SPC Live Reef Fish Information Bulletin #4 – April 1998 3 Damselfishes are the laboratory rats of reef-fish mics of large commercial fishes taken from the ecology. Their abundance and easy access facili- Great Barrier Reef. tates intensive study, allowing understanding based on manipulation and falsification. They have We do not need further research to know that provided the opportunity for two generations of Cheilinus and the largest serranids have life histo- students to gain a close and holistic understanding ries that make them vulnerable to overfishing. of the dynamics of wild reef-fish stocks; a situation Even if it were desirable, the scale and economies that is qualitatively different from the training and of coral reef fisheries in the Indo-Pacific will not work experience of many fisheries biologists who support sophisticated management regimes that have access only to industry catches. Damselfishes might demand accurate determination of biologi- have inspired novel techniques and new ideas. cal reference points and detailed monitoring. Instead, the recruitment function may be protected One surprise from the study of damselfishes has best by quarantining adequate broodstock within been their longevity: 20 years, matching many of no-fishing zones. For obvious reasons, networks of the larger species. Despite the potential of seden- marine protected areas will not be designed on tariness and territorial behaviour to produce den- data about the larval dispersal and recruitment of sity-dependent feedback and population regula- large rare species. Instead, the job will continue to tion, variable replenishment has been shown to be done on the basis of knowledge gained from the have stronger influence on abundance at reef- poodles and their close relatives. In this task, we wide scales. Environmental forcing of recruitment are fortunate that there are not separate ecologies in long-lived species is a characteristic that has for small and large fishes. contributed to past collapse of temperate fish stocks, and emphasises the central importance of Peter Doherty replenishment to sustainable fishing. Recent work Australian Institute of Marine Science has confirmed the same phenomena in the dyna-

infoinfolivelive reefreef fishfish

Turning the poison tide: The International Marinelife Alliance’s Cyanide Fishing Reform Pilot Program in Indonesia by Charles Victor Barber, World Resources Institute, USA & Ferdinand P. Cruz, International Marinelife Alliance, Philippines

A poison tide threatens the Amazon Unlike the Philippines, where cyanide fishing was of the Oceans invented for the aquarium trade in the 1960s and grew to encompass the Hong KongÐbased live The coral reefs of Indonesia number among the food fish trade in the late 1970s, large-scale most important on the face of the earth. Covering cyanide fishing is a relatively recent phenomenon some 75 000 km2, IndonesiaÕs reefs constitute one- in Indonesia. But beginning around 1990, live-fish eighth of the worldÕs total and lie at the very centre operators moved aggressively into Indonesia, of global marine biodiversity. Hundreds of thou- seeking new sources to replace depleted sands of small-scale fishers rely on reef fisheries for Philippine stocks and feed a growing market a living. Their potential for dive tourism, barely fuelled by the booming East Asian economies tapped, is immense. (Johannes & Riepen, 1995). 4 SPC Live Reef Fish Information Bulletin #4 – April 1998 At the present time, an out-of-control live reef fish- conduct an investigation in the area, with support ery based on the use of cyanide threatens reefs from the USAID-funded Biodiversity Conservation across Indonesia, compounding damage from blast Network (BCN). fishing, coral mining, overfishing, and runoffs of sediment and pollution. More than 50 per cent of In approaching a potential project area, IMA the wild-caught live food fish in international trade believes that a thorough field assessment of the are thought to originate from Indonesia (Johannes live-fish trade in the area is a key prerequisite, and & Riepen, 1995). The aquarium fish trade is also that the assessment must be carried out by people immense and growing, with at least 4000 fishers with direct, practical experience in cyanide fishing. thought to be involved, although accurate esti- IMAÕs investigators are mostly people who them- mates are hard to come by (Cesar, 1996). Cyanide is selves were cyanide fishermen or exporters in the thought to be used by the vast majority of live-fish past. Fishermen tend to trust them faster, and they operatorsÑa survey inquiring about the extent of cannot be easily fooledÑthey have been there. the live fish trade and the use of cyanide sent out Secondly, a good investigation requires a commit- by the Worldwide Fund for Nature Indonesia ted local partner with access to information that is Programme to non-governmental organisations often difficult to get, such as the identities of key and university researchers around the country in exporters and boat owners and the locations of 1996 elicited depressing results. In more than a cyanide fishing grounds and fish-holding cages. dozen regions, observers on the ground responded that the trade was booming, and that cyanide was At the outset, the investigation in North Sulawesi an integral part of it (Barber & Pratt, 1997). was a bit of a cloak-and-dagger operation, with the IMA investigator staff hot on the trail of Discussions about stopping cyanide fishing in Filipino cyanide divers working the waters in the Indonesia tend to draw expressions of helpless- areas of Minahasa District (Kabupaten) and operat- ness, resignation and fatalism from government ing out of the provincial capital of Manado. First officials, international aid agencies and big envi- off, IMA needed to gather basic information: In ronmental groups. ÔIndonesia is so vast,Õ the argu- what specific areas where these modern-day eco- ment goes, Ôthere is so much corruption, powerful logical pirates collecting fish? How many people are involved, government enforcement Indonesian fishermen were working with them? capacities are weak, there will never be any way Who were the exporters, and by what routes were to stop itÑbut letÕs have another workshop to talk they getting the catch out of the country? These about it!Õ Filipino divers and their boss were aware of IMAÕs strong campaign in the Philippines against The International Marinelife Alliance Ð Philippines use of cyanide. Keeping the fact that he was from (IMA) has heard this before. When IMA began its IMA under wraps, the investigator found it easy work in the mid-1980s that led to the establishment to befriend the Filipino boss of the operation and of the governmentÕs Cyanide Fishing Reform his employees, who were initially glad to meet a Program (CFRP) in 1992, many of the same argu- countryman with whom to pass the time over a ments were made about the Philippines. Some few beers one night. 13 years later, it is true that cyanide fishing has not been completely stamped out in the Philippines. Both the boss and his divers, it turned out, were But the CFRP has been effective in significantly well aware of the Cyanide Fishing Reform reducing the problem, and with increased resources Program in the Philippines and the Cyanide now beginning to flow to the programme from the Detection Test Labs and monitoring activities that United States Agency for International Develop- IMA operates under contract from the Bureau of ment (USAID) and the Asian Development Bank, Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) as part of there is real hope that even more progress can be the programme. They complained that the CFRP made in the next several years. was a big hindrance to their highly lucrative busi- ness. But here in Indonesia, they said, there were IMA believes that something can be done to reduce no such obstacles. ÔIt only takes money to solve the cyanide fishing in Indonesia, and has put itself on problem of legalityÕ in Indonesia, the boss told the line to prove it. IMAÕs investigator.

