REVERSING ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION TRENDS
IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA AND GULF OF THAILAND
WWW.UNEPSCS.ORG
SCIENTIFIC BASIS FOR IDENTIFYING
FISHERIES REFUGIA
UNEP/GEF
RWG-Fisheries
REVERSING ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION TRENDS
IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA AND GULF OF THAILAND
WWW.UNEPSCS.ORG
The Fisheries Refugia Concept and Priority Types
Fisheries refugia are sites of importance to critical stages
of the life-cycle of fish species
Growth Over-fishing
- Inshore nursery refugia
Recruitment Over-fishing
- Spawning refugia
Source
Function
Spawning Refugia
(Pelagic species)
Nursery Refugia
(Demersal Species)
Sink
Function
REVERSING ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION TRENDS
IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA AND GULF OF THAILAND
WWW.UNEPSCS.ORG
Initial Review of Data and Information Requirements to
Identify Refugia
Sixth Meeting of the RWG-Fisheries (September 2005) was unable to
identify any known refugia in the SCS
Limited Knowledge of Links Between Fish Life-Cycles and Critical
Habitats in the SCS region – Why?




Few studies of marine fish life-cycles in the South China Sea
Most life-cycle-habitat data is qualitative in nature
No information on the role of specific habitat areas in terms of production
Fisheries data of all countries provide no insight into the specific
locations in which fish were harvested
 Little information about the efficiency and selectivity of fishing gear
REVERSING ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION TRENDS
IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA AND GULF OF THAILAND
WWW.UNEPSCS.ORG
Evaluation of Existing Information on Links Between
Fish Life-Cycles and Habitats
Agreement on approach for review of information and data reached
during the Seventh Meeting of the RWG-Fisheries (May 2006)
Conduct of National Expert
and Community Consultations
on Identification of Fisheries
Refugia
Establishment of a
Collaborative Programme of
Data and Information Sharing
with SEAFDEC
Regional Review of Available Data and Information (November 2006)
REVERSING ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION TRENDS
IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA AND GULF OF THAILAND
WWW.UNEPSCS.ORG
Stakeholder Consultations
on Refugia Identification
Review of Habitat Site
Data and Information
Review of Fish Egg and
Larvae Data for Refugia
Identification
Review of Relevant Data
Sets Contained in SCS
Meta-Database
REVERSING ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION TRENDS
IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA AND GULF OF THAILAND
WWW.UNEPSCS.ORG
Review of Information Collected by SEAFDEC on Larval Fish
Distribution and Abundance
REVERSING ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION TRENDS
IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA AND GULF OF THAILAND
WWW.UNEPSCS.ORG
Review of Information Collected by SEAFDEC on Larval
Fish Distribution and Abundance
Sardinella spp.
REVERSING ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION TRENDS
IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA AND GULF OF THAILAND
WWW.UNEPSCS.ORG
Review of Information Collected by SEAFDEC on Larval
Fish Distribution and Abundance
Scomberomorous spp.
REVERSING ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION TRENDS
IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA AND GULF OF THAILAND
WWW.UNEPSCS.ORG
Identification of Fisheries Refugia Sites
52 known spawning and nursery areas identified
Site Information Collated:
 Site name
 Geographic location
 Species utilising the site
(spawning/nursery)
 Time of year used
General need for more
detailed information about
species usage of sites to
develop management
measures
REVERSING ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION TRENDS
IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA AND GULF OF THAILAND
WWW.UNEPSCS.ORG
Inter-Country Differences in the Scientific Approaches
to Improving Understanding of Links Between Fish
Stocks and Refugia
Reflects Inter-Country Differences in the:
Institutional
Arrangements for
Fisheries Research
Priority Species
for Management
Capacity of
Research
Institutes
Country Involvement
in Regional Research
Activities
REVERSING ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION TRENDS
IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA AND GULF OF THAILAND
WWW.UNEPSCS.ORG
Modelling fish egg dispersal and larval settling in the Philippines
 Oceanographic
information and fish egg
and larvae data used to
identify spawning
refugia (sources) and
nursery refugia (sinks)
Busuanga Island
Following slides illustrate:
 Circulation pattern
 Simulated dispersal
 Density Distribution of
fish eggs and larvae
in Coron Bay, Philippines
Coron Bay,
Philippines
REVERSING ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION TRENDS
IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA AND GULF OF THAILAND
WWW.UNEPSCS.ORG
Circulation
pattern in
Coron Bay
Villanoy, 2006
REVERSING ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION TRENDS
IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA AND GULF OF THAILAND
WWW.UNEPSCS.ORG
Simulated
dispersal with
wind effects in
Coron Bay
12.05
11.95
11.85
Villanoy, 2006
11.75
119.90
120.00
120.10
120.20
120.30
Red ellipses indicate areas where settled particles originate
from several sources. Grey lines indicate possible but weak
dispersal, apparent only after 30 days.
REVERSING ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION TRENDS
IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA AND GULF OF THAILAND
WWW.UNEPSCS.ORG
Density (no./100m3)
distribution of fish12.05
eggs in Coron Bay
(April, 2004)
Fish Eggs
11.95
11.85
Campos, 2004
11.75
119.90
0 to 0.01
0.01 to 25
25 to 100
100 to 250
250 to 6596
120.00
120.10
120.20
120.30
REVERSING ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION TRENDS
IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA AND GULF OF THAILAND
WWW.UNEPSCS.ORG
Density
(ind./100m3)
Fish Larvae
12.05
distribution of fish
larvae in Coron
Bay (April, 2004)
11.95
11.85
Campos, 2004
11.75
119.90
0 to 0.01
0.01 to 10
10 to 25
25 to 50
50 to 182
120.00
120.10
120.20
120.30
REVERSING ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION TRENDS
IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA AND GULF OF THAILAND
WWW.UNEPSCS.ORG
Gonadosomatic Index Approach in Thailand for Rastrelliger spp.
Mackerel in spawning condition
REVERSING ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION TRENDS
IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA AND GULF OF THAILAND
WWW.UNEPSCS.ORG
Gonadosomatic Index Approach in Thailand for Rastrelliger spp.
Jan
Feb
Mar
Mature
Female
Apr
May
Immature
Jan
Mar
Feb
Mature
Male
Apr
May
Immature
REVERSING ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION TRENDS
IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA AND GULF OF THAILAND
WWW.UNEPSCS.ORG
Use of Fishing Community Knowledge in Viet Nam
REVERSING ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION TRENDS
IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA AND GULF OF THAILAND
WWW.UNEPSCS.ORG
Conclusion
What has resulted from the work of the Regional
Working Group on Fisheries is:
•
•
•
•
Regional compilation of available data and information relating to links
between fish stocks and habitats
Development of an inventory of known spawning and nursery areas
Increased regional understanding of the scientific basis for establishing
refugia and the methods used for their identification
Establishment of a refugia information portal at:
http://refugia.unepscs.org