REVERSING ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION TRENDS IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA AND GULF OF THAILAND SCIENTIFIC BASIS FOR IDENTIFYING FISHERIES REFUGIA UNEP/GEF RWG-Fisheries

REVERSING ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION TRENDS IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA AND GULF OF THAILAND The Fisheries Refugia Concept and Priority Types Fisheries refugia are sites of importance to critical stages of the life-cycle of fish species Growth Over-fishing - Inshore nursery refugia Recruitment Over-fishing - Spawning refugia Spawning Refugia (Pelagic species) Nursery Refugia (Demersal Species) Source Function Sink Function

REVERSING ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION TRENDS IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA AND GULF OF THAILAND Initial Review of Data and Information Requirements to Identify Refugia Sixth Meeting of the RWG-Fisheries (September 2005) was unable to identify any known refugia in the SCS Limited Knowledge of Links Between Fish Life-Cycles and Critical Habitats in the SCS region – Why?  Few studies of marine fish life-cycles in the South China Sea  Most life-cycle-habitat data is qualitative in nature  No information on the role of specific habitat areas in terms of production  Fisheries data of all countries provide no insight into the specific locations in which fish were harvested  Little information about the efficiency and selectivity of fishing gear

REVERSING ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION TRENDS IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA AND GULF OF THAILAND Evaluation of Existing Information on Links Between Fish Life-Cycles and Habitats Agreement on approach for review of information and data reached during the Seventh Meeting of the RWG-Fisheries (May 2006) Establishment of a Collaborative Programme of Data and Information Sharing with SEAFDEC Regional Review of Available Data and Information (November 2006) Conduct of National Expert and Community Consultations on Identification of Fisheries Refugia

REVERSING ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION TRENDS IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA AND GULF OF THAILAND Stakeholder Consultations on Refugia Identification Review of Fish Egg and Larvae Data for Refugia Identification Review of Habitat Site Data and Information Review of Relevant Data Sets Contained in SCS Meta-Database

REVERSING ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION TRENDS IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA AND GULF OF THAILAND 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 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 Review of Information Collected by SEAFDEC on Larval Fish Distribution and Abundance Scomberomorous spp.

Identification of Fisheries Refugia Sites REVERSING ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION TRENDS IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA AND GULF OF THAILAND  Site name  Geographic location  Species utilising the site (spawning/nursery)  Time of year used 52 known spawning and nursery areas identified Site Information Collated: General need for more detailed information about species usage of sites to develop management measures

Inter-Country Differences in the Scientific Approaches to Improving Understanding of Links Between Fish Stocks and Refugia REVERSING ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION TRENDS IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA AND GULF OF THAILAND Reflects Inter-Country Differences in the: Priority Species for Management Institutional Arrangements for Fisheries Research Capacity of Research Institutes Country Involvement in Regional Research Activities

REVERSING ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION TRENDS IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA AND GULF OF THAILAND Modelling fish egg dispersal and larval settling in the Philippines Coron Bay, Philippines Busuanga Island  Oceanographic information and fish egg and larvae data used to identify spawning refugia (sources) and nursery refugia (sinks) Following slides illustrate:  Circulation pattern  Simulated dispersal  Density Distribution of fish eggs and larvae in Coron Bay, Philippines

REVERSING ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION TRENDS IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA AND GULF OF THAILAND Villanoy, 2006 Circulation pattern in Coron Bay

REVERSING ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION TRENDS IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA AND GULF OF THAILAND Red ellipses indicate areas where settled particles originate from several sources. Grey lines indicate possible but weak dispersal, apparent only after 30 days. Simulated dispersal with wind effects in Coron Bay Villanoy, 2006

REVERSING ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION TRENDS IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA AND GULF OF THAILAND Campos, 2004 Fish Eggs Density (no./100m3) distribution of fish eggs in Coron Bay (April, 2004)

REVERSING ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION TRENDS IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA AND GULF OF THAILAND Fish Larvae Campos, 2004 Density (ind./100m3) distribution of fish larvae in Coron Bay (April, 2004)

REVERSING ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION TRENDS IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA AND GULF OF THAILAND Gonadosomatic Index Approach in Thailand for Rastrelliger spp. Mackerel in spawning condition

REVERSING ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION TRENDS IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA AND GULF OF THAILAND Gonadosomatic Index Approach in Thailand for Rastrelliger spp. MatureImmature Female Jan Feb Mar Apr May Mature Immature Male Jan Feb Mar Apr May

REVERSING ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION TRENDS IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA AND GULF OF THAILAND Use of Fishing Community Knowledge in Viet Nam

REVERSING ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION TRENDS IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA AND GULF OF THAILAND Conclusion What has resulted from the work of the Regional Working Group on Fisheries is: Regional compilation of available data and information relating to links between fish stocks and habitats Development of an inventory of known spawning and nursery areas Increased regional understanding of the scientific basis for establishing refugia and the methods used for their identification Establishment of a refugia information portal at: