Fishing in the dark-local knowledge, night spearfishing and spawning aggregations in the Western Solomon Islands

► Local knowledge and science were utilised to study fish spawning aggregations (FSAs). ► Spearfishermen target FSAs at night during the lunar periods when abundances peak. ► Community-based underwater monitoring allowed independent validation of local knowledge. ► Not all aspects of local knowledge on FSAs were accurate. ► Local knowledge and science were used to develop appropriate management measures.