1. 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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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)

5. 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

6. Update of sea cucumber diversity
Tonga
Tonga

7. 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

8. Resource density by country
Photos: S Purcell
Yellow – managed or unfished
* = limited sites

9. Export trend by countries

10. Market chain value
Where prices can be improved
Assess opportunities for improving local purchase prices

11. 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

12. 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

13. 130 persons trained in 4 years
People trained
130 people trained in 4 years
130 persons trained in 4 years

14. 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)

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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)

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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

22. 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.

23. Thankyou