IMA’s investigation of cyanide fishing This Filipino operator, it turned out, was running a in North Sulawesi widespread cyanide fishing operation, stretching from Manado on SulawesiÕs northern tip all the In late-1995, concerned by rumours that Filipino way to Ujung Pandang, in the far south of the huge live-fish operators were moving into IndonesiaÕs island. Learning fast that it pays to have a partner North Sulawesi province (which is just south of the skilled in navigating the complex and often corrupt Philippine island of Mindanao), IMA decided to local government bureaucracy, the Filipino had SPC Live Reef Fish Information Bulletin #4 – April 1998 5 brought an Indonesian businessman from Manado IMA’s Cyanide Fishing Reform Initiative into his operation. Working together, they were at Tumbak,North Sulawesi able to capture large volumes of groupers and Napoleon wrasse. Indeed, the harvest was big IMA felt it had to act. But how and where? With enough that the partners chartered Hawker Sedely what local partner? As a Philippines-based organi- aircraftÑeach plane capable of carrying ten tons of sation new to Indonesia, IMA felt strongly that it cargoÑto transport their cyanide-caught catch to could not move beyond investigation to working Manila. From there the Filipino operator moved the with fishing communities without a local ally, and fish on to the booming Hong Kong market. IMAÕs clear support from members of the target commu- investigation also discovered that several other nity. Discussions with a sympathetic Manado dive smaller cyanide-fishing operators were working the operator concerned about the destruction of the area, shipping their catch through Bali and Jakarta provinceÕs reefsÑwhich are world famous in div- rather than Manila. Since exports of Napoleon ing circlesÑlet to a strategy. The dive operator, it wrasse from Indonesia are restricted to those turned out, was also a leader of Primkoveri, the smaller than three kilograms, the operators were provincial cooperative of military veterans, and routinely mislabelling the wrasse as groupers. Primkoveri became a key local partner.

