Marine Resources Tuesday 25th June 2013

MMR VISION To work in partnership with communities, businesses and other agencies to: provide long-term benefits for the people of the Cook Islands sustain and develop the use of marine resources Economic development of our marine resources. Develop opportunities for our people to benefit, generate income. Conservation and management Research NSDP - Food security, Improved livelihoods, Well being, Import substitution, Export earnings

Inshore Fisheries & Aquaculture

Inshore & Aquaculture Division Improve income generating opportunities for private sector particularly in the Outer Islands through increased technical and scientific assistance Ensure sustainable fishing and conservation practises resulting in long term food security Provide technical and scientific advice and support to Aronga Mana and Island Councils.   2. Explore development opportunities and management options for small scale fisheries, aquaculture and eco-tourism sectors. 3. Maintain and support national FAD program through extension services. 4. Monitoring of coastal ecosystems and Environmental impacts. 5. Deliver funding and project assistance to stakeholders through the Fisheries Development Facility (FDF) to develop domestic fisheries 6. Enhance program of marine education and public awareness

Food security

Local catches – creel surveys Inshore fisheries 300 – 500 mt/yr 1/3rd sold ($9/kg) 133t, 2/3rd subsistence 267t Nearshore and FAD (trolling/longline) 50 - 80t/yr 1/3rd sold ($8/kg), 2/3rd subsistence Freshwater Eels, shrimp, tilapia 5t Domestic Long-liners Estimated at 120t

Household 2006 – imported seafood Tinned fish sardines 8,937 $53,839 Tinned fish mackerel 35,626 $320,638 Tinned fish tuna 15,241 $106,687 Other tinned fish 29,745 $237,962 89,549 $719,126

Fish consumption per capita High levels of fish consumption 219 kg/yr, Penrhyn, (Passfield 1997) 63 kg/yr, Cook Is, (Preston 2000) 47 kg/yr, Cook Is, (MMR 2000) 35 kg/yr, Cook Is, (SPC, 2008) 61 kg/yr rural, 25 kg/yr urban WHO recommend 35 kg/yr/capita According to SPC (2008) the Cook Islands is below the recommended levels 25 kg/yr (urban) High levels of NCD’s, diabetes World average 16.5 kg

Subsistence fishing Mangaia – Subsistence fishing 92% engaged in fishing 309 fishers, 148 women, 161 men 1/3rd exclusive men finfish, 1/3rd exclusive women invertebrates, 1/3rd both Rarotonga - Subsistence fishing 44% households engaged Include sport fishers, motorized boats Half (155) = men, exclusive finfish Quarter (69) = women, exclusive invertebrate

Trends fishing Coastal subsistence is declining 858t, $3.05 mill, late 80’s (Dalzell, 1996) 795t, $2 mill, 2000 (MMR 2001) 267t, $1.7 mill, mid 00’s (Gillett, 2009) - Loss of seafood nutrition, loss of culture Decline in seafood consumption on Rarotonga 1990’s onwards due to ciguatera poisoning 116 kg/yr, 1989, (MMR 2001) 99 kg/yr, 2001, (MMR 2001) 64 kg/yr, 2006, (Moore 2006) Led to… 2000’s onwards – a switch to pelagic fish (domestic longline vessels) 40-50% tuna estimated to be supplied by domestic and foreign longline vessels 120-150t, whole fish, 2007 (MMR 2008) Note Palmeston 18t, $12/kg, 2007

Ra’ui Name: Edgewater Resort Total Area: Dates: Implemented: 2009 Lift Period(s): Survey/Reports: Current Status: Open

Rau’i

Other protected marine areas Takutea – Marine Sanctuary Penrhyn & Manihiki – giant clam export moratorium Manihiki – pearl shell reserve Pukapuka – traditional rau’i for land and sea (annual) Mauke – reef marine reserve

Proposed Rau’i regulations Declaration Declared by Aronga Mana, after consultation Protocol - date, duration, area description, species, fishing practices etc MMR will register the rau’i (i.e. management plan) Public awareness Signage and public awareness programs Wardens Aronga Mana nominate Tiaki raui MMR train and equip (Tiaki rau’i) MMR compliance unit and Police will also monitor and survey On-spot fines possible, otherwise can elect judicial processes Maintenance Sites for education, research, and trials

Potential developments Sea cucumber Assessments(printing) Lollyfish (Rori toto), Matu rori Rori Puakatoro & Rori matie

- Regionally recognised as the best managed resources Trochus - Regionally recognised as the best managed resources Clams for ornamental market AMRC Bonefish ecotourism Aitutaki Bone

Fish aggregating devices (FADs)

Coastal, FAD and game-fishing catches Yellow-fin Tuna

Offshore fisheries

Offshore Division Expanded income earning opportunities from sustainably managed offshore fisheries, through capacity building, and infrastructure and market development 1. Provide effective management of designated offshore fisheries. 2. Explore new opportunities for investment and market access. 3. Enhance capability scientifically sound assessments. 4. Monitoring and Surveillance Systems for offshore fisheries meet Cook Islands, regional and international requirements. 5. Cook Islands engage and meet its regional and international responsibilities. 6. Fisheries regime is guided by a scientifically sound basis 7. An integrated offshore fisheries and near shore fisheries regime.

Regional Fisheries Management Organizations

Fishing Effort

3 to 5 YEAR TARGETS TARGETS $5-7 Mill/yr Diversify economy SKIPJACK BIG EYE TARGETS $5-7 Mill/yr Diversify economy 20 t/wk fish export Leveraged benefits Onshore Shipping Fuel ALBACORE YELLOW-FIN (&ALB) SWORDFISH

Albacore Long-line Fishery Penrhyn 1,000 km Albacore Tuna Rarotonga

Big-eye Tuna Long-line Fishery (2012) Penrhyn 1,000 km Rarotonga Big-eye Tuna

Skipjack Tuna Purse Seine Fishery Penrhyn 1,000 km Skipjack Tuna Rarotonga

Legislative Framework Marine Resources Act 2005 Designated Fisheries – Section 5 Fisheries Management Plan Regulations Regulations: Marine Resources Longline Fishery Regulations 2012 50 vessel Limit (cap) Marine Resources Purse Seine Fishery Regulations 2013 1250 days (30,000mt)

Pearl Support Division

Vision Improve quality and quantity of production through: better farm husbandry systems improved governance continued research and development, and environmental monitoring programs

Objectives 1. Support to key stakeholders through enhanced governance and communication. 2. Strengthen capacity to increase pearl quality 3. Monitor lagoon health and changing environmental conditions, 4. Identify other sustainable economic opportunities of the pa enua pae Tokerau 4 key objectives Support key stakeholders Strengthen pearl production Monitoring Lagoon Health & management Research & Development

Causes of the problem

Market forces Quality Depressed world pearl prices High costs of operating on Manihiki Depopulation Labour forces

Bacterial Disease diseased pearl oyster Healthy pearl oyster Two significant experiences where climate changes has caused massive mortality In 2000, hot/windless conditions (El Nino type weather) led to oxygen depletion, bacterial disease and massive 75% mortality on the surface above 6 meters depth Overstocking – depletion of food, stress Hot/windless conditions – lack of flushing, low oxygen Spawning and seeding – gametes in the water, high bacterial loads Outbreak of Vibrio harveyii - massive mortality 300 thousand adult oysters died 900 thousand young oysters died diseased pearl oyster Healthy pearl oyster

Governance Island Council Manihiki Pearl Farmers Association Fishing Association Government Ministries Communities

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