Results of invertebrate fisheries resources monitoring and management SCICOfish Project Component 2 2010 – 2015 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 Trochus Single species 2 Green snail Coconut crab

Invertebrate fisheries are important for livelihood needs 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 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 Yellow – managed or unfished * = limited sites

Export trend by countries

Market chain value Where prices can be improved 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 Tokelau Kiribati Closed Tuvalu Closed Solomon Is. Closed Closed ** Samoa Wallis & Futuna Vanuatu French Polynesia Un-fished Closed** Managed + Open Cook Is. New Caledonia Niue Fiji Is. Un-fished Closed Managed + Open Tonga Open

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

130 persons trained in 4 years People trained 130 people trained in 4 years 130 persons trained in 4 years

Impacts of work done Uptake of advices and management ideas depend on: Commitment and priority of recipient country (Fisheries Dept.) Capacity of trained officers to use scientific advices to influence decisions and actions Established management framework or fishery mgmnt plan to guide implementation of new measures Implementation procedures, regulatory measures, clear roles responsibilities 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 fishing- SM, 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 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