SPC Fisheries Newsletter #125 – April/June 2008 SPC ACTIVITIES

Number 125 (April – June 2008) ISSN 0248-076X

Welcome to this issue of the Fisheries Newsletter. In this issue Bob Gillett et al., on page 32, raise the issue of the use of livelihood diversification for resource management in the Pacific Islands. It is now understood that inshore fisheries SPC Activities Page 2 are overexploited in many areas of the Pacific and that securing alternative sources of income or food to relieve News from in and around the region pressure on inshore marine resources in now critical. Page 26 Jean-Paul Gaudechoux Fisheries Information Adviser ([email protected]) Livelihood diversification as a marine resource management tool in the Pacific Islands: Lessons learned Robert Gillett, Garry Preston, Warwick Nash, Hugh Govan, Tim Adams and Michelle Lam Page 32

Support for the Tongan half-pearl industry Antoine Teitelbaum, Paul Southgate, Andrew Beer, Poasi Fale Ngaluafe, and Martin Finau Page 40

Practical safety and fishing course for Pacific Island Fisheries Officers William Sokimi Page 45

A pearl oyster (Pteria penguin) farmer in Vava’u, Tonga. SPC ACTIVITIES

REEF FISHERIES OBSERVATORY Staff of the coastal component of brate team who conducted survey Scientist. Aliti is no stranger to the EU-funded Pacific Regional work and training in nine of the 17 the region, and in this position Oceanic and Coastal Fisheries participating countries and territo- she conducted survey work in Development Programme (PROC- ries. His input during the remain- seven of the 17 participating coun- Fish/C) and the Coastal Fisheries der of the project will be sorely tries and territories. Although she Development Programme (CoFish) missed. Ferral has moved back to will be greatly missed by the continued writing site reports as the Solomon Islands, where he project team, Aliti will not be well as conducting specific survey hopes to complete a second mas- leaving SPC, as she has been work at the request of member ter’s degree with a focus on fish- recruited as the Human Develop- governments. The programme lost eries economics. The PROCFish/C ment Programme Adviser for two staff members due to a lack of and CoFish staff wish Ferral all the SPC’s Pohnpei Office. The funding. Ferral Lasi (Fig. 1), who best in his future endeavours. PROCFish/C and CoFish team wish worked with the programme for Aliti well in her new position. three years as a Reef Fisheries Aliti Vunisea (Fig. 2) worked for Officer (invertebrates), was an three years with PROCFish/C integral member of the inverte- as a Community Fisheries

Figure 1 (left): Ferral Lasi, former Reef Fisheries Officer (invertebrates) with PROCFish/C.

Figure 2 (right): Aliti Vunisea, former Community Fisheries Scientist with PROCFish/C. Aliti now works as SPC’s Human Development Programme Adviser in Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia.

Two staff recruited to work on country reports

Two staff have been hired on short- compile individual site reports into a style sheet and compiled and for- term contracts to work specifically a complete report, identify missing matted reports for French on compiling and editing country data, format and lay out the Polynesia, Wallis and Futuna and reports. Céline Berre (Fig. 3) was reports, and incorporate any edito- Niue, which are now ready for hired on an eight-month contract to rial changes. Céline has developed editing. She has also worked to finalise the report for Nauru. We welcome Céline to the team and look forward to working with her in the coming months.

We also welcome Sarah Langi who has been hired on a six- month contract to edit country reports, as well as write executive summaries for each report. Sarah began work on 1 June and is currently editing the reports for Vanuatu, Nauru and Tuvalu. The team looks forward to work- Figure 3 (left): Céline Barre will work with the programme for ing with Sarah and providing eight months compiling, formatting and laying out country reports. input on and clarification of her Figure 4 (right): Sarah Langi will work with the programme for six queries as she edits. months editing country reports and writing executive summaries.

2 SPC Fisheries Newsletter #125 – April/June 2008 SPC ACTIVITIES

Trochus and sea cucumber surveys around Epi Island, Vanuatu

Trochus and sea cucumber level. In addition, local fisheries was conducted by Vanuatu resource surveys were conducted officers were trained in regional Fisheries Department staff Tony in five sites around Epi Island in invertebrate survey techniques, Taleo and John Mahit, with Vanuatu during April 2008 (Fig. which are being refined by the advice from the PROCFish/C 5). The government of Vanuatu PROCFish/C and CoFish proj- socioeconomist, Mecki Kronen. requested assistance in training ect. Staff from these projects will Socioeconomic surveys were local officers in survey work. Epi conduct similar trainings in conducted two weeks prior to Island is one of several known other countries. resource surveys. Funding for trochus shell production areas in field surveys was provided both the country, and is where com- The PROCFish/C team consist- by PROCFish/C and an FAO- munity-based management sys- ed of Kalo Pakoa and Ferral Lasi, funded mini-project with tems regulate the area’s trochus and Sompert Rena from Vanuatu Vanuatu’s Fisheries Department. and sea cucumber fisheries. Fisheries Department’s Research However, no resource assess- and Aquaculture Section and REEF ENVIRONMENT ments have ever been conducted Jason Raubani from the Coastal around the island and no infor- Fisheries Section. The socioeco- Epi Island has narrow fringing mation is available on the status nomic component of the survey reef platforms (50–100 m wide) in of these resources or on the socioeconomic aspect of communities and their relationship with reef resources. Despite the existence of traditional customary marine tenure systems, which are practiced by communities and reef owners around Vanuatu, commercial reef fisheries (e.g. trochus and sea cucumber) have disappeared from many reefs around the country.

This survey work is valuable to Vanuatu’s Fisheries Department, which is interested in knowing the present status of marine resources and community management systems so that they can make informed management decisions at the national

Figure 5 (top): Epi Island survey sites.

Figure 6 (bottom): This Epi Island reef, shallow and partly exposed at low tide (left), drops abruptly to five metres with no reef slope zone (right).

SPC Fisheries Newsletter #125 – April/June 2008 3 SPC ACTIVITIES

all the sites assessed (Fig. 6). These reef platforms drop off abruptly to around five meters (Fig. 6) to a mixed sand-rubble bottom, provide suitable habitat for trochus, which are collected by islanders walking the reefs at low tide or snorkelling in shallow water.

The general status of corals was poor at Lamen Bay, Ponkovio, Burumba and Mavelau (<20% coverage). A major crown-of- thorns (Acanthaster planci) starfish outbreak was recorded in these four sites (Fig. 7), with recent pre- dation moving westward along the northern tip of Lamen Bay. Coral coverage was better Figure 7: Crown-of- (40–50% coverage) at Mapuna thorns (Acanthaster (NE) and the southern section of planci) outbreak Mavelao (SW at Valesdir). River causing coral run-off from recent heavy rains mortality on Epi Island. contributed to sedimentation and poor visibility.

PRELIMINARY FINDINGS

Invertebrate diversity and abundance was generally low at all five sites. Only nine out of 18 commercial sea cucumber species were recorded. Two giant clams (Tridacna maxima, and T. squamosa) and three species of turban snails were also recorded. In addition to fishing impacts, unsuitable habitat also limits the numbers of this invertebrate species. Trochus numbers varied across the five sites. Ponkovio and Burumba had higher numbers due to the relatively effective traditional management systems enforced by both communities. Both small and larger shells were recorded (Fig. 8), and Burumba had relatively larger and older shells compared with Ponkovio, which had relatively young shells. On the whole, however, trochus resources in all five sites were depleted and present stocks are not sufficent for continued fishing. In addition, the

Figure 8: Larger adults and juvenile trochus present at all survey sites.

4 SPC Fisheries Newsletter #125 – April/June 2008 SPC ACTIVITIES presence of juveniles at all sites is Despite the communities’ active Village elders stated that for their indicative that with sufficient traditional management systems customary marine tenure systems time, the resource could recover. (mainly through tabus), the poor to be effective, the national gov- The nine sea cucumber species status of these fisheries raised ernment needed to set harvesting recorded occured in very low serious questions among the eld- seasons by province or by island. densities. High-value black teat- ers regarding the effectiveness of fish (Holothuria nobilis) and medi- traditional management systems. FISHERIES STAFF TRAINING um-value greenfish (Stichopus Issues highlighted by chiefs and chloronatus) and Actinopyga mau- elders at the meeting included a Local trainees Jason Raubani (Fig. 9) ritiana were present in moderate weakening power to enforce and Sompert Rena enthusiastical- numbers. Apart from Lamen Bay tabus. Too many clans are enforc- ly participated in the survey train- — where the reef habitat is rela- ing too many parcels of reef, ing and have learned the skills tively well suited for sea cucum- compared to the past when only needed to conduct a survey on bers — the other sites had very the paramount chief enforced their own. Both officers are few reef systems that were suit- such laws. This has greatly involved in various resource able for supporting a diversity of diminished community solidari- assessment activities, including sea cucumber species. ty, thus contributing to the loss of the Japan International Coopera- power of tabus. Also highlighted tion Agency (JICA) trochus and COMMUNITY MEETING was the lack of national harvest- green snail seeding project, ing controls. Communities fish trochus transplantation, coral reef In a debriefing meeting at the whenever they desire, and shell monitoring, aquarium fish and end of the surveys, chiefs and vil- buyers buy year round. This has sea cucumber assessments. The lage elders from the five survey contributed significantly to the skills they gained will be used to areas learned for the first time creation of many smaller clan- conduct similar standardised about the status of their trochus controlled reefs, thereby further resource surveys in other areas of and sea cucumber fisheries. weakening the tabu system. Vanuatu.

Figure 9: Local counterpart Jason Raubani conducting a survey.

Four sites in Tonga revisited for socioeconomic surveys

Socioeconomic and finfish funded PROCFish/C pro- holds in Ha’atafu and Manuka. resource surveys were initially gramme. Because certain survey Socioeconomic surveys on conducted in six sites in Tonga approaches have changed, four Ha’apai (conducted at the end in 2001/2002 (see Fig. 10) under Tongan sites were revisited (Fig. of May 2008) included 20 house- the (then) DemEcoFish project. 10). The Tongatapu socioeco- holds on Lofanga, and 27 The survey was a pilot study nomic surveys (conducted in households in Koulo. A summa- under the European Union- April 2008) included 16 house- ry of the 2008 socioeconomic

SPC Fisheries Newsletter #125 – April/June 2008 5 SPC ACTIVITIES survey and a first comparison of ly from fisheries. Agricultural mainly go to markets at Pangai results with the 2001/2002 sur- produce represented a very and Ha’apai, with the occasion- vey are presented, using Lofanga important source of income, and al shipment to Tongatapu. as a case study. PROCFish/C handicraft production comple- staff Aliti Vunisea and Mecki mented income in 2001/2002. Results show that while 80–85% Kronen conducted the surveys in Today, the market situation on of all households consumed fish Tongatapu and Ha’apai, respec- Pangai has changed. Fuel prices that they caught themselves tively. for boat transport have increased, (with 1–2 fishers per house- and the importance of agricultur- hold), or that they were given, The programme thanks Tonga’s al production is more for subsis- another 15–20% purchased fish. Fisheries Department for its sup- tence matters rather than for Invertebrates were not commer- port and cooperation, and partic- income. Cash income is required cially purchased — in 85% of all ularly acknowledges the follow- to cover average annual house- cases they were caught by a ing people: 'Ulunga Fa'anunu, hold expenditures of USD 2,300, household member, and in Deputy Secretary for Fisheries; plus social and family obliga- about 65% of all cases they were Siola Malimali, Fisheries Officer; tions. Remittances from family given by someone outside the Mele Makasini, Community members living overseas are household. Section; Martini Finau, Aquacul- important as they provide from ture Section; Poasi Fale Ngaluafe, USD 770 per year to 75% of all While the population has Aquaculture Section; Fina Vili, Lofangan households. The pro- declined by about 14% since Fisheries Officer Ha'apai; Fanueli portion of households benefiting 2001/2002, total subsistence Tongaonevai, staff of Ha'apai from remittances was found to demand for fish has decreased Fisheries; and all village chiefs have almost doubled from the even more. Today, it is estimat- and people of Manuka, Ha'atafu, 2001/2002 survey. ed that Lofangans consume Koulo and Lofanga for their about 12 mt of fresh fish annual- patience and cooperation in Very little had changed regard- ly. Other food items, such as answering all our questions. ing the (predominantly) non- canned fish, have become commercial exchange of fish increasingly more important in Lofanga village is the sole com- and invertebrates among com- everyday nutrition. Lofangans munity on Lofanga island in the munity members. Fish for sale consume an additional 21 kg of Ha’apai group. The island is accessible only by boat, and a typical trip, weather permitting on a 4.5–6 m wooden skiff with a 30 hp outboard, takes between 1.5 and 2 hours from Pangai, the centre of the Ha’apai group (a distance of 20 km). Lofanga belongs to the crown prince Tupouto’a, who will be the crowned King of Tonga in August 2008. The crown prince also owns a small piece of land at Hihifo, a settlement attached to Pangai on Lifuka.

Lofanga has an area of about 1.4 km2, and is mostly used for growing crops. Agricultural produce comprises the majority of goods transported and sold at the Pangai market. There are hardly any alternatives to fisheries for income generation. In fact, 70% of all households derive their primary income source from fisheries. This trend con- trasts with the 2001/2002 situation, where hardly any households derived income exclusive- Figure 10: Location of DemEcoFish and PROCFish/C sites.

6 SPC Fisheries Newsletter #125 – April/June 2008 SPC ACTIVITIES canned fish per capita annualy, corresponding to a total of about 4 mt/year.

Women generally were not involved in finfishing, although the 2008 survey revealed that the women on Lofanga specialise in the collection of a few invertebrates. Octopus, for example, is not only a delicacy for home consumption, also it is also cleaned and hung in trees to dry (Fig. 11) for later sale on the mainland.

Lofanga’s fishermen catch more fish for sale than they do for home consumption. In fact, the relationship is widening in favour of sale. The recent increase in oil and fuel prices may add to the necessity to compensate with bigger catches per trip.

Invertebrate collection is mainly done for home consumption, and is mostly done by women. Major species collected on reeftops are elili (Turbo spp.), feke (Octopus spp.), and giant clams. Dried octopus and giant clam meat are sold by women on Ha’apai for additional income. Men sometimes collect invertebrates such as lobsters or giant clams while spear diving for finfish. Figure 11: Octopus drying on Lofanga Island.

Trochus surveys in Kosrae and Pohnpei, Federated States of Micronesia

Following an initial request from were to provide an initial assess- David, Director of Pohnpei’s the Director of the Kosrae Island ment of trochus stocks, train the Marine Development Division Resource Management Authority local team in PROCFish survey and Valentine Martin, Deputy (KIRMA) in late 2007, the gov- techniques, and provide advice Assistant Secretary, Marine ernment of the Federated States for future management arrange- Resource Units of the Department of Micronesia (FSM) requested ments for trochus. of Resources and Development; technical assistance from SPC to and the field team Dave Mathias assess trochus stocks around The CoFish team acknowledges and Scotty Malakai, Pohnpei Kosrae and Pohnpei, and to train and thanks the following people Forestry and Marine Conserva- local counterparts in survey who assisted and/or worked tion Division; Pelson Moses, methodologies. Two Co-Fish with the team during the surveys. Pohnpei Marine Development Reef Fishery Officers — Kalo In Kosrae, Simpson Abraham, Division; Allen Marcus, Chuuk Pakoa and Emmanuel Tardy — Director of KIRMA and the field Department of Marine Resources were assigned to this project, team Steven Palik, Cornelius Nena, and Damasus Mailing, Yap Marine with fieldwork in Kosrae under- and Maxton Nithan, KIRMA; and Resources Management Division. taken from 2–9 June, and in Bruno Ned, Kosrae Department Thanks also to SPC’s Northern Pohnpei from 11–19 June. The of Resources and Economic Regional Office for assisting, espe- primary goals of the mission Affairs. In Pohnpei, Donald cially Amena Yauvoli.

SPC Fisheries Newsletter #125 – April/June 2008 7 SPC ACTIVITIES

SURVEYS IN KOSRAE addition, a single mother-of-pearl consisted predominantly of larg- search was undertaken to locate er, older shells (>100 mm). For Kosrae is a high mountainous trochus aggregations. all survey sites, the full size island surrounded by coastal range was found, including mangrove swamps and a fring- Trochus niloticus was present in juveniles, which is promising for ing reef system. Reefs along the moderate to large numbers future recruitment. However, east and south coasts are nar- around the island, with the the majority of trochus were row, but wide along the west highest densities recorded at the larger, older adults. Trochus and north coasts. The reef flat eastern reef of Lelu, Tafunsak in were found to aggregate more in zone on the west and north is the north, and Okat and Walung pockets of dead coral bottoms mostly exposed at low tide. The in the west. In general, trochus (Fig. 13) with epiphytic algal reefs all around the island are were mainly found in deeper growth, rather than in areas of favourable for adult trochus waters (5–10 m), and the stock high live coral growth. (shallow outer reef). Large areas of back reef, especially on the northwest, north and east sides of the island, are favourable for the settlement of juveniles.

Trochus niloticus, or takasangai in Kosraean, was introduced to the island by the Japanese administration, perhaps from Pohnpei, around the late 1950s. It is not clear when the first harvest was made but harvests have occurred since the 1970s. Very little information is available about this resource in Kosrae. It is reported that a 10-year fishing closure was instituted around 1995/1996. In 2007, fishing was opened for a period of five days when a harvest of approximately 26 mt was made and sold for USD 78,255. The trochus fishery represents one of only a few income earning options for the island’s 9,000 people. While there is a high local interest in the fishery, there is a lack of data on resource status. The results of this current assessment will constitute the baseline for reviewing regulations and future management decisions. A new management plan and harvest regulations will be developed based on the results of this assessment.

