in$its$preliminary$discussions$with$all$stakeholders$involved$in$the$ formation$of$this$Institute.$$ For$any$additional$information$on$this$project$please$contact;$ Robert$Satu$–$Director$at$+677$748]9076$ Christopher$Porter$–$Managing$Director$SIMMEC$at$+677$767]6766$$ Email$at:$SIkirio@gmail.com$ ! $ $