The investigators also heard numerous stories of One of the areas where IMA had investigated the large Ômother shipsÕ to which a fleet of smaller local live reef fisheryÑin this case, for aquarium cyanide fishing vessels would bring their fish. fishÑwas a village called Tumbak, on the south Once its live well holding tanks were full, the ship coast of North Sulawesi province, about three would return to Hong Kong. One such ship from hours by road from Manado. Ringed on three sides Indonesia was photographed and filmed by IMA by the sea and backed by mangroves, Tumbak is in August 1996 while unloading in Hong Kong. virtually surrounded by water. Its 135 hectares of Aboard were some 8 t of Napoleon wrasse and an land are unsuitable for agriculture, and its 257 fam- additional 12 t of various grouper species (Barber ilies (nearly 1200 people) all gain their living from & Pratt, 1997). the sea. Net, spear and hook-and-line fishing, col- lection of marine invertebrates (molluscs, sea Most disturbing, the IMA investigators were told cucumbers, lobsters, etc.) and seaweed farming are by the Manado cyanide fishermen that they had all important parts of the local economy. But the been systematically introducing the cyanide fish- live-fish trade has played a growing role in recent ing technique to new areas of North Sulawesi years. In early 1997, the buyer who held the local province and to part of adjacent Central Sulawesi monopoly on the trade reported that he was ship- province. In the Banggai island chain of Central ping six-to-eight thousand aquarium fish from Sulawesi, for exampleÑan extensive coral reef area Tumbak every weekÑmore than 120 fish per family rich in stocks of grouper, Napoleon wrasse, and per month (Pollnac et al., 1997). rock lobstersÑfishermen had been recently taught how to use cyanide and supplied with the poison With support from Primkoveri and initial funding by exporters. from the Worldwide Fund for Nature Indonesia Programme, IMA began a dialogue with Tumbak In short, the live fish operators were running a fishermen to assess their interest in learning the mirror image of IMAÕs CRFPÑworking with com- barrier net method for collecting aquarium fish1 munities to systematically convert them to the use and receiving assistance in marketing their catch. of cyanide. IMA also conducted a survey to better understand The Filipino exporter who had shared beers and the lives and interests of the fishermen who would trade secrets with an IMA investigator eventually be trained. Initial responses were favourableÑa found out that IMA was on his trail. Soon, he number of the fishermen expressed interest in packed up and went back to the Philippines. But learning the new method for catching aquarium the damage had already been doneÑIndonesians fish as an alternative to using cyanide. had proven quite adept at cyanide fishing, and were fully capable of spreading the technique In July 1997, an IMA training team including two without Filipino assistance. new Indonesian trainers recruited in Manado

1. The barrier net method of capturing live aquarium fish involves setting up a wall-like transparent net around the perimeter of the target coral area. The collector then scares the fish with sound or movement, and they instinctively dart back in the direction of their coral refuge. The barrier net, however, denies the fish access to coral crevices, giving the collector enough time to harvest them with scoop nets and specially-designed buckets with fine-mesh, zippered net tops. Unwanted fish are released, and the reef is left virtually undamaged. 6 SPC Live Reef Fish Information Bulletin #4 – April 1998 began a formal training programme for 50 aquar- of the follow-up activities, and IMA is working ium fishermen. The programme was inaugurated with WRI to identify other sources of longer-term at a village ceremony featuring some 600 people funding to ensure that the work thus far at Tumbak from the village, a local brass band, speeches from endures into the future, and to expand the project numerous local and provincial officials, Primko- to neighbouring villages where other fisherman are veri, IMA, and a visiting group from the World interested in joining. Resources Institute, a Washington-based policy- research institute with whom IMA has been collab- Thinking ahead to the thousands of villages like orating for several years in developing an Asian Tumbak throughout Indonesia where the same regional cyanide-fishing reform programme. process needs to be carried out, IMA is hoping to utilise Tumbak as a centre for training Indonesian The first few days of training with the Tumbak trainers. This will give the prospective trainers fishermen were tough. For one, there was the lan- real-world experience, and will further institu- guage barrier. IMA staff had to coordinate with an tionalise TumbakÕs cyanide-free live fishery tradi- Indonesian interpreter who was heavily involved tion. In addition, as IMA and its partners begin to during training and lectures. Secondly, the fisher- work in other parts of Sulawesi and beyond, IMA men lacked proper and safe equipment. Their reg- hopes to be able to bring fishermen from other ular gear consisted of make-shift bamboo goggles areas currently using cyanide to see what the which easily filled up with water, made it difficult fishermen of Tumbak are doing with their own to see underwater, and thereby limited dive time. eyes, and to hear about it from the residents of They dove wearing only their underwear. Tumbak themselves.