The survey covered a large amount of Kosrae’s coastline, and comprised 49 stations of scuba and/or snorkel transects, consisting of 24 mother-of-pearl transects (timed swims), 18 reef front searches, 2 shallow water reef benthos transects, 4 reef front search Figure 12 (top): Survey coverage (stars and squares) around Kosrae Island. walks as shown in Figure 12. In Figure 13 (bottom): Trochus niloticus in a crevice.

8 SPC Fisheries Newsletter #125 – April/June 2008 SPC ACTIVITIES

Other invertebrate species considered to be an urgent grouper spawning aggregation included eight commercially issue, and early clean-up work sites at Kehpara and Kepidau valuable sea cucumbers — dom- is recommended while their Pilen. Current trochus harvest inated in numbers by greenfish, numbers are still manageable. control measures include a min- Stichopus chloronotus, and surf imum basal shell width of 3 redfish, Actinopyga mauritiana — SURVEYS IN POHNPEI inches (7.6 cm) and a maximum one giant clam (Tridacna maxima), size of 4 inches (10.2 cm), a one turban snail Turbo argyrosto- A well developed reef system shorter harvest season (six mus (kaweng), and a spider conch comprising mangrove forest, hours), and a harvestable quota (Lambis truncata) (ful mula). extensive fringing reefs, sea based on assessment. Tridacna gigas is extinct from the grass beds, lagoon and barrier island and old shells were reefs exist in Pohnpei. The The recent re-structuring of observed from the dredged mate- lagoon encircling most parts of Pohnpei’s fisheries sector has rials along the Lelu Harbour the island contains numerous resulted in the fisheries manage- jetty. Tridacna derasa is being patch reefs and some 15 passage ment section — the section tradi- farmed for re-introduction pur- breaks. An extensive barrier reef tionally in charge of trochus poses. Kosrae has a very healthy about 3 km offshore encircles management — moved to the live coral cover with some areas much of the island. Trochus are Department of Forestry and reaching 80% coverage. However, found outside the barrier reef Marine Conservation. The new crown-of-thorns (Acanthaster plan- and reefs inside passes where changes created confusion about ci) outbreaks were detected in suitable habitat exists. the enforcement of existing har- two pockets of reef at Tafunsak vest regulations, and because the (north) and in the outer reefs at Trochus niloticus was introduced Fisheries Department was not Walung (west) in 6–12 m depth. to Pohnpei by the Japanese included in the new arrange- administration in 1939 from ments, poaching occurred within A presentation of preliminary Palau. First harvests were trans- the sanctuaries, the open season survey findings was made to planted to two of Pohnpei’s was extended, no surveillance the Governor of Kosrae, Robert outer islands, Sapwuafik and took place, and no catch monitor- Weilbacher, who was especially Mwoakiloa atolls. In 1958, 16 ing was undertaken. According interested to know if another trochus sanctuaries were estab- to the Chief of the Marine open season for trochus would lished around Pohnpei proper, Development Division, some 200 be possible in the near future. and the first harvest of 65 mt mt of shell may have been col- The answer was “no answer just was made in 1969. Afterwards, lected in the 2004 season. The yet” until survey data have 18 harvests were made in quota allocated was 100 mt. The been analysed. Only then can Pohnpei proper between 1969 current resource assessment sur- advice on harvesting be provid- and 1994. Today, seven of the vey is essential to providing an ed. More importantly, the trochus sanctuaries are actively accurate picture of trochus num- crown-of-thorns outbreak is enforced, along with two recent bers for management purposes. Last year’s harvest (2007) of 18 short tons was made at Sapwuafik Atoll, one of Pohnpei’s outer islands, and sold to a local buyer at USD1.65 a pound ($3.64/kg) of cleaned shell (i.e. no meat).

In total, 63 stations of scuba and/or snorkel transects were made, consisting of 26 mother-of- pearl transects (timed swims), 22 reef front searches, and 15 shallow water reef benthos transects (see Fig. 14). The data collected are sufficient for providing an overview of the resource status.

Trochus were found at all survey stations at 0–10 m depth.

Figure 14: Survey coverage for Pohnpei.

SPC Fisheries Newsletter #125 – April/June 2008 9 SPC ACTIVITIES

High aggregations were com- Preliminary results of the trochus the manager of SPC’s Northern mon all around the island, with survey were presented at the Regional Office, Amena Yauvoli. regular higher densities in the governor’s office. As in Kosrae, a Crown-of-thorns was reported to west and south. A range of sizes serious concern is whether fish- be an urgent problem in Pohnpei, was recorded, but in most cases ing will remain possible. The and clean-up action was recom- the majority of shells were large team maintained that only proper mended. (>10 cm) and old. Abundance data analysis will provide the inside existing sanctuaries does answer. Shell buyers from Fiji and not seem to be much different Vietnam, who were visiting FSM that found outside the sanctuar- in search of raw shell, were also ies. The relatively high trochus present at the meeting, as well as abundance at Pohnpei is an indication of good management efforts since the 2004 harvest.

In addition, five sea cucumber species were present with Stichopus chloronotus and Actinopyga mauritiana being the most commonly found on the barrier reef. The elongated giant clam (Tridacna maxima) was the only giant clam recorded but was found in very low numbers. Other gastropods commonly found included Turbo argyrostomus, Tectus pyramis, Dendropoma maxima, and various species of Cypraeidae, Conidae, and Turbinellidae.

Pohnpei is facing a long-term outbreak of the crown-of-thorn starfish (Acanthaster planci) (Fig. 15), which is abundant from the northern tip of the barrier reef, all the way down to the southwest reef at Black Coral Island Sanctuary. Relatively fewer numbers were recorded on south and east facing reefs, but live corals in these areas were not abundant. High numbers of remaining dead coral heads (Fig. 16) at 5–11 m depth, suggest that this outbreak may have occurred several years ago.

Pohnpei is planning a trochus survey for one of its outer islands in July and will be using the new surveying techniques during that survey. Basic survey tools (2 slates and 1 Chainman, a string measure tool) have been Figure 15 (top): A crown-of-thorns starfish feeding on corals is an all too common site in Pohnpei. provided to the Pohnpei team to assist them with this work. Figure 16 (bottom): Dead coral reef in Pohnpei.

10 SPC Fisheries Newsletter #125 – April/June 2008 SPC ACTIVITIES

First sub-regional underwater visual census (UVC) finfish workshop

The first sub-regional underwa- the species level, as well as esti- habitat and on evaluating (quan- ter visual census (UVC) finfish mating their size and distance titatively and qualitatively) the workshop was held in Noumea from the observer. Trainees dove different parameters used to from 16–25 June. Participants once or twice a day, practicing describe environmental condi- included William Saladrau and the different techniques (Fig. 17). tions. The last day of training Tarisi Toroca Shaw from Fiji; They then spent time discussing was used to explain how the Delvin Thoma and Jake Debao their data with the instructor. database software is used and to from Nauru; and Peter Rex The dives took place in the shal- give participants a achance to Lausu and Rosalie Masu from low waters of intermediate practice using its different func- the Solomon Islands. Céline lagoonal reefs off Noumea and tions: data record and quality Barré from SPC, and a local fish- nearby areas. Several practice check analysis. eries scientist, Matthieu Junker, dives focused on describing also attended. Four workshops in total will be held.

In PROCFish/C and CoFish projects, training in underwater visual census techniques has been conducted during all in- country fieldwork. However, today, a large number of staff trained in these methodologies have changed activities or posi- tions. Therefore, to ensure local capacity at the country level, this series of workshops has been organised. The objective of these courses is to equip fisheries departments and associate agencies with the tools to undertake underwater assessments and monitoring of finfish resources on their own. A two-person team per country will be trained so that necessary repeated assessments of fish stocks and habitat conditions can be carried out to ensure the sound management of artisanal fisheries.

The first two days of the workshop in Noumea were devoted to theoretical and practical classroom exercises. The following six days were spent on underwater trainings using different methods for identifying fish at Figure 17: Training dive during workshop.

SPC Fisheries Newsletter #125 – April/June 2008 11 SPC ACTIVITIES

Regional workshop on the economics of marine protected areas

The PROCFish/C Reef Fisheries Secretariat of the Pacific Regional instruments to use (e.g. cost– Information Manager, Franck Environment Programme (SPREP). benefit analyses, multi-criteria Magron, attended a workshop analyses, business plans) for on the economics of marine pro- This workshop brought together establishing and managing tected areas (MPAs). The work- economists and practitioners of MMAs. The workshop was the shop was held in Suva, Fiji from marine managed areas (MMAs) first step in a continuing process 26–30 May 2008 and was organ- from various non-governmental to assess the economics of MPAs ised by the Coral Reef Initiative organisations and CROP (Council and determine future collabora- for the Pacific (CRISP), the of Regional Organisations in the tions that could assist in this International Union for Conser- Pacific) agencies. These groups area. vation of Nature (IUCN), and the discussed the best economic

COASTAL FISHERIES MANAGEMENT SECTION Apia Policy endorsed by ministers

The Pacific Islands Regional Fisheries Resources, which strategies, fisheries sector plans, Coastal Fisheries Management places high priority on “the environmental management Policy and Strategic Actions — development and management plans for implementation at the also known as the Apia Policy — of coastal/inshore fisheries and local or national level. This techni- was given the green light for its aquaculture to support food cal assistance takes into consider- implementation by fisheries min- security, sustainable livelihoods ation changes that may have isters during the Annual Ministe- and economic growth for cur- occurred over time within coastal rial Forum Fisheries Committee rent and future generations of fisheries management. It also meeting in Koror, Palau. Pacific people”. identifies and addresses external and internal or endogenous fac- The policy was developed in The policy is the first regional tors (e.g. type of government response to a directive from the mechanism developed to har- structure, political history, nation- Pacific Islands Forum Leaders monise national policies and al laws and regulations, influence under an amendment made to activities that address the long- of traditional authorities, and the Pacific Plan for Strengthening term sustainability of coastal institutions such as customary Regional Cooperation and Inte- fisheries resources and mainte- and traditional rights within gration (Pacific Plan) at their nance of healthy marine ecosys- PICTs, that affect the policy for- meeting in Tonga in 2007. tems. It provides guiding princi- mulation process). ples for strategic action at The policy accommodates the national and regional levels to The policy was developed and Vava’u Declaration on Pacific address the problems and chal- endorsed by the Special Session lenges encountered by of Heads of Fisheries held in Pacific Islands coun- Apia in February 2008, and will tries and territories guide SPC’s technical assistance (PICTs) in managing to PICTs from 2008–2013. their coastal fisheries. SPC acknowledges financial Strategic actions identi- assistance from the Common- fied under the policy wealth Secretariat and the include the provision Government of Iceland towards of technical assistance the development of this policy. to PICTs to translate the international instruments and guidelines into harmonised policy directions that can be incorporated into national plans, national legislation, national economic development

12 SPC Fisheries Newsletter #125 – April/June 2008 SPC ACTIVITIES

Assistance with fisheries management ordinances in the Marshall Islands

In 2001, SPC assisted with the Of the five atolls that have staff from SPC’s Coastal Fisheries development of a community- worked with MIMRA’s CBFM Management Section provided based fisheries management programme, none has yet coastal fisheries expertise. The (CBFM) programme for the approved a fisheries manage- assignment involved consulta- Marshall Islands Marine Resources ment ordinance. The difficulty tions with mayors from the vari- Authority (MIMRA). MIMRA, encountered by the local govern- ous atolls, NGO representatives, under its CBFM programme, has ment councils in establishing relevant government authorities, worked with five atolls (Mejatto, fisheries management ordinances and MIMRA personnel. Likiep, Arno, Majuro and Ailuk) was the lack of legal expertise to in developing community fish- assist with the development of The assignments concluded eries management plans that reg- ordinances translated into legal with two fisheries management ulate the management and devel- formats. ordinances for two atolls, and a opment of fisheries resources at template that will facilitate the the respective atolls. MIMRA requested SPC’s development of future ordi- Coastal Fisheries Management nances by other government One of the obligations by the Section to assist with develop- councils. local government councils — ing ordinances into legal frame- which have worked under the works where they will be recog- CBFM programme — was to nised in accordance with the rel- develop fisheries management evant legislations. ordinances to legally bind management measures developed Gerald Zackios, a local attorney, as integral parts of their fish- was contracted as the legal con- eries management plans. sultant with the assignment while

Sea cucumber management plan for Yap

SPC’s Coastal Fisheries Pro- resource custodians and The sea cucumber management gramme has both management other stakeholders in Yap of plan was developed in response (http://www.spc.int/coast- current options for managing to a request by the Yap State fish/Sections/Community/ind their sea cucumber resources MRMD for technical assistance ex.html) and research sections and related habitats; from SPC’s Coastal Fisheries (http://www.spc.int/coast- Programme. SPC facilitated the fish/Sections/reef/index.htm) • assist authorities in develop- process through wide consulta- to assist Pacific Island countries ing a legal framework for tions with resource custodians and territories in developing and recognising management and industry stakeholders implementing sound coastal fish- undertakings for the sea (including relevant data collect- eries management policies. In cucumber fishery. This was ed from in-water surveys of Yap June 2008, Etuati Ropeti (SPC accomplished by studying and neighbouring states). Coastal Fisheries Management existing legislation and work- Onsite scientific advice and rel- Officer) and Kim Friedman ing with the current Attorney evant information on the fishery (Senior Reef Fisheries Scientist– General to facilitate the was provided so that all parties invertebrates) visited Yap in the promulgation of regulations could make informed manage- Federated States of Micronesia to that enable enforcement of ment decisions. assist with the development of a the Management Plan under management plan for Yap’s rapid- the Yap State Marine The purpose of this work is to ly expanding sea cucumber fishery. Resources Management Divi- guide the exploitation, harvest, sion (MRMD); and processing and export of Yap’s The main aim was to: sea cucumber resources. In the • formulate a workable man- absence of any substantive tech- • collate the available informa- agement plan (that includes nical information or scientific tion on the history of Yap’s the concerns of a wide range assessment, the purpose of the sea cucumber fishery; of stakeholders), for the management plan is to impose administration of Yap’s sea sensible and locally relevant • conduct a large number of cucumber fishery. principles of a precautionary consultations to inform approach for the exploitation of

SPC Fisheries Newsletter #125 – April/June 2008 13 SPC ACTIVITIES the sea cucumber fishery in ing in Yap. The recommended agement plan is legally recog- order to achieve its goal as artic- management actions require a nised under the authority of Yap ulated by stakeholders. joint effort and close collabora- State’s MRMD. This will need tion between government, the State Code to legally recog- The management plan’s general resource owners, communities nise MRMD as the appropriate vision is to “Have community and agents in order to ensure power for promulgating the rel- and government cooperation, to the sustainable use of sea evant policies and management sustain harvests and optimise cucumbers, and to optimise eco- plans for facilitate fisheries incomes, whilst maintaining reef nomic returns for everyone. management in the state. and local coastal environments”. Management undertakings pre- The draft management plan is This led to the management sented were identified through now undergoing its last set of plan’s ultimate goal, which is to discussions held with the changes, as communities and “To promote economic improve- Governor of Yap State, Hon stakeholders get another chance ment for peoples of Yap whilst Sebastian L. Anefal; Lieutenant to look over the document and maintaining sustainable harvest Governor, Hon Anthony M. make comments and sugges- and stock levels.” Tareg; Director of the Depart- tions. In early August, this plan ment of Resources and Develop- will have been professionally Like most other small island ment, Michael Gaan; resource edited, and then printed for dis- states, Yap has limited land and owners; government officials; tribution in Yap. potential for agricultural devel- and stakeholder consultations opment, although it possesses during a two-day workshop con- SPC will continue to assist in oceans rich in marine life and ducted at the small business cen- distributing the management valuable fisheries resources, tre training room 17–18 July 2008, plan while also assisting in including sea cucumbers. and other field work carried out developing capacity, where pos- Although sea cucumber species during assignments in Yap. sible, with the required actions are not traditionally harvested listed in the management as a protein source by Yapese This assignment would not process. Of critical importance communities, the fishery has have been possible without the in this regard will be the ongo- been impacted by fishing due to kind assistance and support of ing assistance in training local the high value of dried sea the Governor, Lt Governor and counterparts in sea cucumber cucumber (beche-de-mer) by MRMD staff. The support of the assessment and monitoring sur- the expanding Asian market. Director of the Department of vey techniques. Easy access and quick cash on Resources and Development, hand, the sea cucumber fishery Michael Gaan, needs special A further publication highlight- has become one of the more mention, as does the invaluable ing the building blocks used in important income sources for assistance and guidance of the formulating this plan is planned some coastal communities. Chief of MRMD, Andy for inclusion in an upcoming edi- Tafileichig, whose critical assis- tion of the SPC Beche-de-mer (sea Given the potential benefits for tance was much appreciated cucumber) Information Bulletin all communities, and the likeli- during the interviews, work- (http://www.spc.int/coast- hood of a fishery collapse if har- shop and consultations. Special fish/News/BDM/bdm.htm). vest rates continue without a thanks also go to all stakehold- management framework, a ers, resource owners, communi- more fair and precautionary ty representatives and the approach became a necessity to marine products agents who mitigate current unsustainable shared their vision and provid- exploitation. A moratorium on ed valuable information during fishing was placed on the grow- the consultations. ing fishery in late 2007 to give authorities time to develop a Few problems were encoun- sound management platform. tered, except that information The fishery is planned to reopen available on the history of the using the new management fishery was scant, and stake- framework in 2008. holders needed to assimilate a large amount of industry and The management plan provides scientific information in order the framework for the state to progress with formulating authority to guide the exploita- the plan. The most critical issue tion and sea cucumber harvest- now is to ensure that the man-

14 SPC Fisheries Newsletter #125 – April/June 2008 SPC ACTIVITIES

NEARSHORE FISHERIES DEVELOPMENT AND TRAINING SECTION Fourth SPC Sea Safety Bulletin published

The fourth edition of the SPC Sea Walton, urged “group” members in from around the Pacific and Safety Special Interest Group bul- and readers to “sharpen their elsewhere never came to fruition. letin has been published. This pencils or sit down at their key- Even so, we are producing a bulletin is prepared by the boards and send in safety-relat- fourth issue of the bulletin _ with Nearshore Fisheries Development ed stories and articles”. new aspirations and a new and Training Section and pro- Unfortunately, not much materi- approach. The staff of SPC’s duced with financial assistance al was sent to Mr Walton’s desk. Nearshore Fisheries Develop- from France through the French And just who are the group ment and Training Section will Pacific Fund. members that he was referring take over editorial functions and to? As it turns out, we are way will also remain the root of the It has been more than a year too few. The group consists sea safety awareness group and since the last issue of the Sea largely of the editor and a few continue to be the main contribu- Safety was printed and distrib- contributors, including the staff tors, at least for now. For the uted. Many of you have undoubt- of SPC’s Coastal Fisheries most part, the reports on SPC edly been waiting patiently for Programme, the very ones who activities, safety features, train- news of sea safety in the Pacific. produce the Sea Safety bulletin. ing activities, technology and We are also waiting for contribu- safety, resource materials, and tions from you, the readers. In The wish of having sea safety- accident and incident reports the last issue, the editor, Hugh related news and stories pouring will come from our small group. We will still rely on others for news from other places. Since we are, in a sense, reviving the bulletin after a brief hiatus, we ask you to be patient when examin- ing our efforts, just as we have been patient waiting for your stories. And we still urge you to sharpen your pencils…

In this bulletin, readers will enjoy a story on sea safety in the Cook Islands, and an article on tricks of the trade. Also included under the “Resource Materials” section, is a report called “Surfing the Net for sea safety”, which has links to many interesting sites. Maritime New Zealand has also kindly allowed us to use some of their materials in this issue. You will find excerpts from their Radio Handbook for Coastal Vessels, tips about boating safety, and a simple guide to making radio distress calls. Thanks to Maritime New Zealand for sharing this vital information in the interest of safety at sea for all.

