REVERSING ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION TRENDS
IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA AND GULF OF THAILAND
WWW.UNEPSCS.ORG
THE REGIONAL SYSTEM OF FISHERIES
REFUGIA: MULTIPLE STAKEHOLDER
INVOLVEMENT IN FISHERIES AND HABITAT
MANAGEMENT
UNEP/GEF
RWG-Fisheries
REVERSING ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION TRENDS
IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA AND GULF OF THAILAND
WWW.UNEPSCS.ORG
Fisheries of the South China Sea
Fish stocks critically important for food security,
income, and foreign exchange
Fish production from SCS ≈ 10% of global production
Most fish stocks fully-fished or over-fished
Future landings will decline unless total effort reduced
Difficult to reduce effort – high community dependence
REVERSING ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION TRENDS
IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA AND GULF OF THAILAND
WWW.UNEPSCS.ORG
Role of Fisheries Habitats in Sustaining Fisheries
SCS habitats play a critical role in sustaining
fish stocks, food supply, and incomes
Mangroves
Coral Reefs
Seagrass
Wetlands
Habitats are refuges for fish during critical stages of their
life-cycles - e.g., as larvae, when spawning, and feeding
REVERSING ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION TRENDS
IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA AND GULF OF THAILAND
WWW.UNEPSCS.ORG
Loss of Fisheries Habitats of the South China Sea
Continued decline in the total area of habitats has
raised serious concerns for sustainability of fisheries
Estimated Decadal Rates of Habitat Loss:
 Seagrass – 30%
 Mangroves – 16%
 Coral Reefs – 16%
 Fishing is a key factor in the
continued loss of marine habitats
and biodiversity in the South
China Sea
REVERSING ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION TRENDS
IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA AND GULF OF THAILAND
WWW.UNEPSCS.ORG
Fishing and the Loss of Marine Habitats and
Biodiversity
Key characteristics of marine fisheries in Southeast Asia
contributing to habitat loss:
Over-capitalisation
and over-fishing,
particularly in the
small-scale sector
High level
community
dependence on
fish for food and
income
Excessively high
fishing effort in
most inshore areas
Use of destructive
fishing gear and
practices
REVERSING ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION TRENDS
IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA AND GULF OF THAILAND
WWW.UNEPSCS.ORG
Need for Multiple Stakeholder Involvement:
 Need for improved management of links between fish stocks
and habitats
 Several global initiatives have been promoted (e.g.,
MPAs/LMEs)
 A wide gulf exists between fisheries and environment sectors
 Many environment initiatives have not delivered purported
benefits to fishing communities
 Fisheries ministries and departments busy trying to maintain
stocks in face of high community dependence and
participation
 Need for partnerships and enhanced communication
between fisheries and environment sectors
REVERSING ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION TRENDS
IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA AND GULF OF THAILAND
WWW.UNEPSCS.ORG
Emerging Challenge for Fisheries and Environment
 How to effectively integrate fisheries and habitat management?
Role of multi-lateral, inter-governmental projects
The UNEP/GEF South China Sea Projects is working to develop
regional capacity to meet this challenge by:
 improving the understanding amongst fishing communities,
managers, and policy makers of habitat and fish stock linkages,
and
 building the capacity of both fisheries and environment ministries
and departments to ensure effective integration of fish stock and
habitat management
REVERSING ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION TRENDS
IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA AND GULF OF THAILAND
WWW.UNEPSCS.ORG
Developing a Mechanism to Improve the Management
of Links Between Fish Stocks and Habitats
The RWG-F recommended that any mechanism developed should:
 Focus on maximising the benefit-cost ratio of management
interventions for fishing communities;
 Promote sustainable use rather than prohibition of fishing;
 Focus on links fish life-cycle and critical habitat linkages; and be
 Relevant at the fishery level, i.e., should be easily understood by
fishing communities, local government officials, and provincial
level fisheries managers
REVERSING ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION TRENDS
IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA AND GULF OF THAILAND
WWW.UNEPSCS.ORG
Development of the Fisheries Refugia Concept
Fisheries Refugia:
Specific areas of significance to
the life-cycle of fish species
Should be defined in space and
time
Should NOT be no-take zones
Serve to safeguard spawning
aggregations, nursery grounds,
and migration routes
Fisheries Refugia are “Spatially and geographically defined, marine
or coastal areas in which specific management measures are applied
to sustain important species [fisheries resources] during critical
phases of their life-cycle, for their sustainable use.”
REVERSING ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION TRENDS
IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA AND GULF OF THAILAND
WWW.UNEPSCS.ORG
Stakeholder Consultations
on Refugia Concept
Review of Fish Egg and
Larvae Data for Refugia
Identification
Intergovernmental
Guidelines on Refugia
Technical Workshops on
Mapping Known Refugia
Development of a
Fisheries Refugia
Information Portal
Conduct of Regional
Training Events on Refugia
Science and Management
REVERSING ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION TRENDS
IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA AND GULF OF THAILAND
WWW.UNEPSCS.ORG
Conduct of Country Consultations on the Identification
and Establishment of Fisheries Refugia Sites
REVERSING ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION TRENDS
IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA AND GULF OF THAILAND
WWW.UNEPSCS.ORG
Review of Information Collated by the South China
Sea Project on Links Between Fish Life-Cycle and
Critical Habitats
 National Reports on Fisheries
 National Reports on Coral Reefs,
Seagrass, Wetlands, Mangroves
 142 Habitat Site
Characterisations
 Habitat Demonstration Site
Documents
 The South China Sea MetaDatabase
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
Candidate Fisheries Refugia Sites - Cambodia
REVERSING ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION TRENDS
IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA AND GULF OF THAILAND
WWW.UNEPSCS.ORG
Candidate Fisheries Refugia Sites - Indonesia
REVERSING ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION TRENDS
IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA AND GULF OF THAILAND
WWW.UNEPSCS.ORG
Candidate Fisheries
Refugia Sites - Philippines
REVERSING ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION TRENDS
IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA AND GULF OF THAILAND
WWW.UNEPSCS.ORG
Candidate Fisheries
Refugia Sites - Thailand
REVERSING ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION TRENDS
IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA AND GULF OF THAILAND
WWW.UNEPSCS.ORG
Candidate Fisheries
Refugia Sites –
Vietnam
REVERSING ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION TRENDS
IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA AND GULF OF THAILAND
WWW.UNEPSCS.ORG
Development of a Regional System of Fisheries
Refugia
Regional Actions
• Policy guidance
• Capacity development
• Data & Information
Management
• Support establishment
of national fisheries
management systems
• Promote regional
fisheries management
frameworks
National Actions
• Establish programme
for refugia
identification and
mapping
• Develop national
fisheries management
systems
Local Actions
• Establish local
management board
• Delineate refugia
boundaries with
fishers
• Implement awareness
programmes
• Identify fisheries
management
problems/solutions for
refugia sites
• Support regional data
sharing
• Establish regulations
and monitoring
REVERSING ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION TRENDS
IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA AND GULF OF THAILAND
WWW.UNEPSCS.ORG
Importance of Stakeholder Involvement at the Local
Level
Success of Regional Fisheries Refugia Depends on
Actions at the Local Level
Level of Community Support Depends on Involvement
of Stakeholders in Actions
Harnessing Local Knowledge Critical for Good Site
Selection and Establishment of Management
Measures