Pacific food security challenges, historical context of CBNRM/CEAFM, and the stock-take of CBNRM/CEAFM Moses J Amos, FAME, SPC

Presentation Overview Background Coastal fisheries management Why ineffective Challenges Conclusion

Background – Coastal Fisheries Multi-species shallow water fisheries – Finfish, Invertebrates ,and Others (seaweeds, live rock) Multi-gear - gleaning, spear fishing, trapping, gillnetting, hook/line dropline fishing, and trolling Multi-fishing methods - walking, wading, swimming, and fishing from non-motorised and motorised vessels. Multi-stocks throughout the region

Coastal fisheries management Unlike the industrial tuna fishery, there is no regional approach to coastal fisheries management. Considered the responsibility of each PICT. Various management techniques have been used by PICTs: Informal Formal

Informal Coastal Fisheries Management systems CMT CBNRM Ridge to Reef CEAFM Co-M CMMA TPA CBFM

Formal Coastal Fisheries Management systems SL GR AC MR MPA BAN SH TAC LE

Combination of Informal and Formal Management Measures Failed Management of Coastal Fisheries

Coastal fisheries management Ineffective coastal fisheries management is a real tragedy for the Pacific region. Failure of the management techniques has resulted in closing down of fisheries to prevent collapse of the resource. Such moratoriums have devastating impacts on coastal communities.

For Example ……State of Export Sea Cucumber Fisheries Marshall Is. New SC regs Palau Closed Kiribati FSM Kiribati Needs MGT Needs MGT Papua New Guinea Tokelau Kiribati Closed Tuvalu Closed Solomon Is. Closed Closed Samoa Wallis & Futuna Vanuatu French Polynesia Un-fished Closed Managed Needs MGT Cook Is. New Caledonia Niue Fiji Is. Un-fished Un-fished Managed Needs MGT Tonga Needs MGT

Coastal fisheries management Fully exploited or in over fished state. Production will not expand in future. Production will decline and the situation will become worse in the future.

Why - ineffective coastal fisheries management? Much of the ineffectiveness of coastal fisheries resource management is attributed to: Lack of/outdated coastal fisheries management policy/plans/regulations Lack of monitoring, control, and surveillance (MCS) measures Limited cooperation between regional agencies and NGOs

Why - ineffective coastal fisheries management? Inadequate skilled officers in coastal fisheries Focus on increasing production and not on reducing fishing effort Limited empowerment of coastal communities Limited political will and support

Challenges _ Livelihoods Fundamental importance in PICTs Very important for local incomes - provides around 50% of coastal households with 1st or 2nd source of income.

Challenges - Patterns of Economic Development Likely that economies of most Pacific Island Countries will not be in very good shape Many people without jobs will seek income and food security from harvesting of coastal fisheries Willingness to compromise tomorrow’s sustainability for today’s food security and income

Challenges _ Food security Coastal fisheries provides 50% - 90% of protein intake for coastal communities

How much coastal fish do we eat? Food Security How much coastal fish do we eat? 39 96 79 115 >150 53 146 118 94 79 61 30 113 50 43 56 85

Challenges – Food security

Challenges – Food security

Challenges – Food security Assume a whole snapper: 25-30 cm or around 250g Plate size fish Fish gap within 15 years 100,000 t Melanesia 400,000,000 pieces Micronesia 40,000,000 pieces Polynesia 20,000,000 pieces 10,000 t 5,000 t

WHERE WILL THE EXTRA FISH COME FROM???? Sustainable management of wild fisheries, or Catch of industrial tuna fisheries, or small scale tuna fishing around FADs, or Small pelagics, or Aquaculture/mariculture, or All of the above

Some Conclusions Coastal fisheries resources will not be able to meet demand from growing populations. Effective management is needed to sustain coastal fisheries production at optimum levels. Alternative sources of fish for food include catch of industrial tuna fisheries, small scale tuna fishing around FADs, aquaculture, and small pelagics.

Thank you Merci beaucoup Any Questions