SPC Fisheries Newsletter #125 – April/June 2008 15 SPC ACTIVITIES

Fiji School of Maritime and Fisheries Studies: Training attachment in Nelson, New Zealand

BACKGROUND Technology (FIT) and SPC Fisheries train deck hands and safety of life at Training Department to co-share sea in a fishing vessel operation, The Fiji Institute of Technology’s financial assistance for a training which will be of great help in class- School of Maritime and Fisheries attachment at Nelson Marlborough room teaching at FIT under the Deck Studies (SMFS), along with the Institute of Technology under the Watch Rating and Basic Fishing Fiji Marine Board, offers Stan- New Zealand School of Fisheries. programme. It also provided the nec- dards of Training, Certification the training needs identified includ- essary knowledge in adult training and Watchkeeping (STCW)- ed a lack of knowledge and skills to and classroom management. approved programmes to train deliver the existing training cur- Able Seamen, which include riculum of seafood handling provid- I was fortunate because my accom- Nautical Science Officers, Deck ed under the Diploma in Applied modation and meals were well Hands, Ship Marine Engineering Fisheries Technology Training arranged by Mr Alec Woods. and Shipbuilding/Ship Designers. Program for the FIT fisheries train- In addition, the school has a fishing section at SMFS. The training attachment at NMIT, eries department, and so serves New Zealand School Of Fisheries as one of the maritime training The four weeks of training (from 19 was a fruitful learning experience institutes in the region that also May to 1 June at Nelson) was a for me as it broadened my existing offers fisheries related pro- learning experience in all aspect of knowledge and skills in the areas of grammes. seafood handling and packaging, Management of Quality Seafood and advance deckhand fisheries. I Production and Legislative require- Recently, the SPC Nearshore benefited from the training in many ments of International Markets, Fisheries Development and ways and gained enormous knowl- which will help those interested Training Section has been edge in New Zealand’s legislative students attending training at strengthening the working rela- requirements for the management SMFS and current employees in tionship between SMFS, SPC, of seafood products and gained var- Fiji’s fisheries industry. and the Nelson Marlborough ious knowledge and skills needed Institute of Technology (NMIT)/ for planning and equipment use, in I would like to take this opportunity New Zealand School of Fish- order to keep up abreast with new to thank the following people who eries in Nelson (NZSoF) by seafood technology and interna- assisted in making this training facilitating SMFS tutor attach- tional markets of seafood products. attachment a successful one: Mr ment to NMIT/NZSoF. The Terri Luciani, SPC Fisheries NZSoF organised a special The training also provided me with Training Adviser Noumea New attachment to upgrade the the knowledge and skills to 1) man- Caledonia, Mr Alec Woods, NMIT knowledge and skills of the age and deliver components of the Nelson New Zealand; Mr Ganeshwa SMFS Fishing Instructor, Josese seafood training programme for Chand, FIT Director; Captain Tevita Rakuita, on food safety and fish students wishing to complete the Robanakadavu, Head of the Fiji handling. The attachment was Diploma in Applied Fisheries Institute of Technology’s School of partially sponsored by SPC Technology at FIT in Fiji; and 2) Maritime and Fisheries Studies; and through its Coastal Fisheries conduct training to fishing indus- Mr John Rafoi, Manager Human Programme. try employees in Fiji. Resources at FIT.

JOSESE’S REPORT The training provided information Josese Rakuita on the requirements of the EU and Instructor, School of Maritime and A formal agreement has been USA and other international mar- Fisheries Studies (FIT) reached between the Fiji Institute of ket, the background and skills to

First competent authority training held in Nelson, New Zealand

Recent inspections by the Food countries, as well as a need for In response to these needs, SPC and Veterinary Office of the further training of inspectors. provided a short training course European Union (EU) in Papua Technical support provided to in New Zealand for inspectors New Guinea and Fiji, highlight- Niue in early 2007 also identified from the competent authorities of ed a lack of understanding of EU training and mentoring needs in interested countries in early April sanitary requirements in govern- that country. this year. The Develop-ment of ment and industry in those Tuna Fisheries in the Pacific–ACP

16 SPC Fisheries Newsletter #125 – April/June 2008 SPC ACTIVITIES countries (DevFish) project will the exporting nations at risk of Programme evaluations showed the then provide short-term consul- being removed from the EU list of following: tancy services for in-country fol- nations approved to export seafood low up, training and mentoring products to the EU. • Overall satisfaction in the to the competent authority training programme with all inspectors in each country. A collaborative arrangement participants scoring 3 out of 5 between the NZ School of Fisheries or higher (average or better), The training course was fully and Solutions in Seafood was suc- funded by DEVFISH, a regional cessful in securing funding for a • A request for a similar refresher project funded by the EU under two-week training assignment in training for competent authori- the EDF9 programme, and New Zealand for up to 10 person- ty personnel, implemented by the Pacific nel from competent authorities (or Islands Forum Fisheries Agency related government departments) • A request for lengthening future (FFA) and SPC. from Fiji, Samoa, Papua New programmes to allow for more Guinea and Niue. consolidation of learning and The course coordinator was more practical, hands-on learning. Alec Woods from the New This report summarises the content Zealand School of Fisheries/ of the programme, and issues aris- Issues arising and priorities Nelson Marlborough Institute ing that will need to be followed up for follow up of Technology. Consultancy in-country by Ian Watson from services were required from a Watson Consulting as part of the While participants each country seafood quality specialist with follow up programme. presented their findings from the extensive experience and two-week programme, a summary knowledge of EU regulatory Content of priority actions is given below. requirements. Cushla Hogarth, from Solutions in Seafood (NZ), Participants experienced learned General was contracted was for this pur- theory, and made offsite visits as pose. Ten participants from four part of their two-week programme. The programme facilitator recog- Pacific Island countries success- nised that there was a range of abil- fully completed this pro- The programme’s content included: ities and experiences as competent gramme. EU legislation, compliance of exist- authority personnel within the par- ing country legislation versus EU ticipants. This posed a difficulty in EXTRACT FROM CUSHLA’S REPORT legislation, national control plans, how to pitch the course content. registration of premises and certifi- While some participants were just Background cation, auditing premises against beginning to understand their role seafood safety legislative require- (and needed more theoretical In recent years, several Pacific ments, non-compliance and correc- understanding), others were much Island nations have determined tive actions, overseas competent more advanced and would have there is a need to increase revenue authority discussion, product test- benefited from more hands-on prac- through the export of seafood prod- ing and laboratories, inventory and tical experience. ucts to international destinations. traceability, vessel hygiene and With this comes the need to meet handling, and a visit to a seafood In addition, the separation of train- importing countries’ requirements. processing facility. ing responsibilities in New Zealand A fundamental need in this area is (provided through a collaborative for the exporting nation to have a Programme overview effort between the NZ School of competent authority, staffed by per- Fisheries and Solutions in Seafood sonnel who are competent in All 10 participants showed a keen Limited) from that in-country (to be inspections of premises and overall interest in developing their skills as offered by Ian Watson of Watson management of a system that competent authority personnel and Consulting) needs careful future assures importing countries of the participated fully in the training consideration as it leads to potential safety and wholesomeness of the programme. duplication of work and a lack of products they are importing. continuity for competent authority On completion of each training sec- participants. Several participants Coupled with this, some Pacific tion, participants were asked to commented on the lack of continuity Island nations were subject to vis- report back on issues in their and raised concern over potential its from EU officials last year with respective countries, and this infor- issues on their return to their home a particular focus on the export of mation was used to prepare a final countries. seafood products to the EU. The programme report on actions need- official reports indentified a num- ing to be addressed on return to ber of significant issues that placed home countries.

SPC Fisheries Newsletter #125 – April/June 2008 17 SPC ACTIVITIES

AQUACULTURE SECTION New SPC Freshwater Aquaculture Officer appointed

SPC’s Aquaculture Section new challenges in Australia. establish and manage a fresh- recently hired a new Freshwater Tim’s background encompasses water prawn and tilapia farm as Aquaculture Officer, Dr Tim both freshwater and marine a commercial joint-venture Pickering. Tim worked previ- aquaculture commodities in between USP and the private ously as a lecturer in aquacul- Pacific Island countries. sector in Fiji. Along with Marine ture at the University of the Aquaculture Officer Antoine South Pacific (USP) in Fiji. He has been involved in diverse Teitelbaum and Aquaculture projects that include seaweed, Adviser Ben Ponia, Tim’s Tim took up the post in June marine shrimp, sponges, sea arrival brings the strength of 2008, and follows in the giant cucumber, eels, live rock, SPC’s Aquaculture Section’s footsteps of tilapia and prawn marine ornamental fish and back up to three.” expert Satya Nandlal, who corals. Much of his recent work, departed SPC late last year for however, has been in helping to

Dr Tim Pickering, SPC’s new Freshwater Aquaculture Officer

Fourth Fisheries Ministerial Conference held in Palau In an unprecedented move, aqua- drafted and delivered by SPC representatives attending the culture was included as an agen- staff at the conference. conference. da item on the Forum Fisheries Committee Officials Ministerial The aquaculture agenda item The Fourth FFC Fisheries Conference. This forum tradition- focussed on delivering the Ministerial Conference was ally focusses on tuna fisheries and regional aquaculture strategy — held in Palau from 19–20 May, provides guidance for the Pacific the SPC Aquaculture Action and was attended by SPC’s Islands Forum Fisheries Agency Plan 2007 — which was recently Aquaculture Adviser. based in Solomon Islands. But completed. The inclusion of given the interconnectivity and aquatic biosecurity in the aqua- importance of coastal fisheries culture strategy was a “talking and aquaculture, it was decided point” that raised considerable to include agenda items from interest among participants. these sectors in the meeting. The regional strategy was A “State of Coastal Fisheries warmly received by officials and Aquaculture” report was and endorsed by ministerial

18 SPC Fisheries Newsletter #125 – April/June 2008 SPC ACTIVITIES

Aquaculture updates from Palau

While attending the FFC to 2.4 million fingerlings per cal advice and labour pro- Fisheries Ministerial Conference year from Taiwan. Seventy- vided by Philippine expatri- in Palau, SPC’s Aquaculture five per cent are farmed for ate staff. Adviser, Ben Ponia, took the live bait and the remainder opportunity to make some site are left to grow larger to be • Local fish outlets in Koror: visits and meet with people sold as food fish. Staff PMCI Fish Market and involved in aquaculture and involved in the project have Happy Fish Market. We dis- coastal fisheries, including: recently received training in cussed reef fisheries, process- fish de-boning techniques, ing, marketing issues, etc • Ngatpang State milkfish which makes the product with the owners and staff. farm project. Located about much more marketable. The an hour’s drive from project is largely funded by • Palau Mariculture Demon- Kororm the farm receives up Ngatpang State, with techni- stration Centre (PMDC), operated by Palau’s Bureau of Marine Resources. The PMDC continues to produce large quantities of giant clams in its hatchery. The most common species is Tridacna derasa, which are provided to villages for community grow- out schemes. The PMDC fish hatchery is also active with a large batch of hatchery-reared tiger groupers and rabbitfish juveniles in production. Other fish species, such as Napoleon wrasse and coral trout, are being conditioned for future spawning. The fish hatchery manager, Percy Rechelluul, is collaborating with various private businesses and state projects (including the Ngatpang milkfish farm) to provide rabbitfish for cage culture trials. The PMDC also hopes to produce milkfish fry from its hatchery in the future.

• Accompanied by Bureau of Marine Resources staff, the Aquaculture Adviser viewed some PMDC sites where rabbitfish cage culture trials were being conducted. This included the Rip Tide Restaurant, which has two cages, each holding 2,000 fish that are five months old; the Airai company farm,

Figure 1 (top): Palau PMDC fish hatchery.

Figure 2 (bottom): Rabbitfish breeders at the PMDC hatchery.

SPC Fisheries Newsletter #125 – April/June 2008 19 SPC ACTIVITIES

which has six cages, each rabbitfish hatchery for a Resources in an intensive with more then 2,000 fish; large fish farm. one-day workshop to draft a Neco Marine Ltd, which has new Coastal Fisheries and a small trial cage with rabbit- • SPC’s Aquaculture Adviser Aquaculture National Devel- fish and milkfish. This com- and other senior SPC staff opment Plan. pany plans to build its own assisted the Bureau of Marine

Regional aquaculture status report presented to FFC Fisheries Officials and Ministers meeting

Copies of the SPC Aquaculture 2. Aquaculture is also expand- volume of production is Action Plan 2007 were given to ing rapidly in the Pacific. 4,600 metric tonnes of bulk ministers and senior government SPC estimates that the aver- marketed product (e.g. officials at the FFC Fisheries age annual production is shrimp and seaweed) and Ministerial Meeting in Palau in USD210 million dollars. The 250,000 pieces of individual- April 2008. Also presented, was the Regional Status Report on Coastal Fisheries and Aquaculture (drafted by SPC aquaculture staff).

The SPC Aquaculture Plan 2007 provides a snapshot of the region’s substantial and diverse aquaculture sector. It provides a forward looking perspective on the important role that aquaculture can play in meeting the challenges of population growth and global changes. It is a regional strategy that provides SPC’s member countries with guidance on how the burgeoning aquaculture sector can be tailored to the needs and values of the Pacific community.

Highlights of the aquaculture status report include the following key points:

1. Aquaculture is the world’s fastest growing food sector. It provides almost 50% of the world’s food fish. With a plateau in sustainable wild fisheries harvest, the sector has been identified as a key option to make up the short- fall in food security and livelihoods.

Figure 3 (top): Annual value of aquaculture commodities produced in the Pacific.

Figure 4 (bottom): Annual value of aquaculture production in the Pacific per country.

