Sea Cucumbers Resource Stock Assessments Resource and Habitat Surveys/assessments Data Reporting Training Ecosystem and habitats Information to Managers Sustainable management of the fishery
Sea Cucumbers Resource Stock Assessments
Sea Cucumbers Stock Assessment Methods Stock Assessments In Situ Evaluate current species numbers, size and age Broad and fine scale activities All habitats Manta tows Line transects Timed swims SCUBA transects Day and Night (burrowing, nocturnal)
Sea Cucumbers Stock Assessments Incorporate abiotic and biotic factors Habitat (reef slope, lagoons sea grass beds etc), water depth, substrate types, dominate benthic forms (coral, sea grasses, sand, rubble etc), etc GPS coordinates for start and finish of all activities (to allow duplication) Length and weight measurements They should include species parameters Species, morphological (body length, weight), location (GPS), water depth, habitat
Assessment Distribution
Manta Tows
Manta tow
Reef Substrate Transects
Line transect & quadrant
Line transect - shallow
Timed Swims- Free diving
SCUBA Timed Swims/Transects
Sea Cucumbers Stock Assessments Social Data (Numbers of fisherman involved, village names, areas fished etc) Fishing gear used (snorkeling, SCUBA, dredging) Catch per unit effort data Location of fishing grounds Processing techniques Reporting species and numbers caught (possible size of individuals
Field data recording (Actinopyga lecanora)
Survey Design Example