Results of invertebrate fisheries resources
monitoring and management
SCICOfish Project Component 2
2010 – 2015
Coastal Fisheries Science and Management
Kalo Pakoa and Ian Bertram
12 March 2015
Invertebrate fisheries
RESOURCES
FISHERY TYPE
COUNTRY
Sea cucumber
Multi species – 30 spp
10
Giant clam
Multi species – 7 spp
3
Spiny rock lobster
Multi species – 4 spp
1
Arc shell (Anadara spp)
Multi species – 3 spp
1
Trochus
Single species
2
Green snail
Single species
1
Coconut crab
Single species
2
Invertebrate fisheries are important for
livelihood needs
• Invertebrate fisheries are important for livelihood
• Beche-de-mer exports USD 50 million (peak years)MSG+Tonga – USD20 million-with additional USD13 million
annually if sustainably managed
• Palau generate – USD1.3 million in 48 days of sea cucumber
harvest in 2011
• Sea cucumber is second to tuna fisheries in some countries in
export value
Resources monitoring using standardized methods
 Cucumber - FJ, TNG, CK, SM, SB, VU,
PLU, FSM, KIRI, RMI, TV
 Green snail – VU
 Coconut crab – NU
 Giant clam - KIR, VU
 Anadara – KIR, VU
 Trochus – TNG, SM, VU
 Lobster – VU (Aneityum Is)
Improve landing, market and export data
collection
 Landing and marketing data
 Export data from FD, exporters
 Casual unstructured creel surveys
 Casual unstructured perception
surveys
 Historical fishery data
 Consultations with stakeholders
Update of sea cucumber diversity
Tonga
Advice countries on presence of these species and need for
protection
Nine species in PICTs Red Listed by IUCN-critically in danger of becoming extinct
Resource density by country
Photos: S Purcell
* = limited sites
Export trend by countries
Market chain value
Assess opportunities for improving local purchase prices
State of fisheries management (sea cucumber)
Marshall Is.
New SC regs*
Palau
Closed
Kiribati
FSM
Closed
Kiribati
Closed
Papua New Guinea
Kiribati
Closed
Solomon Is.
Tokelau
Closed
Closed **
Vanuatu
Closed**
New Caledonia
Managed +
Tuvalu
Closed
Samoa
Wallis &
Futuna Un-fished
Open
Fiji Is.
Open
Niue
Closed
Tonga
Open
French Polynesia
Managed +
Cook Is.
Un-fished
Reports, advices, education, awareness
• 10 sea cucumber
reports completed, 1
green snail report
completed
• Invertebrate manual
• Posters/ Invertebrate
ID Cards
• Articles and papers
and assist officers to
write
People trained
130 persons trained in 4 years
Impacts of work done
Uptake of advices and management ideas depend
on:
1. Commitment and priority of recipient country (Fisheries Dept.)
2. Capacity of trained officers to use scientific advices to influence
decisions and actions
3. Established management framework or fishery mgmnt plan to guide
implementation of new measures
4. Implementation procedures, regulatory measures, clear roles
responsibilities
5. Established monitoring and compliance processes (MCS)
Highlights for sea cucumber fisheries
Fiji - advice to cabinet on UBA use, more
assessments being done with support of partners
Kiribati – moratoria enforced to allow recovery
Tonga –reduce quota, considering closure of BDM
Stock estimates used to decide on opening fishingSM, CK, FSM-Poh
VUV-extend ban on sea cucumber, allow harvest by
TAC system
Management plans – FJ, VU, PLU, SB, SM, RMI
Regulations – RMI, CK
Highlight for trochus fishery
Samoa is the newest country to develop a new trochus fishery, 90% of
sites assessed in Upolu Islands had trochus, management plan draft
Highlight on green snail fishery
Green snail is a dying fishery in the region, stocks in Solomon Islands and
PNG are not well known, in Vanuatu it disappeared from exports in late
1990s, 15 years moratoria enforced and introductions, species has been
reported in increasing number of sites indicate progressing recovery
Highlight for crustacean resources
Niue has taken steps to manage its coconut crab resources with ban on
exports, and move to develop stronger management system, community
in Vanuatu raised min size limit for spiny rock lobster from 22cm to 25cm
(total length)
Highlights for bivalve
• Anadara ‘tebun” is an important food security in Abaiang Atoll in Kiribati
and other Atolls, translocation activities have been conducted for food
security development, urgent management needed
• Tridacna gigas is alive in the wild in Kiribati need for management
Highlights for partnership and networking
Fiji – DoF, WCS, WWF, PCDF, USP, FF
Solomon Is. – TNC, Env dept, WorldFish
Vanuatu – Community, Env dept, SPREP
Palau – BMR, PICRC
FSM-Pohnpei – OFA, DR&D, EPA, CSP
Marshall Is. - CoM, NGO, MIMRA
Ausaid CC project, GIZ, JICA, SPREP at SPC level
Improved cooperation in monitoring, sharing of costs and information,
expand coverage, make information available for national management use
Outstanding and other activities that will
continue to require SPC assistance
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SC management plans needed to be progressed
Niue coconut crab management
Samoa trochus reporting and management
Kiribati Anadara reporting and management
Tuvalu sea cucumber management
FSM sea cucumber management
MCS training need requested by many countries in coastal
fisheries
Conclusion
• We have made some progress towards effective
management of invertebrate fisheries in last 4 years,
but more work needs to be done.
• Fisheries Departments and partners are encouraged to
continue working with SPC finalize their management
arrangements and implementation and continue
improve monitoring building on current progresses.
Thankyou