20 SPC Fisheries Newsletter #125 – April/June 2008 SPC ACTIVITIES

ly sold product (e.g. giant and marine species. Exports aquaculture commodities clam and corals). Up to are dominated by black include freshwater prawns, 25,000 people may be direct- pearls from French Polynesia marine ornamental species ly involved in the aquacul- and marine shrimp from (e.g. giant clams, corals, live ture sector. New Caledonia. Production rock), and kappaphycus sea- for domestic consumption is weed. Emerging commodi- 3. In the Pacific, from atoll arch- also increasing. For example, ties also include sea cucum- ipelagos to mountainous it is estimated that there are bers, mud crabs and marine highland regions, aquacul- at least 10,000 fish farms finfish (as highlighted in the ture is diverse and involves (such as for tilapia) in Papua Aquaculture Action Plan). farming inland freshwater New Guinea. Other key

Workshop on preventing biological invasions

International guidelines for the animal species in interna- trade. During this session, responsible trade of live aquatic tional trade. This session was various countries and animals, which could be ecologi- moderated by scientists and regions shared their experi- cally invasive if they are released was interesting because of the ences with “pre-screening” into the wild, are not properly apparent gulf between the potentially invasive species. addressed institutionally within quantitative “pre-screening” There is a contrast between the various UN agencies. In this techniques proposed by ecolo- countries such as the USA, arena the pet trade, live bait and gists and the qualitative judge- Australia and Israel, which aquaculture industry are some ments that decision-makers have accumulated good bio- of the key risk sectors. realistically operate under. diversity databases and judi- One of the outputs from the cial/litigation processes, and Under its mandate for invasive workshop was a draft of key some South American coun- alien species, the subsidiary principles involved in pre- tries that have a vast and body on scientific advice (SBST- import screening, or import largely unreported biodiver- TA-13) for the Convention on risk analysis as it is more com- sity and a rapid pace of eco- Biological Diversity (CBD) rec- monly referred to by primary nomic development. ommended that the CBD secre- development sectors. tariat convene an expert work- The dichotomy of the invasive shop to advise the 9th Meeting • The international legal and concept between aquaculturist of the Conference of Parties institutional context for risk and ecologist was noted by SPC. (COP-9) on best practices for assessment of animal species “Invasive” attributes, while minimising the risks associated in international trade. There negatively viewed by natural- with the introduction and trade are clear gaps in the interna- ists, are looked favourably upon of live aquatic animals. tional instruments governing by farmers. the trade and movement of live To tackle this initiative, the CBD aquatic animals that are poten- The SPC regional experience pre- partnered with the Global tially invasive. Some related sented to the workshop was that Invasive Species Program (GISP), issues are covered under other “pre-screening” controls were the IUCN’s Invasive Species instruments. For example, best incorporated into holistic Specialist Group, and the endangered species come approaches such as “aquatic University of Notre Dame (USA) under the Convention on Inter- biosecurity” because of the limited in organising a workshop. About national Trade in Endangered capacity available in the region to 40 participants, including SPC’s Species (CITES), plants are cov- deal with the range of risk factors Aquaculture Adviser, were invit- ered by the International Plant excluding invasiveness (for exam- ed and sponsored to attend the Protection Convention (IPPC), ple, pathogen risk). However, workshop, which was held from and pathogens under the ensuring the use of responsible 9–11 April 2008 at the University World Trade Organization practices requires cooperation of Notre Dame Campus. (WTO) by standards set by the between all stakeholders from the World Animal Health Organi- ground level upwards. Among The workshop had three main sation (OIE). the UN agencies, especially the sessions: CBD, FAO and OIE, a similar • Current national practices cooperative framework must be • Current science and econom- and available tools for risk established. ics on risk assessment for assessment in international

SPC Fisheries Newsletter #125 – April/June 2008 21 SPC ACTIVITIES

Dr Dale Hamilton engaged as SPC aquatic biosecurity consultant

Aquatic biosecurity is recognised have requested advice on engaged as a short-term con- as a major challenge to ensuring quarantine protocols. sultant to advise SPC on aquatic responsible aquaculture and fish- biosecurity matters. Some of the eries development and trade in • The European Commission has key activities he will be the Pacific region. Implementa- recently imposed new regula- involved in include: tion of the regional aquatic bio- tions on imports of live aquatic security programme will require animals into the European • Providing urgent advice to a new regional initiative involv- region and has advised that member countries on meeting fisheries, environment, quar- exporting countries will need to ing the new European Com- antine, veterinarian and public become members of the World mission regulations affecting health departments. Animal Health Organisation the trade of live aquatic (OIE) and have competent (ornamental) exports; The region faces a variety of national authorities to issue challenges in this area. Some health certificates. This will • Assisting with the drafting current examples include: directly impact the marine of a new SPC policy brief on ornamental sector in the region, aquatic biosecurity; • A trade embargo imposed by which currently provides liveli- Australia on shrimp imports hoods to some 800 households • Assisting in the review and from countries that have and exports of USD15 million final drafting of the regional IHHNV virus. This embargo dollars per annum. aquatic biosecurity framework affects shrimp producers in developed at the SPC regional the region such as Fiji and Various forums have tasked aquatic biosecurity meeting New Caledonia. SPC (as the lead CROP agency) (held in October 2006); to take initiative in this area. • The increasing numbers of • Providing desktop advice on Pacific Islands that are import- Dr Hamilton, w ho is the former aquatic biosecurity issues ing live, genetically improved Vanuatu chief veterinarian and (e.g. quarantine, disease) as tilapia fingerlings from Asia quarantine officer, has been they arise.

Hatchery production and restocking of sandfish in community-managed fishing rights areas (qoliqoli), Fiji Islands

Sea cucumbers are valuable but (ACIAR) and the WorldFish demonstrate that sandfish re- severely depleted fisheries Center. Techniques to spawn stocking results are very unpre- throughout Pacific Island coun- sandfish and rear larvae up to dictable, and the benefits are tries and territories (PICTs), and juvenile size (>3g) are now rela- uncertain. More releases of larg- Fiji is no exception. In Fiji, dairo tively straightforward, and can er numbers of juveniles, with (or sandfish, Holothuria scabra) is be transferred to other PICTs. rigorous post-release monitor- an important sea cucumber On-growing juvenile sandfish to ing, are necessary to provide species that also forms part of the larger sizes in tanks is not feasi- baseline growth and survival Fijian traditional diet, so it con- ble however, because feed and information. Field experiments tributes to food security in addi- space quickly becoming limiting will then be needed to further tion to being a lucrative export factors. Release into large ponds refine release protocols and commodity. In the last 20 years, or into the coastal environment habitat selection criteria to fishing pressure — stemming is necessary for growing juve- obtain the best results. from export demand — has niles to commercial size. resulted in declines in size and The ACIAR project “Develop- abundance of individuals of this The major research question yet ment of aquaculture-based accessible shallow-water species. to be convincingly answered is livelihoods in the Pacific Islands whether post-release survival of region and tropical Australia” — Sandfish hatchery technology sandfish, and growth to har- led by James Cook University has been developed in New vestable size, are sufficient to with project partners SPC, Caledonia and in Australia justify the cost of breeding and WorldFish Center and University through research supported by rearing juveniles in captivity. of the South Pacific — funds the Australian Centre for Inter- Pilot studies by the WorldFish aquaculture research “mini- national Agricultural Research Center and other agencies projects”. These are small, tar-

22 SPC Fisheries Newsletter #125 – April/June 2008 SPC ACTIVITIES geted research interventions to lease or property rights area from November 2008–February address bottlenecks or con- (e.g. qoliqoli) as a commercial 2009. During this hatchery straints to sustainable aquacul- operation. “Re-stocking” means phase, staff of Fiji’s Department ture development. to restore breeders in a depleted of Fisheries and Hunter Pearls fishery by releasing sandfish will be trained in sandfish The mini-project “Culture of juve- into a restricted area and pro- breeding and larval rearing nile sandfish, Holothuria scabra, for tecting them as a future spawn- techniques. re-stocking and sea ranching trials ing population. This latter activ- in Fiji” was launched in May of ity is best combined with com- Afterwards, sandfish will be this year. A stakeholder’s consul- munity-based marine resources released and monitored to track tation was held with country part- management tools such as their progress. Rigorous sam- ners Fiji Ministry of Primary marine protected areas (MPAs). pling and statistical techniques Industries (Department of Fish- are necessary to make sense of eries), Hunter Pearls, and the Fiji Following the launch of this the high variability inherent in Locally Managed Marine Area mini-project, the next task is to this type of survey data. An Network (FLMMA), to define identify suitable environments ACIAR-USP masters scholarship objectives and protocols for a and communities for re-stocking has been awarded to a Fijian stu- juvenile sandfish re-stocking and trials. Collaboration with Fiji’s dent to lead the survey work. sea ranching project in Department of Fisheries and Access and management arrange- Cakaudrove Province on Vanua with selected communities in ments for this research and moni- Levu. Cakaudrove Province is ongo- toring phase will be made with a ing, and is aimed at finding the custodian community at each site This mini-project will transfer best possible juvenile release because, as the sandfish grow in sandfish hatchery technology to sites to increase the chances of size and value, security will Fiji, then will scale-up and success. WorldFish Center become an issue. For example, extend earlier re-stocking research has shown that sea- communities who already delin- research on post-release sur- grass beds comprising ribbon- eate and enforce an MPA in their vival and growth. Some prelim- like seagrasses on sandy-muddy fishing rights area will be pre- inary work will also be done to substrates and growing at a ferred for this research. determine possible manage- depth of not less that 20 cm at ment frameworks for large- low tide, are the most suitable. There are conflicting views scale sandfish re-stocking and about whether re-stocking or sea sea ranching that will meet the Surveys must also be done to ranching sandfish can actually future needs of stakeholders. determine the most reliable be successful. It is only through sources of adult sandfish to use open, transparent and research- The term “sea ranching” here as broodstock for the hatchery based approaches that stake- means a “put, grow and take” production of juveniles, which holders can gain the information operation, whereby owners har- will take place at the Hunter they need to plan for the long- vest released sandfish from a Pearls hatchery at Savusavu term health of the region’s sandfish resources. The Fiji sandfish mini-project is intended to be the next step along this path.

(Contribution: Tim Pickering, Secretariat of the Pacific Commu- nity, Noumea, New Caledonia and Cathy Hair, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia)

Dairo (sandfish) cooked the Fijian way: stuffed with corned beef and onions, cooked in lolo (coconut cream), served with nama (seagrapes, Caulerpa racemosa), and topped with kora (fermented coconut) and tavioka (cassava).

SPC Fisheries Newsletter #125 – April/June 2008 23 SPC ACTIVITIES

Report now available on the preliminary assessment of the potential for post-larval fish capture and culture Aitutaki, Cook Islands

This study was supported fisheries department to install financially by the French Pacific the sampling equipment, ana- Fund. It was based on a technol- lyze data and raise marine fish ogy transfer of the post larval and crustacean post larvae. The fish capture and culture from report contains an analysis of the French Polynesia to the Cook potential for development of this Islands. These techniques have technique in Aitutaki, Cook been developed thoroughly Islands. experimented by French Polynesian private operators As part of this project, Cook Island and by the countries fisheries fisheries officials were sent to department (SPE). Borabora at the Bora EcoFish farm ([email protected]) to gain For this project, a consultant training in post larval capture from Aquanesia, French Polyne- and culture techniques. sia ([email protected]) was hired to assist Cook Island

Vanuatu Aquaculture Development Plan 2008–2013 available

The Vanuatu Aqua- Vanuatu holds many promises culture Develop- for the development of both ment Plan is now marine and fresh water aquacul- available. The plan ture. And so, this plans comes at was produced by a perfect time and will be pre- Vanuatu’s Depart- sented to aquaculture stake- ment of Fisheries, holders in the next quarter, dur- with financial and ing the launching of Vanuatu’s technical assistance aquaculture association. provided by SPC. Appreciation is This five-year plan will hopeful- extended to other ly assist Vanuatu in working government agen- towards quality and sustain- cies, NGOs and pri- ability while at the same time vate sector compa- developing its aquaculture. nies in Vanuatu who contributed to the Both the plan and the Cook formulation of this Islands post-larval fish culture document during a report will soon be online at: national planning www.spc.int/aquaculture. workshop and fol- Copies can also be obtained from low-up consulta- SPC’s Aquaculture Section: tions. [email protected]

Seventh symposium on diseases in Asian aquaculture

The seventh Symposium on Dis- This symposium is principally a Fisheries Society holds this eases in Asian Aquaculture forum for scientists and stu- event every three years. The (DAA VII) took place from 22 to dents from the Asia-Pacific group was established in May 26 June 2008 in Taipei, Taiwan ( region specialising in the health 1989 for the purpose of produc- http://homepage.ntu.edu.tw/ of aquatic animals. The Fish ing technical materials on the ~daaseven/index1.htm). Health Section of the Asian health of aquatic animals.

24 SPC Fisheries Newsletter #125 – April/June 2008 SPC ACTIVITIES

DAA VII was convened to bring Each session was introduced by • Dr C.V. Mohan: Professor of together participants from an address on the current status Fish Pathology, in charge of around the world to discuss of each area by a world special- training by the Network of their work and develop new ist and followed by presenta- Aquaculture Centers in Asia- strategies for promoting aquatic tions from scientists, students, Pacific (NACA) on histologi- animal health in Asia. farmers and others. cal techniques (Master Class), the most recent of The theme of the 2008 A poster session was organised which took place on 12 Symposium was “Communica- on Day 3 with nearly 200 November 2007 in Bangkok, tion, cooperation and coordina- posters on display for the dura- Thailand (see website: tion: Key issues in aquatic ani- tion of the symposium. http://www.enaca.org.). mal health management”. With funding from SPC’s • Dr Ingo Ernst: Scientist with The four-day event comprised Aquaculture Section, the Fish- the Aquatic Animal Health some 12 oral presentation ses- eries Service of French Poly- Unit of the Australian Depart- sions focused on aquatic animal nesia was able to take part in the ment of Agriculture, Fisheries health and addressed the fol- symposium and present a and Forestry (DAFF). Dr Ernst lowing specific topics: poster entitled: “Diseases of provided advice on how to Platax orbicularis (Ephippididae) solve ectoparasitosis prob- • Global perspectives in man- and Polydactylus sexfilis (Poly- lems in French Polynesia’s aging aquatic animal health nemidae), two fishes farmed in Paraha peue cage farming ven- French Polynesia”. Oral presen- tures. • Emerging issues in aquatic tations were highly instructive animal health management and reported on the latest This is not an exhaustive list of developments and progress in the various exchanges initiated • Epidemiology, detection and the diagnosis and detection of during the symposium. For ref- diagnosis of pathogens in diseases observed in the aqua- erence, the mission report will fish, shellfish, molluscs and culture environment. Each ses- be passed on to SPC’s their environment sion was an opportunity to Aquaculture Section. French exchange ideas with eminent Polynesia’ fisheries service • Biosecurity and containment specialists such as: wishes, through this article, to in aquaculture systems warmly thank the various peo- • Dr Brian Jones: Principal ple who assisted during these • Recent developments in Pathologist with the Western very enlightening meetings. genomics and bioinformat- Australia Fisheries and Aqua- Events such as this are essential ics: implications for aquatic culture Department who had for acquiring new knowledge animal diseases been previously met in Tahiti and contributing to the sustain- during exchanges on the able development of French • Immunology/Disease resist- Tahiti pearl oyster health Polynesia’s aquaculture. ance/Host-pathogen inter- watch network and in connec- action tion with some of his work on Contribution by Georges fish. A training session at his Remoissenet, Fisheries Service, • Microbiology of aquatic ani- laboratory in Perth (Western Papeete, Tahiti, French Polynesia mal pathogens and antimi- Australia) is planned for next ([email protected]) crobial peptides year.

• Shrimp health and diseases • Dr Teruo Miyazaki: Professor of Fish Pathology at the • Mollusc health and diseases University of Mie (Japan), a fish histopathology specialist • Finfish health and diseases who was also promoting his latest book entitled • Pathogen risk analysis, pro- “Coloured atlas of fish biotics, therapeutics histopathology” (volumes 1&2 ed. Dr Teruo Miyazaki). • Aquatic animal health man- This book will be very help- agement; International trade ful for diagnosis using histo- and risk. logical techniques.

SPC Fisheries Newsletter #125 – April/June 2008 25 NEWS FROM IN AND AROUND THE REGION

A WATERY GOLDMINE FOR “BIOTECH” From fish in polar seas to bacteria stop them growing: a property in extreme conditions, should in hydrothermal springs, some sea that could be very useful in the lead to revolutionary industrial creatures live in conditions that field of medicine, in particular applications,” explains Philippe make it hard for us to believe their for organ storage or for Goulletquer, National Coordinator survival is possible. Their resist- cryosurgery, a technique that of Marine and Coastal Biodiver- ance under exceptional conditions, consists of destroying tumour sity at Ifremer. “That’s why bio- such as high salinity or extreme cells by freezing them. diversity is fundamental to temperatures, or their ability to biotechnology.” produce toxic substances, is Or consider the bacterium intriguing researchers from Marine Desulfotalea, which is resistant to CHEMICAL WARFARE Genomics1, a network of European cold because it grows in sub- excellence. Slowly but surely, zero temperatures on the It is not only the habitats of biotechnology researchers are tak- seabed. By using the enzymes of some marine organisms that ing an interest in these astonishing this bacterium instead of their have led them to acquire valu- natural phenomena, which can pro- mesophilic counterparts (which able qualities, but also the way vide us with numerous benefits, can only grow at moderate tem- in which they spend their time. from new medicines for cancer and peratures), industries involving These “couch potatoes” of the revolutionary antibiotics to food processing or washing deep combine a sedentary biodegradable plastics. processes could save significant lifestyle with a soft body, neces- amounts of energy. sitating a chemical means of “Certain organisms survive in defence from predators. They extreme depths, with little or no At the other end of the spec- have, therefore, evolved the oxygen, or resisting extreme trum, the bacterium Pyrococcus ability to synthesise toxic com- temperatures,” notes Mike abyssi lives in hot marine springs pounds, or to obtain them from Thorndyke, leader of the Evolu- and maintains an optimal marine micro-organisms. tion, Development and Diversity enzymic activity at tempera- node within the Marine Geno- tures of 80–110°C. The biochem- Particularly powerful, since they mics network. “How do these ical nature of its enzymes could need to be effective in water, and creatures manage under such be a key tool in technologies in as diverse as the microscopic conditions? How do they cope the future to recombine DNA. flora and fauna that produce with the dramatic depths, tem- Certain enzymes have already them, these natural products are peratures and pressure? We are been put to commercial use: the of great interest to scientists. trying to find out, as their DNA polymerase I, isolated They provide a huge reservoir of metabolisms could offer discov- from the thermophile bacterium substances that could be used, for eries that would be of use to Thermus aquaticus works in poly- example, to develop new treat- everyone, including in the field merase chain reactions (PCRs) to ments for infectious diseases or of human health. The enzymes manufacture huge numbers of cancer. Over 16,000 new com- of these organisms are of more genes for in vitro research. pounds of this type have been interest than those usually used; isolated from organisms such as for example, we could use them The list of marine products use- sponges, ascidians and seaweeds. in very saline solutions and in ful in biotechnology is growing extreme temperatures.” steadily and includes a range of GENETIC DIVERSITY proteins, lipids and “cazymes”, EXTREMOPHILES enzymes capable of converting In Europe, the Marine Geno- complex carbohydrates to pro- mics network is helping to dis- Take the case of fish swimming duce green fuel. Other bacteria cover new metabolites. “We in the polar seas. Why don’t they are involved in the breakdown of sequence DNA fragments to freeze? Thirty years of relentless polymers, a process that scien- measure genetic diversity in dif- research has finally revealed the tists at Ifremer, the French ferent sites along European secret of their resistance to the Research Institute for Exploita- coasts, but also elsewhere, like icy waters. A team of Canadian tion of the Sea, are using to pro- in the Antarctic. It’s important biologists has demonstrated that duce entirely biodegradable to allow us to study extremo- “anti-freeze” proteins, 10 times plastic. “Finding micro-organ- philes, those organisms living in more active than those previous- isms capable of resisting very extreme conditions,” explains ly known, fix to ice crystals to high temperatures, or surviving Thorndyke.