Soon however, when the fishermen-trainees saw Conclusion: Do not abandon hope, that they could catch as many or more fish with a all Ye who enter Indonesia barrier net, they embraced the new technology. Immediately they recognised that barrier net col- IMA concludes from its initial experience in lection reduced fish mortality rates. After three Tumbak that cyanide fishing can be stopped in vil- weeks of training and their first successful ship- lages like Tumbak throughout Indonesia. Some ment, the fishermen were pleased with their new will be more difficult, and some may be impossi- technology and were willing to keep using it. ble. In other cases, cyanide fishing is being carried out by large Ômother shipsÕ far from population At present, IMA has helped the fishermen organise centres, a situation where repressive enforcement an association through which they have linked to approaches are more important than community- buyers in Europe. No longer dependent on one based programmes. But there are plenty of middleman, they are able to obtain better prices for Tumbaks throughout Indonesia, and if just 20 of their fish. And with IMA guidance, they are now them in key coral reef areas can be weaned from capturing some 35 species, where previously they cyanide, the impact will be considerable. only captured and sold five species. It is important to remember, too, that once a village Reduced mortality in the capture and post-har- is organised and is getting a good income from a vest process, lack of by-catch (non-target fish sustainable live reef fishery, it becomes much more killed by cyanide on the reef), and a wider variety easy to talk with villagers about reducing other of target species (meaning less pressure-per- destructive fishing practices such as hunting of sea species) mean that a clearly unsustainable fishery turtle, blast fishing and shark finning. has been replaced with one that is certainly far more sustainable. More studies need to be carried IMA will continue to report on progress at Tumbak out to determine what the maximum sustainable and at other sites in Indonesia where IMA plans to yield is for the Tumbak live reef fishery, but what- work with local partners to develop similar pro- ever that level may be, the barrier net training grammes. And IMA and its partners in North programme has moved Tumbak a long way Sulawesi would welcome others to have a look at towards meeting it. what is going on in Tumbak and judge progress and obstacles there for themselves. The struggle to reform the cyanide fishery in Tumbak is not over, of course. More training and There is no magic bullet, and IMA has no illusions continuous monitoring are needed to ensure that about saving the whole world, or even all of the barrier net tradition is firmly implanted in the IndonesiaÕs coral reefs. But with committed part- villageÕs values and traditions. And the association nerships among NGOs, local governments, donors, needs long-term assistance in managing its rela- and, most importantly, with a clear focus on field- tionship to the international market for optimum level initiatives founded in trust, respect, and col- advantage. USAIDÕs ongoing Coastal Resources laboration with fishermen themselves, maybe Management Project is providing support for some together we can save at least a piece of it. SPC Live Reef Fish Information Bulletin #4 – April 1998 7 References Together with IMA President Vaughan R. Pratt, he is the author of Sullied Seas: Strategies for Combating BARBER, C.V. & V.R. PRATT. (1997). Sullied Seas: Cyanide Fishing in Southeast Asia and Beyond (WRI Strategies for Combating Cyanide Fishing in and IMA, 1997). Currently WRI is working with Southeast Asia and Beyond. World Resources IMA and various other partners to develop an Institute and International Marinelife Alliance Ð Indo-Pacific Destructive Fishing Reform Program. Philippines, September 1997. E-mail: [email protected]

CESAR, H. (1996). Economic Analysis of Indonesian Ferdinand P. Cruz is currently IMAÕs Indonesia Coral Reefs. The World Bank. project coordinator. Mr Cruz has been with IMA for four years managing training programmes in JOHANNES, R.E. & M. RIEPEN. (1995). Environmental, cyanide-free capture techniques for live reef fisher- economic and social implications of the live reef men. Prior to joining IMA, he was involved in the fish trade in Asia and the western Pacific. live reef-ish export business. His familyÕs firm was Report to The Nature Conservancy and the one of the first live-fish exporters in the Philippines South Pacific Commission. 82 p. to promote net capture of aquarium fish as an alter- native to cyanide. POLLNAC, R.B., C. ROTINSULU & A. SOEMODINOTO. (1997). Rapid Assessment of Coastal Mana- For more information on IMA’s programmes, gement Issues on the Coast of Minahasa. Draft please contact: Technical Report, Coastal Resources Manage- ment Project Ð Indonesia (April 1997). International Marinelife Alliance 17 San Jose St., Kapitolyo About the authors Pasig City, Metro Manila, Philippines Phone: +63 2 6314993, 6335687; fax: +63 2 6377174 Charles Victor Barber is a Senior Associate in the E-mail: [email protected] Biological Resources Program of the World Resources Institute, a Washington DCÐbased envi- ronment and development policy research insti- tute. He has been based in Manila since 1994.

The Haribon Netsman Training Program

The net training programme of the Haribon gramme. In January 1989, a grant from the Foundation was conceived in 1989 as a result of the International Development and Research Center of growing problem of cyanide use and its effects on Canada was obtained to implement a nationwide coral reefs. training programme. The Haribon Foundation and International Marinelife Alliance Canada were cho- In 1984, Steve Robinson, a professional fish collec- sen to implement the programme then known as tor from the Sea of Cortez, Mexico, returned to the the Netsman Training Program. Philippines to participate in a programme to train Filipinos in the use of nets for collecting marine Local conditions indicated that training alone was fish. Sponsored by the Environmental Center of the not sufficient to ensure conversion of cyanide users Philippines, a 10-day training course was devel- to net use, and that the training programme must oped and implemented for two classes of fishermen be part of a holistic approach that helped steer com- from Santiago Island, Bolinao and Pangasinan. A munities toward community-based coastal resource third training course was held in Bohol. management. Thus a combination of approachesÑ community organising, training, and researchÑ Since then, a number of international agencies have was used to effect resource management, with the shown interest in supporting the net training pro- net training as the entry point to the community.