1 Financed by the Commission with 10 million Euros over four and a half years

26 SPC Fisheries Newsletter #125 – April/June 2008 NEWS FROM IN AND AROUND THE REGION

The network is constructing poramide A, a compound isolated isms and the seas is greatly lack- large databases that support from one of these actinomycetes, ing. The seas offer riches that we research into biotechnology, was able to bind to a tumour and need to take advantage of before such as the development of inhibit its growth. It is now in they disappear,” underlines antibiotics from DNA frag- clinical trials for multiple myelo- Thorndyke. The pharmaceutical ments, the creation of micro- ma, a cancer of the blood. industry lacks interest in this conductor chips, and the mass type of research, particularly production in bioreactors of rare A RESEARCH ODYSSEY because of legal uncertainty and marine bioproducts, such as a problem of availability. It is dif- growth hormones. “Despite these promising appli- ficult to apply traditional meth- cations, research related to the ods of testing and development Director of the Center for vast potential of marine organ- for a compound produced in Marine Biotechnology and Bio- medicine in San Diego (USA), William Fennical is among the Culinary classics with a twist pioneers discovering new anti- cancerous molecules in the sea. Some 20% of protein in the human diet comes from the oceans. The Having left the invertebrate health benefits of seafood have already been well-established and the field to turn to micro-organ- future looks even more promising. Gene technology should open the isms, Fennical and his team dis- way to new food products: containing high levels of unsaturated fatty covered numerous actino- acids and fish protein, they will help to reduce the risks linked to cer- mycete species in the benthic tain chronic diseases. Moreover, many organisms contain enzymes of deep, despite the common particular use in the food industry. Amino-peptides found in tuna reduce the bitterness in certain foods, while proteases from fish elim- belief that there were none in inate the skins of cuttlefish, squid, and the membranes surrounding the sea. In 2003, these researchers the egg pouches of fish, helping in the preparation of salmon caviar. demonstrated that Salinos-

Medicines fished from the seas

Ecteinascidia turbinate: This sea squirt from the Caribbean and the Mediterranean makes an anti-cancer compound, Yondelis (PharmaMar).

Actinomycetes: With its active ingredient extracted from the actinomycete bacterium Micromonospora marina, the anti-tumour drug Thicoraline is under development by PharmaMar.

Bugula neritina: This cosmopolitan marine bryozoan lives in symbiosis with a bacterium able to secrete an active bio-molecule, bryostatin. This acts as a deterrent to predator fish, but is also known for having properties that work against cancer of the kidney and the pancreas, and non-Hodgkin's leukemia, melanomas and lymphomas. It is currently in clinical trials.

Cyanobacteria: Scytonemin is a yellow-green ultraviolet sunscreen pigment present in this aquatic blue- green algae and may be used to develop inhibitors for use as anti-proliferative and anti-inflammatory drugs.

Aplidium albicans: This invertebrate has enabled the company PharmaMar to isolate a marine anti-cancer agent, Aplidin, currently in its trial phase.

Sharks: Sharks are particularly unaffected by cancer, largely because of squalamine, a molecule present in the liver. This could be used to fight against certain brain tumours.

Japanese sponge: KRN 7000 is not a natural product but it consists of a series of compounds extracted from a Japanese sponge, Agelas mauritianus. Tested on mice, it has been proven to work against tumours, particularly colon cancer.

Conus magus: This cone snail paralyses its prey using a poison-tipped barb. The poison is a painkiller many times more potent than morphine and is now on the market as Prialt.

Nemerte worm: GST 21 is the first molecule of marine origin that has been tested for the treatment of Alzheimer's.

Marthasterias glacialis: The Roscovotine molecule has been extracted from this spiny starfish by Dr Laurent Meijer from the National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) in Roscoff, France. By blocking cancerous cells without affecting healthy ones, it is a potential chemical weapon against cancer.

SPC Fisheries Newsletter #125 – April/June 2008 27 NEWS FROM IN AND AROUND THE REGION tiny quantities by a sponge that In the future, researchers will sion’s Green Paper on maritime lives hundreds of metres down. find it easier to experiment on policy suggests the creation of But, thanks to a few sea enthusi- hard-to-reach abyssal creatures. “Blue Investment Funds”. asts, the “biotech” odyssey is They will be able to grow useful running its course. For the last 20 substances in the laboratory, Source: Research*eu, the magazine years, the biotechnology compa- since they do not always come of the European research area, ny PharmaMar (Spain) has been from the marine organisms but Special Issue, December 2007 investigating potential anti-can- from associated bacteria. http://ec.europa.eu/research/rese cer properties of marine prod- Another option is to isolate the arch-eu ucts discovered by academics as gene responsible for synthesis- well as by its own explorers. ing the compound and “graft- Some 40,000 organisms and ing” it onto an organism that is marine products likely to offer easier to handle. Either way, therapeutic potential have these developments cannot take already been recorded by the place without investments, both Spanish company, and six of private and public. As part of these are in clinical trials. this, the European Commis-

OPTIMISING FISHERIES BENEFITS IN THE PACIFIC ISLANDS: MAJOR ISSUES AND CONSTRAINTS This report has been produced to inform the World Bank management and other interested donors of the status and issues of the fisheries sector in the Pacific Islands region. It identifies key constraints and past mitigating actions, and examines the potential future role of the World Bank in the Pacific Islands fisheries sector.

TUNA FISHERIES IN THE PACIFIC one-quarter of the catch is made ed into two categories: (a) gover- by vessels based in this region. nance, and (b) small countries The Pacific Islands region and Consensus is growing that and/or industries struggling the wider western and central improved management could with powerful countries and Pacific Ocean is the most impor- enhance the percentage of value powerful economic interests. tant tuna fishing area in the added per metric tonne of land- The measures suggested for world, estimated to be worth ed tuna. their mitigation are mostly con- about USD3 billion in 2007. At ventional, and are similar to present, the main benefits from The same is true of Pacific approaches that have been tuna fisheries include license Island countries’ participation attempted (with varying degrees fees, direct employment in fish- in existing tuna processing and of success) in recent history, ing activities, spin-offs from marketing activities. The tuna although suggestions for a dif- locally based fishing fleets and industry is currently undergo- ferent approach are also made. processing facilities, and mod- ing structural changes. Tuna est local taxes. All Pacific Island harvesting, processing and mar- Some of the major constraints to countries receive fees for for- keting is being affected by a tuna fisheries development in eign fishing activities in their variety of factors, including rap- the region include poor national waters. In some countries, idly rising energy prices and fisheries institutions, corruption access fees form a very large changes in major world markets within the fisheries sector, lack of portion of government revenue, as a result of major exchange skilled fishery managers, lack of up to one-third for some coun- rate movements, differences in regional solidarity, poor govern- tries in some years. relative income growth and ment policies for tuna industry changing consumer demand development, weak governance One of the major issues regard- patterns. These features are like- in the inshore fisheries sub-sec- ing tuna fisheries in the region ly to affect the distribution of tor, and market access issues. is the relative benefits of receiv- benefits from the region’s tuna ing access fees vs. pursuing resources. Poor national level domestic industry develop- fisheries institutions ment. An estimated 1.4 million CONSTRAINTS TO FISHERIES metric tonnes of tuna have been DEVELOPMENT Government fisheries agencies taken annually from the waters are far less effective now than of Pacific Island countries in Many of the constraints to fish- they were two decades ago. recent years, although less than eries development can be divid- Some reasons for this are insti-

28 SPC Fisheries Newsletter #125 – April/June 2008 NEWS FROM IN AND AROUND THE REGION tutional structures that result in • Estimating and publicizing eries, giving examples of low accountability to stakehold- the cost to the national and where it has occurred, and ers, corruption, poorly trained regional economy of corrupt how it may be avoided in the staff, and budgetary processes activity in the fisheries sec- future; that favor staffing levels over tor; and activities. Many of the present • Encouraging the concept of difficulties in the fisheries sector • Establishing links between accountability in regional can be traced directly to ineffec- national and international agreements, including pre- tive fisheries departments and anti-corruption activities agreed mechanisms for deal- low levels of professionalism. and those at the fisheries ing with noncompliance; and Recommended mitigating actions level. to address this issue include: • Developing a regional sector Lack of skilled management strategy that • Consolidating experiences fishery managers enables the resource poorest from the many institutional country to equitably benefit enhancement projects that In many of the smaller Pacific from regional tuna resources have been carried out in the Island countries, fishery agen- by enhancing regional bene- region, and linking these cies do not have staff with the fits across the board. efforts to ongoing gover- skills needed to effectively man- nance programs in and out- age fisheries. Also, the regional Government policies for tuna side the sector at national university does not recognize industry development and regional levels; the large and growing need for fisheries managers. Recom- It is generally recognized in the • Enhancing the ability of fish- mended mitigating actions to region that the major role of gov- ery stakeholders to influence address this issue include: ernment in promoting tuna fisheries department policies industry development should be and activities and to pro- • Creating an awareness and improving fisheries management mote accountability; reviewing the curriculum of policies. This concept, however, the University of the South has not been fully implemented • Enhancing the skills of fish- Pacific and other regional in most countries. Recommended ery managers; and institutions, in conjunction mitigating actions to address this with a survey of demand issue include: • Creating evaluation and from government fishery oversight mechanisms to agencies; and • Carrying out national assure greater adherence to reviews of private sector policies and legislation (e.g. • Arranging a program to investment conditions that bringing the results of gover- finance fisheries manage- focus on the fisheries sector, nance improvement work ment students and mid- using both investment and and evaluations to the atten- career managers. fisheries expertise; tion of stakeholders, high- level authorities, and the Regional solidarity in • Exploring potential benefits general public). fisheries of improved resource and sector management, assess- Corruption in fisheries Pacific Island countries can only ing multiple scenarios of effectively deal with more power- resource and fleet manage- In recent years there has been a ful countries and economic inter- ment, and improvements in noticeable rise in fisheries-related ests through regional solidarity. the framework for private corruption in the region. Corrup- In previous decades, the region investment; and tion is a major issue in fisheries was noted for its solidarity in governance, and many of the fisheries matters, especially in • Developing a group of actions identified for improving dealing with distant water fish- donors that would jointly fisheries institutions also apply ing nations (DWFNs). For vari- support a rational private to decreasing corruption. Recom- ous reasons, however, this soli- sector investment program, mended mitigating actions to darity has decreased. Recom- possibly in conjunction with address this issue include: mended mitigating actions to the negotiation and imple- address this issue include: mentation of future fisheries • Identifying simple generic agreements and adjustments measures for deterring cor- • Assessing the economic and of the resource management ruption specific to the fish- political costs of eroding system. eries sector; regional solidarity in fish-

SPC Fisheries Newsletter #125 – April/June 2008 29 NEWS FROM IN AND AROUND THE REGION

Weak governance in the • Promoting more effective • Reduce corruption in fish- inshore fisheries subsector national fisheries institutions eries; in order to seriously address Fisheries departments, fisheries the blockages created by the • Improve poor national fish- officers, and communities need sanitary requirements; and eries institutions; to take more responsibility for marine resources. A related mat- • Following up on a 2000 • Enhance skills of fishery ter concerns village food sup- study that suggested region- managers; plies. Although the security of al cooperation in air freight- village marine food resources is ing of fish. • Encourage countries to “take arguably the greatest issue with advantage of their advan- respect to inshore fisheries in the All of the mitigation measures tage” in dealing with DWFN; region, there is some danger that identified above are in many its importance may be obscured respects conventional, and are • Increase country participa- by the quest for greater econom- similar to approaches that have tion in the tuna industry; ic development. Recommended been attempted — sometimes mitigating actions to address with mediocre results — in the • Improve impact of fisheries this issue include: last two decades. This lack of studies; success indicates that a funda- • Promoting policies or man- mental change of strategy is • Improve government poli- agement plans against which required to improve regional cies for tuna industry devel- the actions of fishery depart- benefits from fisheries. Some opment; ments with regards to new approaches may circum- inshore fisheries can be vent traditional institutional • Improve regional solidarity measured; and political constraints and/or in fisheries; may actively aim to address • Subjecting inshore develop- them. Such new approaches • Improve the effectiveness of ment schemes to objective include using modern financial the Western and Central economic scrutiny by enhanc- instruments, and more active Pacific Fisheries Commission; ing the ability of regional multi-lateral donor participa- organizations to provide eco- tion in fishing sector manage- • Strengthen governance in the nomic advice on small-scale ment. Based on the information inshore fisheries subsector; fisheries; and and analysis presented in this report, The World Bank’s • Improve effectiveness of • Enhancing the skills of fish- involvement in fisheries in the monitoring, control, and sur- ery managers. Pacific Islands region should veillance through economic focus on: analysis; Market access • Enhancing the effectiveness • More active multi-lateral Access to the world’s lucrative of their governance; donor participation in fish- tuna markets is often constrained ing sector management; by food safety issues, the require- • Assessing the status and ments of trade agreements, and financial feasibility of the • Improve market access; and logistical considerations. Papua main fisheries, and their New Guinea is the only country potential restructuring; and • Specific studies that may in the region that is compliant cover a broader (economic with European Union food sani- • Enhancing Pacific Island and/or political) area than tation requirements. Some of the countries’ share of future existing analysis. most important logistical consid- domestic income (value erations in market access concern added) from tuna fisheries. Source: Summary of Gillett R. and inadequate airports and airline van Santen G. 2008. Optimizing policies. Many countries do not A summary of World Bank inter- Fisheries Benefits in the Pacific have adequate size airports for ventions that could lead to more Islands: Major Issues and economical air-freighting and benefits to Pacific Island coun- Constraints. The World Bank. 62 p. most airlines that service the tries is provided below. The [Full report is available online at region are likely to introduce air- interventions are prioritized www.worldbank.org/eaprural] craft that have less air cargo according to the magnitude of capacity. Recommended mitigat- likely benefits to countries, and ing actions to address this issue whether the intervention is cur- include: rently being addressed:

30 SPC Fisheries Newsletter #125 – April/June 2008 NEWS FROM IN AND AROUND THE REGION

PRESS RELEASE Freshwater prawn farming is a M.N. Kutty, K.R. Salin and M.C. farming sector in India, it also topic of the moment in global Nandeesha, published by contains information on the cur- aquaculture. According to the Macmillan India Ltd in 2008 rent situation in some of the latest statistics (FAO Fishstat Plus (www.macmillanindia.com). other major producing coun- 2008), farmed production of all tries. It is valuable as a reference species of Macrobrachium reached This book, modestly priced at volume and practical manual nearly 444,000 mt in 2006, with a USD 25 plus postage and pack- for all concerned with freshwa- value exceeding USD 1.76 billion. aging, is available from Dr C. ter prawns, especially academi- Mohanakumaran Nair (nair- cians, farmers, policy makers Macrobrachium: the culture of [email protected]). While the and investors. freshwater prawns is a new book book highlights current prac- by Michael New, C.M. Nair, tices in the freshwater prawn

All rights for commercial / for profit reproduction or translation, in any form, reserved. SPC authorises the partial reproduction or translation of this material for scientific, educational or research purposes, provided that SPC and the source document are properly acknowledged. Permission to reproduce the document and/or translate in whole or in part, in any form, whether for commercial / for profit or non-profit purposes, must be requested in writing. Original SPC artwork may not be altered or separately published without permission.

Original text: English

Secretariat of the Pacific Community, Marine Resources Division, Information Section, BP D5, 98848 Noumea Cedex, New Caledonia Telephone: +687 262000; Fax: +687 263818; [email protected]; http://www.spc.int/coastfish

SPC Fisheries Newsletter #125 – April/June 2008 31 of necessity, this study relies LIVELIHOOD DIVERSIFICATION AS A heavily on the observations of key individuals. The emphasis MARINE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT is on past experience, rather than what may seem intuitively TOOL IN THE PACIFIC ISLANDS: appealing or what appears to hold promise for the future. The LESSONS LEARNED time frame considered is about three decades — approximately the limit of what has occurred BACKGROUND within the memory of senior 1 Robert Gillett , individuals presently working 2 Inshore fisheries are overexploit- Garry Preston , in the fisheries sector. Warwick Nash3, ed in many areas of the Pacific 4 Islands. A variety of manage- Hugh Govan , Preliminary research consisted Tim Adams5, and ment interventions, both tradi- 6 of two components. The first tional and introduced, have been Michelle Lam was assembling the available lit- used in attempts to reduce fish- erature on livelihood diversifica- ing effort. This paper focuses on been learned from decades of tion (as it transpired, this was how successful the use of liveli- experience in areas such as the largely limited to proposals for hood diversification — securing promotion of aquaculture, turtle interventions), and discussions alternative or supplementary conservation efforts, capacity with 22 individuals who have sources of income or food to that enhancement of government promoted livelihood diversifica- obtained from inshore fishing — fishery agencies, and many oth- tion, either as a marine resource has been in relieving fishing ers. management tool or for terrestri- pressure on inshore marine al conservation purposes in the resources of the Pacific Islands With respect to livelihood diver- Pacific Islands. That information region. sification, a number of terms collection phase was followed by require clarification. “Livelihood the convening of a meeting of six This study was supported by the diversification” is often equated fisheries specialists from region- WorldFish Center and the to “alternative income genera- al/international organisations, Secretariat of the Pacific tion”, but the latter is less inclu- NGOs, and the private sector Community (SPC) as part of an sive of subsistence activities, which have a combined total of attempt to consolidate the wealth something that is quite impor- 125 years of working experience of experience gained over the tant in Pacific Island fisheries. in the region. During that con- years in marine resource devel- The term “supplemental liveli- sultation, the major issues in the opment and management in the hoods” acknowledges the fact use of livelihood diversification Pacific Islands region. From a that the promoted activity is not as a management tool were iden- historical perspective, failed ini- likely to completely replace the tified, and in subsequent discus- tiatives have often been repeated existing practice. From a practi- sions of successes and/or fail- without knowledge of previous cal perspective, however, these ures and associated considera- work and, conversely, successes three terms are often used inter- tions, a number of lessons can go unrecognised. By consoli- changeably in the Pacific Islands. emerged. Those are reported in dating the lessons of the past, this paper. scarce development and man- Although livelihood diversifica- agement resources may be more tion has long been promoted for It should be stressed that the productively employed in the marine resource management in importance of livelihood diver- future. Although an examination the region, the results of specific sification is much broader than of this topic of livelihood diversi- initiatives are poorly document- just fishery management. Its fication is timely, other related ed. This lack of documentation, potential for general communi- areas deserve to be analysed however, does not negate the ty development, although great, from a lesson learned perspec- need for, or the validity of, an is however not the subject of tive. These include what has examination of the subject. Out this paper. Here, the analysis is

1 Gillett, Preston & Associates; [email protected] 2 Gillett, Preston & Associates; [email protected] 3 WorldFish Center; [email protected] 4 Consultant; [email protected] 5 Secretariat of the Pacific Community; [email protected] 6 Consultant; [email protected]

32 SPC Fisheries Newsletter #125 – April/June 2008 LIVELIHOOD DIVERSIFICATION AS A MARINE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT TOOL IN THE PACIFIC ISLANDS: LESSONS LEARNED focussed on using livelihood alleviating pressure on over- lagoon fishing, with its limit- diversification for marine exploited inshore reef and ed commercial development resource management. Fisheries lagoon fisheries’. In review- potential, to unexploited managers in the Pacific Islands ing aquaculture in the region, fisheries such as deepwater have several mechanisms at Tanaka (1999) asserts, “In snapper (Adams and their disposal to reduce fishing many countries national fish- Chapman 2004) pressure, but the choice of the ing regulations are coming appropriate one is often not into force to stop over-fish- • Alternatives outside the clear. Because livelihood diver- ing… Without, however, fishing sector. Activities that sification has been for so many offering alternative sources of have been actively promoted years mentioned, promoted, income generation to villagers to reduce inshore fishing and used as a means for reduc- such co-management would pressure have included ing this pressure, it is thought not be maintained in the long- tourism (especially eco- that the specific topic of its term. Aquaculture develop- tourism), livestock raising, effectiveness as a fisheries man- ment in the coastal areas surfing, handicraft produc- agement tool deserves attention seems the best alternative for tion, and adding value to — and is the subject of this this purpose.” harvested seafood. Huber paper. and McGregor (2002) state • Fish aggregation devices. that in relationship to estab- LIVELIHOOD DIVERSIFICATION The placement of anchored lishing marine protected AS A MARINE RESOURCE rafts (FADs) in offshore areas areas (MPAs), ecotourism is MANAGEMENT TOOL to improve tuna fishing, as the most common alterna- well as other attempts to tive activity. Livelihood diversification has promote small-scale tuna been promoted as a tool for fishing, have often been jus- Although the above mechanisms marine resource management in tified by the fact that they are commonly employed in the the Pacific Islands for at least 30 may relieve fishing pressure Pacific Islands, data on the fre- years. In this period, there have from nearby inshore areas. quency of their use are almost been two main categories of The following rationale is non-existent. Some indication of attempts: 1) promotion of an given in a FAD manual for prevalence is given by the World alternative that in itself is sup- the region: “In many coastal Bank (2000), which reviewed posed to result in less inshore areas, growing populations coastal resource management at fishing, and 2) as a mitigation and the need to increase fish- 31 sites in seven Pacific Island measure — something used ing production have led to countries. The study showed when another management inter- overfishing of inshore and that income-generating pro- vention, such as a ban on fishing, reef resources. If fishermen grammes introduced for the produces a temporary hardship who normally fish inshore explicit purpose of alleviating in the form of less seafood or less are able to catch more fish pressure on coastal resources income from fishing. and earn better incomes by were found at 18 sites (58% of all changing to FAD-based tuna study sites). They included Four main types of alternative fishing, the fishing on aquaculture (10 sites), FAD tuna activities have been promoted inshore resources will be fishing (10 sites), and deep slope in the region to reduce fishing reduced” (Anderson and fishing (10 sites), with some sites pressure as alternatives to Gates 1996). having more than one activity. inshore fishing. These cate- Tourism, farming, handicraft gories are: • Deep reef slope fishing. The production, and infrastructure promotion of fishing for work were also found at various • Aquaculture. There is a long snappers and other large sites, but in general, these had history in the region of pro- bottomfish on outer reef been introduced as development moting the culture of marine slopes and seamounts has activities in their own right, organisms, often partly justi- been undertaken in many rather than as a coastal resource fied by the fact that such Pacific Island countries in management strategy. activity will reduce the the context of transferring amount of inshore fishing. fishing effort farther offshore In addition to serving as a tool The Samoa Fisheries Division to more lightly exploited for marine resource manage- Annual Report (Fisheries resources. A major focus of ment, livelihood diversification Division 2000) states, “Objec- development agencies such has often been used in the tively, aquaculture and mari- as SPC was to encourage Pacific Islands region for envi- culture have been observed Pacific Island enterprises to ronmental purposes, especially to be one of the options in move away from reef and biodiversity conservation.

SPC Fisheries Newsletter #125 – April/June 2008 33 LIVELIHOOD DIVERSIFICATION AS A MARINE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT TOOL IN THE PACIFIC ISLANDS: LESSONS LEARNED

Although the environmental it could hardly be considered a • Chapman et al. (2005) stud- objectives can be quite different success in that context. From the ied the effects of fish aggrega- (e.g. support of conservation preceding, it can be seen that for tion devices (FADs), includ- area institutions and/or infra- livelihood diversification to be ing measuring their useful- structure), some of the lessons considered a successful man- ness as inshore management learned are quite relevant to the agement tool, the requirements tools. It was concluded that fisheries sector. It should be are somewhat demanding. the success of FADs as a man- noted that in the region, liveli- agement tool was difficult to hood diversification efforts that The reality determine. This was due to deal with the environment the fact that at all locations, appear to have been better doc- In reviewing marine resource marine protected areas were umented and evaluated than management in the Pacific already in place and local those for fishery efforts. Islands over the last 30 years, it is communities and fishermen difficult to identify cases where had already changed their Outside the Pacific Islands, the use of livelihood diversifica- activities to account for this. livelihood diversification has tion as an inshore management often been used for the manage- tool could be considered clearly All of the 22 knowledgeable indi- ment of marine resource as well successful. This contention is viduals interviewed during this as for other purposes. A litera- based only to a limited degree on study could cite numerous fail- ture search indicates that much analysis of documented experi- ures of the use livelihood diversifi- of the marine experience has ences, although reports on the cation, but examples where it was occurred in Asia, especially promotion of livelihood diversi- clearly successful in reducing fish- Indonesia and the Philippines, fication are scarce, and those ing effort were not offered. Some and has commonly involved evaluating success are almost individuals did indicate that there seaweed farming and tourism. non-existent. The sentiment of are some important considera- However, the present paper the poor record of livelihood tions associated with this perform- focuses primarily on the Pacific diversification is based mostly ance record. These include: Islands experience. on the assertions of knowledgeable individuals — 22 people • Even in modern developed THE SUCCESS OF USING who have attempted to use countries, most small busi- LIVELIHOOD DIVERSIFICATION livelihood diversification as a nesses fail, so a generally AS A MANAGEMENT TOOL management tool or have poor record of livelihood observed the results of its use. diversification in mostly Requirements for success rural coastal communities in The experience the Pacific Islands region The success of using livelihood cannot be taken as proof that diversification as a manage- Formal evaluation of the suc- the livelihood diversification ment tool needs to be carefully cess of livelihood diversification concept will not work. defined. For the “tool” to be as an inshore management tool considered successful it must in the region appears to be lim- • Some of the attempts to use satisfy several conditions: 1) ited to two studies: livelihood diversification to results in activities that produce reduce inshore fishing pres- supplementary income and/or • In 1998, the World Bank stud- sure not only failed to do so, food; 2) the extra income ied coastal resource manage- but actually increased the and/or food actually decreases ment, including alternative pressure. Those that are fishing pressure; 3) does not income generation (AIG) at associated with the provi- result in broader environmental 31 sites. In terms of the per- sion of boats or boat build- damage; and 4) is considered to ceived impacts that AIG has ing, or the establishment of be worthwhile enough by the had on reducing the extrac- commercial market outlets, target fishers to be continued. tion of coastal resources at appear prone to this risk. Another requirement for the the 18 study sites where AIG tool to be successful is that it has been attempted, the • Some positive examples were must have been originally results were somewhat dis- cited, such as reduced fishing intended as a resource manage- appointing. Residents did not pressure on the reef off some ment measure. After all, a huge believe that any of the aqua- resorts, but (as per success tuna cannery could satisfy the culture efforts were having a criteria mentioned above) above three conditions, but substantial impact, and the those sources of livelihood because such a facility is not effects of FAD fishing and diversification were often not normally planned as an inshore bottom fishing were only primarily intended to be fisheries management measure, marginally better. management tools.

34 SPC Fisheries Newsletter #125 – April/June 2008 LIVELIHOOD DIVERSIFICATION AS A MARINE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT TOOL IN THE PACIFIC ISLANDS: LESSONS LEARNED

The usual case is where an munities (Gillett 1999). The study of inshore spearfishing in external agency (e.g. govern- intervention, however, was not Fiji (Gillett and Moy 2006) gives ment fisheries agency, NGO) successful in any of the five cat- information on the success of decides to provide some assis- egories (Michelle Lam, pers. that scheme: “Commercial tance to a community to com- comm.). spearfishing is depleting fishery mence a livelihood diversifica- resources in areas which may be tion activity (e.g. boat for off- Involvement of communities quite important for village food shore fishing, materials for fish in marketing complexities. One supplies” and that, at the most culture). This is often an out- of the stated objectives of a proj- important commercial spearfish- right grant (e.g. cash or goods) ect aimed at producing dried ing landing site in Fiji, “almost or something that inherently tuna jerky in Tuvalu was to all the fibreglass skiffs presently subsidises the concerned activi- relieve pressure on overexploit- involved in spearfishing were ty (e.g. free marketing service). ed reef and lagoon resources. A originally obtained through the Many such attempts are initially component of the project small-scale tuna fishing subsidy successful, but as expectations involved sending tuna jerky to scheme of the Fisheries Depart- are unfulfilled, as business com- overseas markets. No sustained ment”. plexities set in, or as subsidies export of this product has cease, either the community or occurred due to the fact that Successful, but not promoted as external agency loses enthusi- individuals or associations on a measure to reduce fishing asm and the livelihood diversi- outer islands do not have the pressure. The small “Mystery fication activity winds down. requisite entrepreneurial atti- Island” off the coast of Aneityum tudes, business skills or ability in Vanuatu receives occasional It may be useful to identify to cope with complex export calls by cruise ships. Tourist some specific examples of the arrangements (FFA 2005). expenditures ashore have result- various types of unsuccessful ed in less inshore marine har- uses of livelihood diversifica- No relief of fishing pressure vesting and have been an incen- tion for marine resource man- from the activity. In Palau, cul- tive to establish a marine pro- agement. turing a wide variety of marine tected area (Hugh Govan, pers. organisms (e.g. giant clams, comm.). Although a favourable Activity ceased with termina- milkfish, sponges, seaweeds, marine resource management tion of subsidy. In Samoa, pearls, oysters) has been promot- situation has resulted, the attempts to encourage fishing ed over the years,. One of the jus- Mystery Island project was not outside the reef by introducing tifications for aquaculture was to intended for resource manage- medium-sized, low-cost boats relieve pressure on inshore reef ment purposes, and therefore were initially successful (King resources (Chapman 2004). A cannot be considered a success- and Fa’asili 1998), but when the survey in 1999 stated that the ful management “tool”. subsidy for vessel purchase residents of six coastal commu- expired, other groups did not nities in Palau perceived little, if Other types of difficulties pursue the activity (Etuati any, reduction in coastal fishing encountered in the use of liveli- Ropeti, SPC Coastal Fisheries because of aquaculture efforts hood diversification for marine Management Officer, pers. (World Bank 2000). resource management include comm.). naïve attitudes towards market- Activity producing opposite ing (“produce something won- Overly optimistic donor with effect. The Fiji Fisheries Depart- derful and it will be pur- multiple goals. In a relatively ment Annual Report for 2002 chased”), communities receiving remote part of the Solomon (Fisheries Department 2003) business advice from individu- Islands (one of the region’s less- states that the provision of sub- als and/or agencies that do not developed countries), an NGO sidised boats and fishing gear have the requisite experience, promoted deep reef slope fish- for tuna fishing around FADs and soaring expectations on the ing for livelihood diversifica- was intended to “promote off- part of target communities of the tion. Project documentation shore fishing relieving pressure benefits that may result from the stated that the activity would 1) on inshore fisheries”. In 2003 activity in question. be a successful business, 2) have this scheme “assisted 31 small- a positive effect on the coastal scale tuna fishers through pro- In reviewing the above, many of resource management situation, viding fishing gears, safe afford- the difficulties fall into two cate- 3) be gender sensitive, 4) have able and recommended out- gories: participation from three ethni- board engines and punts, under cally and culturally different the small-scale subsidy scheme • Overly simplistic views of how communities, and 5) produce of a total sum of F$332,999” individuals and communities equitable benefits in those com- (Fisheries Department 2004). A react to opportunities and con-

SPC Fisheries Newsletter #125 – April/June 2008 35 LIVELIHOOD DIVERSIFICATION AS A MARINE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT TOOL IN THE PACIFIC ISLANDS: LESSONS LEARNED

straints. There is the assump- places in Kiribati and the What can an outside livelihood tion that extra cash or food Solomon Islands, and there is diversification intervention do will remove fishing pressure, some indication that seaweed for a community, that the com- but the actual situation of farmers fish less, including munity cannot do for itself? what motivates and discour- fishing in inshore areas. (Garry The essential input of an exter- ages individuals and com- Preston, Gillett, Preston and nal agency into the livelihood munities is far more com- Associates, pers. comm.); diversification process has most plex. often consisted of identifying • The government of French business or product opportuni- • The difficulties faced by tradi- Polynesia has installed a ties, providing marketing sup- tional Pacific Island communi- series of FADs, and one of the port, giving subsidies, supply- ties in operating commercial stated objectives of the pro- ing technical assistance, and businesses. Crocombe (2001) gramme is to encourage the performing the role of an “hon- reviews indigenous business “poti marara” vessels to fish est broker” between the com- development in the Pacific away from inshore areas, munity and a business. When Islands over the last century. which appears to be occur- the assistance is disaggregated He concludes that the busi- ring at present (Terri Luciani, to this level, some of the weak- ness failure rate is very high SPC Fisheries Training nesses become apparent. An and the proportion of all busi- Adviser, pers. comm). important point is that much of ness in the region handled by the assistance is provided by indigenous people is shrink- The first two examples above officers of government fisheries ing, observations that do not reinforce ideas received from departments and environmen- bode well for the usual tar- individuals familiar with the use tal NGOs. These people often gets of livelihood diversifica- of livelihood diversification for do not have the depth of experi- tion: Pacific Islanders inexpe- terrestrial biodiversity conserva- ence required for effective iden- rienced in business, often in tion in the region. One of these is tification and critical evaluation isolated communities. that the business model of opportunities; those types of employed should involve a tight agencies characteristically do Elements of success relationship with an empathetic not embody or foster such skills. business partner, rather than com- Providing marketing support is It is relatively easy to cite exam- munities attempting to do mar- an important area of assistance ples of livelihood diversification keting on their own. The first by external agencies, but failure. A more challenging, but example demonstrates the advan- because commercial opportuni- potentially more productive exer- tage of communities obtaining ties are rarely static, marketing cise, is to identify success in liveli- passive benefits from their marine support is an ongoing need. hood diversification initiatives assets, rather than immersing in However, fisheries departments and the associated positive ele- the complex business world. The and NGOs are simply not set up ments. Several apparently suc- third example is reliant on an to provide such assistance in cessful examples have not been inherent subsidy, a feature dis- perpetuity. The same could be subjected to close examination cussed later in this report. said for livelihood diversifica- and have not yet been in place for tion activities that require long- long enough to withstand the test In the above examples there is term subsidies. On the other of time. Nevertheless, the ones also the suggestion that the hand, agencies that focus on that have been identified during activity promoted in “success- performing the role of “honest this study are: ful” livelihood diversification broker” between communities tends to produce modest, rather and commercial businesses • About three years ago in Fiji a than spectacular, amounts of seem to enjoy a higher degree of major coral-exporting entre- alternative income or food. success. This appears to be the preneur began leasing reefs case for seaweed farming in from coastal communities for EMERGING TOPICS Solomon Islands and live rock the growing of ‘live rock’. AND IMPORTANT ISSUES culture in Fiji. The reason could Communities receive pay- be that the type of agencies that ment and there is a percep- An examination of some issues promote livelihood diversification of less inshore fishing in associated with the use of liveli- tion are reasonably capable of those communities. (W. hood diversification as a marine performing the vital role of Aalbersberg and E. Lovell, resource management tool may moderating expectations and personal communication); help explain the poor success performance between commu- record, or conversely, such nities and businesses. • Seaweed culture appears to be scrutiny may suggest where commercially successful in improvements should be made.

36 SPC Fisheries Newsletter #125 – April/June 2008 LIVELIHOOD DIVERSIFICATION AS A MARINE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT TOOL IN THE PACIFIC ISLANDS: LESSONS LEARNED

The good, bad and ugly of sub- #2 above), have been discontin- losses of income or fish when sidies in livelihood diversifica- ued when the subsidy was establishing marine protected tion. Many of the interventions withdrawn. Reasons for this areas (MPAs) and other man- of external agencies are outright could include elevated financial agement schemes until the pro- grants or something that inher- expectations, the fact that tected stocks recover to higher ently subsidizes the concerned obtaining the subsidy becomes levels of abundance or produc- activity, such as free marketing the primary reason for involve- tivity and can be exploited services. Ideally, the subsidies ment in the livelihood diversifi- again. There are many consider- would: cation activity (getting a free ations associated with both the boat), a feeling of being disad- existence and magnitude of 1) Only be required to catalyse a vantaged or cheated in starting such a “fisheries management process that would subse- an activity without a subsidy hump”, many of which relate to quently become feasible or when others previously have what position on the catch stand-alone (e.g., boatbuild- had one, and a lack of a clear curve an exploited fishing area ing where it is promoted for exit strategy. Livelihood diversi- is located (Tim Adams, SPC livelihood diversification), or fication projects that involve Director, Marine Resources Divi- long-term subsidies suffer from sion, pers. comm.). The prevail- 2) Demonstrate something that, the lack of donors with such ing hypothesis upon which many once observed by the target generosity. The box text below of the region’s MPAs are based is audience, would be adopted describes one project apparently that short-term losses will be (aquaculture in most places predicated on perpetual sup- compensated by long-term pro- where it is promoted for port that was not forthcoming. duction gains. Assuming this to livelihood diversification), or be true, an important point Getting over the “fisheries should be made: the few posi- 3) Be provided by a donor with management hump”. There is tive examples of livelihood substantial financial resources often mention in the Pacific diversification as a manage- and ability to provide a very Islands of the needs associated ment tool, both in marine and long-term commitment. (see with the temporary impacts of terrestrial areas, suggest that box text below) fisheries management initia- achieving success takes a con- tives. King and Fa’asili (1998) siderable amount of time, while The reality is that most liveli- describe this situation and indi- the need for overcoming man- hood diversification projects cate that alternative seafood agement-induced hardship is that were intended to be “kick and income sources are needed immediate. The incompatibility started” with a subsidy (#1 and to compensate for short-term of the two time frames could

Reliance on long-term subsidies*

In 1997, an environmental NGO decided to proceed with the construction and operation of a rural fishing centre (RFC) in Waghena, a village close to the Arnavon Islands Marine Conservation Area (AMCA) in the Solomon Islands. The RFC was established with the support of the NGO, and was modelled on those being promoted at the time by the European Union's Rural Fishing Enterprise Project. The difference in this case was that the RFC had the express goal of providing income opportunities that would allow local residents to forego harvesting threatened species from the AMCA. These species included hawksbill turtles, megapodes, and sedentary marine resources such as pearl shell, trochus and beche-de-mer. As well as establishing the RFC, the NGO had already supported the establishment of community-based management (CBM) arrangements for the AMCA, and the two initiatives were seen as being inter-linked. In addition to providing alternative income for the resource users of the area, it was hoped that profits produced by the RFC could support the cost of community patrols and other CBM activities. Unfortunately, the technical and economic feasibility of the RFC was dubious from the start. An independent pre-project assessment advised that the RFC would not be financially sustainable as designed without a permanent subsidy from the NGO (Preston 1996). The local representative of the NGO at the time stated that the organisation would indeed be willing to provide a subsidy in perpetuity in order to achieve its conservation goals in the area, but this was apparently a personal view and not the NGO’s official position. The RFC ceased to operate after several years of subsidised operation, and there is little evidence to indicate that the activities of the centre contributed anything to conserving the marine resources of the AMCA.

* See Leisher et al. 2007 and van Beukering et al. 2007 for an alternative interpretation of community assessment of the value and effectiveness of the Arnavon Islands Marine Conservation Area.

SPC Fisheries Newsletter #125 – April/June 2008 37 LIVELIHOOD DIVERSIFICATION AS A MARINE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT TOOL IN THE PACIFIC ISLANDS: LESSONS LEARNED therefore explain at least some project. The latter method, • Businesses are generally bet- of the difficulties of using liveli- although not the most common, ter than fisheries depart- hood diversification as a man- seems to be more successful at ments or NGOs at identify- agement mitigation measure. identifying communities with a ing and/or developing real interest in resource manage- opportunities, but often Business skills. It is common ment, rather than those whose have difficulties in spreading knowledge that the general level primary interests are the fringe benefits and in community of business skills in rural Pacific benefits. relations, hence the need for Island communities is quite low; somebody to smooth the this is understandable given the Other items on the agenda. interface between business largely subsistence nature of the Some supposed uses of liveli- and community. economy over much of the hood diversification as a manage- region and the egalitarian quali- ment tool are simply not genuine, • It seems to be more effective ties of many of the cultures. In and were never really intended to for an agency to identify and this context, in the promotion of relieve pressure on inshore work with an empathetic livelihood diversification that resources. Included in this cate- businessman than to attempt depends on business skills, there gory are measures to temporarily to drag communities into the is no “magic solution”, but rather mollify vocal communities when complexities of the business the road to success must start by harsh measures are put into place world. the development of basic finan- (e.g. a livelihood diversification cial literacy. This is a long and project to muffle dissent after a • The rare livelihood diversifi- complex process that could easi- total ban on a particular species), cation initiative that is suc- ly overwhelm an initiative words inserted into a proposal to cessful requires a long time focussing on the fairly narrow a donor to add extra appeal (often to achieve profitability and subject of using livelihood diver- for aquaculture projects: “…in the eventual profits are char- sification as a marine resource addition, it will relieve pres- acteristically modest rather management tool. Accordingly, sure….”), and as justification for than spectacular. this could be another explanation distributing goods prior to an elec- for the high failure rate of such tion (e.g. materials conceivably • Although most subsidies are projects. Conversely, it could also related to seaweed farming). In intended to only catalyse a be a factor in the success of those the extreme, several of the allega- livelihood diversification activ- projects that remove village-level tions of corruption associated with ity, their withdrawal most often participants from business com- fisheries in the region have leads the demise of the con- plexities, such as arrangements involved fiddling with items relat- cerned activity. The effective for passive leasing of lagoons for ed to supposed livelihood diversi- subsidy exit strategy is rare. aquaculture or having an “hon- fication (e.g. free or subsidised est broker” for interfacing with boats and engines), hence a sinis- • Expectations of the target commercial firms. ter incentive for formulating or community often grow to accepting such programmes. All unrealistic levels, leading to Village selection. The process of of these dubious uses have disenchantment when such selecting sites for livelihood detracted from the performance benefits are not attained. diversification for resource man- record of livelihood diversification agement seems to have a consid- as a management tool. • Boats and boatbuilding activ- erable effect on subsequent suc- ities for livelihood diversifica- cess. In many programmes, sites LESSONS LEARNED tion often “backfire” and have been selected due to a need IN THE PACIFIC ISLANDS results in even greater inshore that is perceived important by fishing pressure. outside agencies (e.g. high biodi- In the use of livelihood diversi- versity value, or the protection of fication for resource manage- • Most livelihood diversifica- aggregations of threatened ment in the Pacific Islands tion interventions have not species) or after “selling” the region, past experience points to been properly evaluated to project to residents, while in oth- some important overall conclu- determine their effectiveness ers (e.g. the PNG Coastal Fish- sions. These include: at reducing fishing pressure eries Management and Develop- as intended, but this aspect ment Project and the AusAID/ • Agencies promoting livelihood should be essential. Samoa Fisheries Project) villages diversification that focus on were made aware of manage- performing the role of “honest • In reviewing past failed ment efforts, including liveli- broker” between communities livelihood diversification hood diversification activities, and commercial interests seem initiatives, there appears to and could apply to be part of the to be the most successful. have been a lack of consider-

38 SPC Fisheries Newsletter #125 – April/June 2008 LIVELIHOOD DIVERSIFICATION AS A MARINE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT TOOL IN THE PACIFIC ISLANDS: LESSONS LEARNED

ation given to other manage- FFA (Pacific Islands Forum Leisher C., van Beukering P. and ment measures to reach the Fisheries Agency). 2005. A Scherl L.M. 2007. Nature’s desired objective. business plan for the National investment bank: How marine Fishing Corporation of protected areas contribute to Perhaps the most important les- Tuvalu. Gillett, Preston and poverty reduction. The Nature son learned about livelihood Associates, for the Forum Conservancy. 43 p. diversification in the Pacific Fisheries Agency. 30 p. Islands is that its performance Preston G. 1996. Evaluation of has not been to the level where Fisheries Department. 2003. TNC small-scale fisheries it can be considered an effective 2002 Annual Report. enterprise project – Arnavon resource management tool. In Ministry of Fisheries and Islands Marine Conservation many cases, livelihood diversi- Forest. Suva, Fiji. Area. A report prepared by fication could even be a distrac- Gillett, Preston and tion that deters communities Fisheries Department. 2004. Associates for the Nature from gaining an awareness of 2002 Annual Report. Conservancy. the need for, and benefits of, Ministry of Fisheries and more effective forms of marine Forest. Suva, Fiji Tanaka H. 1999. Recommenda- resource management. tions for supporting further Fisheries Division. 2000. Annual aquaculture development in REFERENCES Report: July 1999–June 2000. the Pacific Islands region. Fisheries Division, Apia. Background Paper 14, 1st Adams T. and Chapman L. 2004. Heads of Fisheries Meeting, Overview of deepwater Gillett R. 1999. A comparative Secretariat of the Pacific snapper fisheries in the SPC study of coastal resource Community, Noumea, New region. Information Paper 5, management in the Pacific Caledonia. 4th SPC Heads of Fisheries Island region. A report pre- Meeting, Secretariat of the pared for the World Bank. A Van Beukering P.J.H., Scherl Pacific Community, Noumea. report prepared by Gillett, L.M., Sultanian E. and Preston and Associates. Leisher C. 2007.The role of Anderson J. and Gates P. 1996. marine protected areas in South Pacific Commission fish Gillett R. and Moy W. 2006. contributing to poverty aggregating device (FAD) Spearfishing in the Pacific reduction. Case study 2: manual. Capture Section, Islands: Current status and Arnavon Community Marine Coastal Fisheries Programme, management issues. A report Conservation Area (Solomon South Pacific Commission, prepared by Gillett, Preston Islands). http://conserveon- Noumea, New Caledonia. 46 p. and Associates, for the line.org/library/solomon- Secretariat of the Pacific islands-mpa-and-poverty- Chapman L. 2004. Nearshore Community and the United reduction domestic fisheries develop- Nations Food and Agriculture ment in Pacific Island coun- Organization. 78 p. World Bank. 2000. Voices from tries and territories. Secretariat the village: A comparative of the Pacific Community. Huber M. and McGregor K. study of coastal resource 2002. A synopsis of informa- management in the Pacific Chapman L., Bertram I. and Pasisi tion relating to marine pro- Islands. Discussion Paper B. 2005. FAD research project: tected areas. Technical Report No. 9, Papua New Guinea Final results from community 2002/2001, International Waters and Pacific Islands Country surveys, gender assessment, Programme, South Pacific Management Unit, East Asia and catch and effort data Regional Environment Pro- and Pacific Region The World analysis. SPC Fisheries News- gramme and United Nations Bank, Washington, D.C. letter 113: 27–47. Development Programme. 44 p.

Crocombe R. 2001. The South King M. and Fa’asili U. 1998. A Pacific. Institute of Pacific network of small, communi- Studies, University of the ty-owned village fish reserves South Pacific, Suva. 790 p. in Samoa. Parks 8(2):11–16.

SPC Fisheries Newsletter #125 – April/June 2008 39 ments to refine culture and mabe SUPPORT FOR THE TONGAN production methods.

HALF-PEARL INDUSTRY HISTORY OF PEARL FARMING IN TONGA

In May 2008, SPC’s Aquaculture Cultured pearls in the Pacific are Officer visited Tonga to provide Antoine Teitelbaum1, dominated by the black pearl, assistance to two projects aimed Paul Southgate2, which is produced from the at stimulating the small-scale, Andrew Beer3, black-lip pearl oyster, Pinctada half-pearl (mabe) industry in Poasi Fale Ngaluafe4, and margaritifera. In Tonga, pearl oys- 5 Tonga’s Vava’u group. Martin Finau ter culture began in the early 1960s. In 1975, an experimental A pearl shell carving training as part of an Australian Centre venture was set up by the workshop was organised by for International Agricultural Tongan government. Broodstock SPC in Vava’u and involved Research (ACIAR)-funded proj- of the winged pearl oyster, Pteria local craftsmen and women ect for which James Cook Univer- penguin, was imported from who wished to improve their sity (JCU) in Townsville, Australia Japan for initial culture trials. pearl shell and mabe handi- is the commissioned organisation The FAO South Pacific Aquacul- crafts production. Tokerau Jim, and Professor Paul Southgate is ture Development Project a master carver from Rarotonga, the Project Leader. Technical assis- (SPADP) provided assistance in Cook Islands, was contracted by tance for the hatchery work was 1989 in carrying out stock assess- SPC to deliver the highest possi- provided by Andrew Beer and ment, spat collection surveys, ble quality, hands-on training. Paul Southgate, and SPC’s Aqua- and grafting techniques. culture Officer, Antoine Teitelbaum. Following the workshop, a The spat produced by the end of Commercial feasibility of pearl hatchery rearing session of this run will be used to supply farming in Tonga was initiated in winged pearl oyster (Pteria pen- Vava’u pearl farmers and, thus, 1993. Japanese specialists estimat- guin) was undertaken in increase the supply of raw mate- ed that an area of approximately Tongatapu at the Sopu Maricul- rial of pearl shells and mabe. The 850 ha in the Vava'u island group ture Center. This was conducted spat will also be used in experi- could be farmed for half-pearl production, supporting an annual production of around 750,000 pearls, with approximately 30% of these being first-grade. Assum- ing a value of USD30 each for first-grade half-pearls, potential annual revenue from an area of 850 ha was estimated to be around USD7.5 million (Finau 2005).

Tonga is in a relatively unique position to diversify the range of pearl products because Vava’u has winged pearl oysters from which half-pearl (mabe) can be produced. One of the advantages of producing half-pearls is the lower capital and technological investment required and the value-added opportunities through jewellery and handicrafts. Already there Pteria penguin broodstock. is a small but thriving niche

1 Aquaculture Officer, SPC; [email protected] 2 James Cook University; [email protected] 3 Consultant; [email protected] 4 Ministry of Agriculture & Food, Forests and Fisheries; [email protected] 5 Ministry of Agriculture & Food, Forests and Fisheries; [email protected]

40 SPC Fisheries Newsletter #125 – April/June 2008 SUPPORT FOR THE TONGAN HALF-PEARL INDUSTRY market to sell mabe pearls to tourists in Vava’u.

TRANSFERRING CARVING TECHNOLOGIES FROM RAROTONGA TO VAVA’U

SPC’s Aquaculture Section tar- gets livelihood opportunities. Mabe pearls and carved shell products are one of the lucrative opportunities supporting sustainable and profitable small- scale and rural development, especially in areas where tourism is developing.

In June 2006, SPC’s Aquaculture Section, together with JCU, organised a similar carving workshop in Kiribati to introduce the basics of those techniques (Teitelbaum 2007). That carving workshop was a more advanced course and had two major goals: 1) to provide an overview of the fundamentals involved in pearl jewellery and handicrafts (tools and crafts- manship, jewellery and handicraft design, pearl handicraft preparation and setting and marketing techniques), and 2) pay particular attention to the domestic market opportunities and local cultural carving and handicraft traditions in Vava’u.

Tokerau Jim (www.tokeraujim.com), the master carver hired for this exercise, runs a successful business in the Cook Islands. For the occasion, he brought in some specific tools that he uses in his workshop in Rarotonga. The Taurus ring saw1 and the Foredom hand drill2 were the most noticeable technological improvements that were brought to Vava’u. Traditionally, carvers used hand grinders and hacksaws for producing their crafts, taking over 30 minutes to produce shapes out of a shell. A ring saw can produce a shape in Top: Tokerau Jim explaining the use of the carving tools. less than one minute. Further- Bottom: Vava'u carver training with new tools.

1 Available for purchase at the Stained Glass Web Mart www.glassmart.com 2 Available for purchase at Mountain Heritage www.mhcrafters.com

SPC Fisheries Newsletter #125 – April/June 2008 41 SUPPORT FOR THE TONGAN HALF-PEARL INDUSTRY

more, the Foredom hand drill (with an rpm rate of over 45,000 compared with 30–33,000 for standard hand drills) allows carvers to be a lot more precise in their motifs and carvings.

Over this three-day event, trainees learned how to handle the new tools and how to produce better quality products with a true finished luster. Drawing and cutting shapes, designing pendants, earrings or whole shell art was demonstrated. Half-pearls (mabe) were also used for the carving exercises. Tokerau Jim demonstrated how to best use each shell to reveal its best colour and true nature. Thanks to Tokerau Jim, trainees also learned how to incorporate traditional Tongan motifs in the carvings, making those products uniquely Tongan.

One of the bottlenecks of handicraft production is the lack of supply of mabes and pearl shells. How can handicraft and mabe production be improved given the current state of farming in Vava’u?

THE NEED FOR SPAT

Until recently, pearl farmers from Vava’u (regrouped under the Pearl Grower Association – PGA) have only been growing a limited number of shells using natural spat collection. The poor recruitment of spat has resulted in the harvesting of adult oysters from the wild, which has further impacted recruitment and natural spat fall of Pteria penguin in Vava'u is now extremely limited.

ACIAR is funding a 2.5-year research project (FIS/2006/172), focusing on the development of

Top: Display of products from the workshop.

Bottom: Andrew beer holding a broodstcok Pteria penguin during spawning (female).

42 SPC Fisheries Newsletter #125 – April/June 2008 SUPPORT FOR THE TONGAN HALF-PEARL INDUSTRY appropriate hatchery culture Production of high quality half- was put into place. All hatchery techniques for Pteria penguin and pearl from Pteria penguin in Tonga equipment needed for spawning the use of hatchery-propagated has been clearly demonstrated and larval rearing were recov- oysters for pearl production. and existing pearl farming expert- ered or purchased, while a first This project involves collabora- ise in Tonga provides consider- batch of 30 adult Pteria penguin tion with SPC and ties in with able opportunity for this project to broodstock were air freighted SPC’s Aquaculture Action Plan. have immediate impact. from Vava’u.

Further development of the A SUCCESSFUL SPAWNING AT The first batch of oysters was pearl industry in Tonga is hin- SOPU MARICULTURE FACILITIES successfully induced to spawn, dered by a lack of knowledge of and larvae were put in incuba- culture requirements of Pteria In May 2008, the hatchery at tion. A second batch of 30 penguin and methods for opti- SOPU was upgraded by Tonga broodstock was induced to mising pearl production from Fisheries Department aquacul- spawn several days later and this species. For example, only ture staff, and assisted by these produced more than satis- one preliminary study has Andrew Beer and Antoine factory numbers of eggs, allow- reported on hatchery or nursery Teitelbaum. Several tanks were ing us to fully stock all available culture of Pteria penguin (Beer cleaned and prepared for larval hatchery tanks. The extra 1999) and, while limited infor- rearing. A filtered water system spawn was placed in outside mation is available relating to was rigged and a spawning set raceways and those were fer- half-pearl production from the up (including heat shock set up) tilised using agricultural fertilis- related Pteria sterna (Ruiz-Rubio et al. 2006), similar information is not yet available for Pteria penguin. Research is required to optimise culture methodology and pearl production from Pteria penguin as a basis for sustainable industry development. This ACIAR project will address the following major points:

• Hatchery culture of Pteria penguin and optimisation of hatchery culture techniques;

• Nursery culture and grow- out, optimising culture techniques;

• Half-pearl production and aspects effecting pearl quality (position, location, time);

• Investigation of round pearl production from Pteria penguin;

• Training Tonga Fisheries Department staff in culture methods and pearl production; and

• Training farmers and members of PGA.

Top: Hatchery setup.

Bottom: Broodstock in induction tank.

SPC Fisheries Newsletter #125 – April/June 2008 43 SUPPORT FOR THE TONGAN HALF-PEARL INDUSTRY er, in the hopes of producing a inspected two weeks later, large Ellis S., Wise D., Ellis E. and natural bloom of microalgae. numbers of spat were observed. Haws M. 2005. Hatchery Spat collectors were transferred production methods for the The temperature requirement of to an ocean-based longline and black-lip pearl oyster most pearl oysters is between spat will be harvested from (Pinctada margaritifera) based 26°C and 29°C for larval rearing them in September 2008. on existing hatcheries and (Ellis et al. 2005). During the run, experiences in the Republic the water was as low as 20°C Both the spawning and larval of the Marshall Islands and over night in the hatchery and so rearing run of Pteria penguin the Federated States of a heat exchange system was put and the shell carving workshop Micronesia. 63 p. into place and aquarium heaters complemented each other in the were also used, allowing water sense that they assisted in Finau M.W. 2005. Tonga country temperatures to be maintained increasing the supply of spat, report. SPC sub-regional between 26°C and 30°C. which is in high demand in technical meeting on pearl Vava’u and which ultimately culture. Nadi, Fiji. 30 A large proportion of the improves the end products of the November–2 December 2005. microalgae required as larval Tongan carved shell and mabe Secretariat of the Pacific food was provided as a com- industry. In the near future, this Community (SPC), Noumea. mercially available algal con- sustainable activity should gain centrate obtained from Reed in popularity and provide more Ruiz-Rubio R., Acosta-Salmón Mariculture in the USA. The alternative livelihood options to H., Olivera A., Southgate P.C. species used were Pavlova sp. Tonga’s rural populations. and Rangel-Dávalos C. 2006. and T-ISO. The encouraging The influence of culture results indicate that algal con- REFERENCES method and culture period centrates may be of consider- on quality of half-pearls able benefit to hatcheries in the Beer A. 1999. Larval culture, (‘mabé’) from the winged region by reducing the require- spat collection and juvenile pearl oyster Pteria sterna, ment to culture live micro-algae growth of the winged pearl Gould, 1851. Aquaculture for larval pearl oyster culture. oyster, Pteria penguin. World 254(1–4):28:269–274. This would simplify hatchery Aquaculture 1999. The production and reduce the need Annual International Confer- Teitelbaum A. 2007. Pearl oyster for specialised culture facilities ence and Exposition of the products jewelry making and technical capacity. World Aquaculture Society workshop 26 June– 2 July 26th April – 2nd May 1999, 2007 South Tarawa, Kiribati. More than 500,000 eyed larvae Sydney, Australia. Book of SPC internal publication. 16 p. were placed into settlement Abstracts, p. 63. tanks. When sample spat collectors from these tanks were

Vavau hosts many good sites for pearl farming.

44 SPC Fisheries Newsletter #125 – April/June 2008 PRACTICAL SAFETY AND COURSE ACTIVITIES The first week focussed on safety FISHING COURSE FOR PACIFIC courses, beginning with a two- day class on sea survival tech- ISLAND FISHERIES OFFICERS niques, followed by a one-day class on fire fighting, and a two- day workshop on first aid. These In October, SPC’s Fisheries short courses were well received Development Officer, William William Sokimi, by participants because with the Sokimi, assisted the Vanuatu Fisheries Development exception of two participants, Maritime College in coordinat- Officer, none had any previous formal ing the Practical Safety and Fish- SPC, Noumea, New Caledonia training in sea survival tech- ing Course for Pacific Islands [email protected] niques, fire fighting or first aid. Fisheries Officers. The course provided hands-on training in Officer; Elko-Joe Agir, Nauru Week two focussed on deep- fishing operations that use sev- Aquaculture and Coastal bottom fishing activities, week eral sustainable fishing methods Fisheries Officer; Erbai Yukiwo, three on vertical longlining and commonly used on small craft in Palau Fisheries Extension Fish- week four on horizontal the Pacific Islands region. eries Officer; John Oswyn, PNG longlining. Each Monday from Fishing operations were con- National Fisheries College Com- week two to week four was set ducted according to safe opera- mercial Fisheries Team Leader; aside to construct fishing gear tional plans (SOPs) that ensured Pomat Nelson PNG Manus specific to the fishing operation crew safety onboard and promot- Provincial Administration Post for that week. At the end of the ed environmental awareness. Harvest Officer; Martin Finau, day, the gear was placed on the The course also explored eco- Tonga Department of Fisheries vessels, and from Tuesday to nomically viable fishing practices Officer; Pesamino Tufele, Wallis Friday practical fishing activi- that may be conducive to a spe- and Futuna Fisheries Officer; ties were conducted according cific local situation. Morgan Magatogia, Niue Depart- to the assigned fishing method ment of Fisheries Officer; for that week. Course topic areas included Tanuvasa Toetu Pesaleli Samoa tuna catching methods such as Fisheries Division Extension The FV Etelis and the FV Em Nao small-scale pelagic horizontal Fisheries Officer/Skipper/ Engi- (Figs. 1 and 2) carried out the and vertical longlining; mid- neer; and Tiavare Henry, Cook operations for deep-bottom water jigging and mid-water Islands private sector commercial fishing, vertical longlining, handlining fishing; deep-bot- fisherman. trolling, and mid-water jigging. tom fishing; basic navigation The FV Evolan (Fig. 3) was used and seamanship; vessel opera- for horizontal longlining tions and management; vessel because it is equipped with a and crew safety; onboard han- hydraulic line hauler and has dling and preservation of catch for meeting export standards; information on bycatch mitigation; and small scale bait fishing gear and methods.

At the end of the course, fishermen were expected to return to their respective jobs in the region and use the knowledge they gained during the course to assist fishing communities and enterprises in developing sustainable and profitable fishing operations.

Course participants included Ben Buga, Solomon Islands Fisheries

Figure 1: FV Etelis.

SPC Fisheries Newsletter #125 – April/June 2008 45 PRACTICAL SAFETY AND FISHING COURSE FOR PACIFIC ISLAND FISHERIES OFFICERS sufficient deck space to carry out this operation effectively.

SEA SURVIVAL, FIRE FIGHTING AND FIRST AID COURSES

Onboard fishing operations was the main thrust of the Practical Safety and Fishing Course; therefore, it was important that participants fully understand the basic concepts of dealing with emergencies at sea before departing on fishing trips. Participants were required to undergo training in sea survival techniques (Fig. 4), fire fighting (Fig. 5) and basic first aid (Fig. 6). These short courses also gave participants an insight into the basic qualifications required by seafarers for admission to work on commercial fishing vessels. This insight will assist fisheries officers in dealing with offshore fishing personnel during the course of their duties.

During the progression of each course, assessments were carried out to ensure that participants grasped the concepts and lessons they were taught. Participants who did not understand any part of the lessons were re-briefed until they understood. At the end of each course, a final assessment was conducted to ensure that participants retained the information given during the lessons. At the end of the week, each partici- pant qualified for a Safety Certificate and was eligible to be onboard during the practical fishing trips.

SAFETY AWARENESS BRIEFING: SAFE OPERATIONAL PLANS

Another main of the course was to stress the importance of

Figure 2 (top): FV Em Nao.

Figure 3 (middle): FV Evolan.

Figure 4 (bottom): Participants engaging in sea survival techniques.

46 SPC Fisheries Newsletter #125 – April/June 2008 PRACTICAL SAFETY AND FISHING COURSE FOR PACIFIC ISLAND FISHERIES OFFICERS

implementing safe operational plans (SOPs) (Fig. 7). SOPs reduce the chances of mishaps at sea and, in the event that a mishap does occur, crew members will have a better chance of survival than if an SOP had not been implemented.

During the course, an SOP and fishing gear checklist was filled out every morning before departure. It was signed by the skipper and handed over to the college’s shore duty officer for the day. The 10 participants were divided into two SOP groups. Before departure, the SOP group for the day had to ensure that every item on the checklist was accounted for and that the vessels were ready for the practical fishing operations. Upon return from the fishing trip the SOP group for the day carried out the final fish processing duties, ensuring that at the end of the operation, all the fish were properly gilled, gutted and iced according to the preferences of the fish buyers.

The second SOP group was responsible for tidying up the vessel and stowing away the fishing gear in readiness for the next fishing trip. This group also refuelled the vessel and prepared it for the next fishing trip, as they would be the SOP group the next morning.

An important point that was stressed to participants was that the SOP for any vessel is unique to that vessel alone. This is because each vessel has a different layout and positioning of gear and so the requirements for each vessel are slightly different.

Figure 5 (top): Dealing with an onboard fire.

Figure 6 (middle): Practicing first aid on a dummy.

Figure 7 (bottom): Pomat Powayai of PNG carrying out an SOP check.

SPC Fisheries Newsletter #125 – April/June 2008 47 PRACTICAL SAFETY AND FISHING COURSE FOR PACIFIC ISLAND FISHERIES OFFICERS

PRACTICAL FISHING ACTIVITIES

A PowerPoint presentation was given to brief participants on the course structure and the type of fishing methods that would be carried out. Fishing gear was constructed during the afternoons of the first week, after the safety classes.

The fishing methods taught during the course were deep- bottom fishing (Fig. 8), trolling (Fig. 9), FAD/mid-water jigging using the chum bag method and jigging rods, vertical longlining, horizontal longlining, and bouke-ami lift net bait fishing.

While most participants were familiar with some of the fishing methods, only several of them had any real opportunity to go out on fishing trips. The deep-bottom fishing method was known to most, probably because it is an extension of the shallower bottom-fishing methods. However, vertical longlining, horizontal longlining, mid- water chum-bait fishing and bouke-ami baiting method were new to most participants.

Although some participants knew about the ”drop stone” method, none had actually tried it, so the modern variation of this method (using a chum bag), was not known to most of them (Figs. 10 and 11).

Participants were given the opportunity to participate in each fishing method and to make recommendations for

Figure 8 (top): Morgan Magatogia of Niue trying his hand at deep-bottom snapper fishing.

Figure 9 (middle): Mahi mahi and yellowfin tuna caught while trolling at the FAD.

Figure 10 (bottom): Chum bag gear used for mid-water fishing.

48 SPC Fisheries Newsletter #125 – April/June 2008 PRACTICAL SAFETY AND FISHING COURSE FOR PACIFIC ISLAND FISHERIES OFFICERS improving fishing operations or Trolling at the FAD produced Vertical longlining was the main suggest modifications to the good results. The fish caught were fishing method during week fishing gear to suit their person- predominantly skipjack tuna three. The total catch of 101 fish, al preferences. (Katsuwonus pelamis), followed by weighing 351.6 k (see Table 2 for juvenile yellowfin tuna (Thunnus details). CATCH RECORDS albacares), mahi mahi (Coryphaena hippurus), mackerel tuna (Euthyn- Horizontal longlining was the Catch records were kept every nus affinis), rainbow runner main method used during week day by the SOP group. (Elagatis bipinnulata), great bar- four. The catch from this fishing Participants were briefed on the racuda (Sphyraena barracuda) and method included a total of four importance of maintaining wahoo (Acanthocybium solandri). sets conducted in two consecu- catch records in logbooks, and tive days, two sets per day. The on listing information on fish During the deep-bottom fishing catch totalled 12 fish weighing species, number caught, weight, sessions (Fig. 12), 108 fish were 108.7 kg (see Table 3 below). length, fishing area, fishing caught with a total whole time, method used, number of weight of 389.6 kg (see Table 1 During the three weeks of practi- hooks used, and tide level. below). cal fishing, 221 fish were caught, weighing a total of 849.9 kg.

Table 1: Deep-bottom fishing results

Common name Scientific name No. of individuals Combined weight (kg) Ruby snapper Etelis carbunculus 55 262.9 Grouper Epinephalus morrhua 3 3.5 Mahi mahi Coryphaena hippurus 2 10.2 Dogtooth tuna Gymnosarda unicolor 1 16.7 Rainbow runner Elagatis bipinnulatus 3 3 Blue-lined flower snapper Pristipomoides amoenus 7 3 Longtail red snapper Etelis coruscans 7 23 Yellowfin tuna Thunnus albacares 3 8.6 Mackerel tuna Euthynnus affinis 1 1.2 Amberjack Seriola rivoliana 5 24.4 Green jobfish Aprion virescens 1 1.3 Rosy jobfish Pristipomoides filamentosus 14 19.4 Large-eye bream Wattsia mossambica 5 11.4 Great trevally Caranx ignobilis 1 1 Total 108 389.6

Table 2: Vertical longlining results

Common name Scientific name No. of individuals Combined weight (kg) Yellowfin tuna Thunnus albacares 28 198.6 Skipjack tuna Katsuwonus pelamis 64 107.2 Mahi mahi Coryphaena hippurus 7 43.1 Rainbow runner Elagatis bipinnulatus 1 1.2 Mackerel tuna Euthynnus affinis 1 1.5 Total 101 351.6

SPC Fisheries Newsletter #125 – April/June 2008 49 PRACTICAL SAFETY AND FISHING COURSE FOR PACIFIC ISLAND FISHERIES OFFICERS

Table 3: Horizontal longlining results

Common name Scientific name No. of individuals Combined weight (kg) Yellowfin tuna Thunnus albacares 4 88 Great barracuda Sphyraena barracuda 1 1.5 Ruby snapper Etelis carbunculus 1 7.5 Longtail red snapper Etelis coruscans 1 4.5 Grouper Epinephalus sp. 2 5.6 Large-eye bream Wattsia mossambica 1 0.8 Blue-lined flower snapper Pristipomoides amoenus 2 0.8 Total 12 108.7

FISH AGGREGATING DEVICE The participants were briefed pelagic fish are processed and on the different methods in the reasons for processing them A fish aggregating device (FAD) which deepbottom fish and this way. was deployed 2 nm southwest of Malo Island in 530 m depth by Nare Wolu, masterfisherman with the Vanuatu Maritime College. The FAD had been in the water one month before the course started and several schools of fish were in the vicin- ity during the course.

Schools of skipjack schools included individual fish weighing between 1 kg and 6 kg while a school of juvenile yellowfin tuna included fish ranging from 8 kg to 15kg. The deeper yellowfin tuna in the area ranged from 18–50 kg, and several of these were caught using the chum bait fishing method.

PROCESSING THE CATCH

Several onboard demonstra- tions were carried out to demonstrate the recommended methods for onboard handling of fish for the fish markets according to the buyer’s prefer- ence. The bulk of the catch was retained on ice for processing at the college’s fish processing room where the participants could participate as a group to gill, gut, clean and ice the fish and also record the species and weight of each fish caught. Figure 11: Yellowfin tuna caught using the mid-water chum bait method.

50 SPC Fisheries Newsletter #125 – April/June 2008 PRACTICAL SAFETY AND FISHING COURSE FOR PACIFIC ISLAND FISHERIES OFFICERS

MARKETING manager, Norman Davies. restaurants, motels and also to Actual marketing was under- college staff Arrangements for marketing taken by Kelvin Talo, the col- the catches were made by the lege’s senior catering instructor. college’s office administration Fish were sold to local stores,

Figure 12: Deep-bottom fishing.

SPC Fisheries Newsletter #125 – April/June 2008 51 52 SPC Fisheries Newsletter #125 – April/June 2008