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The Australian Centre for International Agriculture Research (ACIAR) was established in June 1982 by an Act of the Australian Parliament. Its mandate is to help identify agricultural problems in developing countries and to commission collaborative research between Australian and developing country researchers in tields where Australia has special research competence. Where trade names ilre used this does not constitute endorsement of nor discrimination against any product by the Centre. ACIAR PROCEEDINGS This series of publications includes the full proceedings of research workshops or symposea organised or supported by ACTAR. Numbers in this series are distributed internationally to selected individuals and scientific institutions. Recent numbers in the series are listed inside the back cover. @ Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, G.P.O. Box 1571, Canberra, A.C.T. 2601 Blaber, SJ.M .. Milton, D.A. and Rawlinson. NJ.F. (ed.) Tuna Baitfish in Fiji and Solomon Islands: proceedings of a workshop, Suva, Fiji, 17-18 August 1993. ACIAR Proceedings No. 52. 136 p. ISBN 1 86320 I 10 6 Production management: P.W. Lynch Design and production: BPD Graphic Associates, Canberra, Australia Printed by: Australian Print Group, Maryborough, Australia Tuna Baitfish in Fij i and Solomon Islands Proceedings of a workshop, Nadi, Fiji 17-18 August 1993 Editors: S.J.M. Blaber, D.A. Milton and N.J.F. Rawlinson Contents Introduction iv Acknowledgments vi BACKGROUND Fiji baitfishery status report S.P. Sharma 3 An industry perspective Navitalai Volavola 6 A review of previous baitfish studies and reports in Fiji N.l.F. Rawlinson 8 Analysis of historical tuna baitfish catch and effort data from Fiji with an assessment of the current status of the stocks N.l.F. Rawlinson and S.P. Sharma 26 MANAGEMENT ISSUES Customary fishing rights in Fiji and their effects on compensation payment for commercial baitfishing activities in Fiji S. P. Sharma 49 Predators of tuna baitfish and the effects of baitfishing on the subsistence reef fisheries of Fiji SJ.M. Blaber, D.A. Milton. N.l.F. Rawlinson and A. Sesewa 51 A survey of fishing activities by coastal villagers in Fiji and the possible conflict with commercial baitfishing N.l.F. Rawlinson and A. Sesewa 62 Potential sites for commercial baitfishing in Fiji N.l.F. Rawlinson and A. Sesewa 70 BAITFISH BIOLOGY Aspects of growth and reproduction relevant to managing tuna baitfish stocks in Fiji D.A. Milton and S.l.M. Blaber 79 Species composition and community structure of tuna baitfish populations in Fiji D. A. Milton. N. J. F. Rawlinson and A. Sesewa 92 A checklist of fishes recorded by the Baitfish Research Project in Fiji from 1991 to 1993 S.l.M. Blaber. D.A. Milton, N .l.F. Rawlinson & A. Sesewa 102 SOLOMON ISLANDS Current status of commercial baitfishing in Solomon Islands Gideon Tiroba 113 Length-frequency data for tuna baitfish (Encrasicholina heterolobus and Spratelloides delicatulus) and the cardinal fish (Apogon rueppellii): guidelines for employing computer packages to use length-frequency data to analyse age composition and growth of fish populations B.S. Wise and I.C. Potter 117 Participants list 131 iii Introduction Tuna are fished throughout the tropical and temperate waters of the world using three main methods: purse seining, longlining and pole-and-line fishing. The pole-and-line fishery is a low-cost high employment fishing technique compared to the purse seiners method. The move to high-capital low employment and high technology resources of purse seiners has increased in the American, and to a lesser extent. Japanese tuna fishing fleets. Most of the tuna catch of the Solomons, Kiribati, and Fiji is made using the traditional pole-and-line method. This technique cannot operate without a regular and adequate supply of suitable baittlsh species. These are small fish which are thrown live into the sea to attract tuna schools within fishing range of the boat. The tuna industry is vital in the Solomons, Kiribati and Fiji where it provides a major source of food. much employment and high export earnings. In Solomon Islands a locally-based commercial tuna fishing industry was established in 1971. It has now developed into a major earner of foreign exchange and is the largest employer in the private sector. One of the objectives of the Fisheries Sector Development Program 1985-90 (Fisheries Division, Ministry of Natural Resources, 1985) was to improve the foreign exchange position of Solomon Islands by import substitution and commercial fisheries by further investments into practical research orientated projects. In 1988 some 35000 t of tuna were exported from Solomon Islands, earning over $A40 million in export revenue. The pole-and-line fishery in the Solomons is well established and is the basis of a Solomons Japanese joint venture with boat building facilities, docks and established 'in-country' training capacity. Currently there are 36 pole-and-line vessels operating. Due to the existing training and building infrastructure for the pole-and-line industry, and the low cost of pole-and-line vessels it will be the main method of catching tuna in the medium and long term. The current and future viability of the pole-and-line fleet depends upon an understanding of the fundamentally important baitfish resource. This resource was the subject of a comprehensive ACIAR-funded study from 1986~1989. It has provided a sound base of biological information on which to manage the fishery. With such a sound understanding of the biology of the baitfish, rational management practiees can be initiated to ensure a continuing supply of baitfish in the face of overfishing and an expansion of the tuna fishery. Although baitfishing serves the commercial fishery of the Solomons, it is characteristically an artisanal activity and must not conflict with the needs of the traditional owners of the reefs where the baitfish are caught, particularly with regard to the ecological relationships between baitfish and their fish predators, the latter forming the basis of traditional reef fish fisheries. The ACIAR/CSIRO Baitfish Research Project (BRP) showed clearly that baitfishing has little direct effect on reef fisheries in the Solomons and hence that restrictions on baitfishing (and hence tuna fishing) were not warranted for this reason. The results from the BRP engendered much interest throughout the South Pacific and led to the incorporation of Kiribati mid-way through the project. Tuna are the largest natural resource of Kiribati and the tuna fishery is the most important industry in terms of employment and foreign currency earnings. A commercial pole-and-line fleet is based at Tarawa. The success of these vessels depends upon an adequate supply of baitfish. A shortage of naturally occurring baitfish is considered a major constraint to further expansion of the fishery as well as the level of fishing that can be maintained by the current fleet. Mariculture of juvenile milkfish for use as bait was attempted but has been unsuccessful due in part to the poor tuna attracting qualities of milkfish. In response to requests by the Government of Kiribati, their Fisheries Division joined the ACIAR-funded BRP in 1988-89. This was completed by June 1991 (ACIAR Technical Report 24), as part of this new project and as recommended by the previous Project Review. The tuna fishing and canning industry in Fiji employs over 1000 people and generates more than 10% of Fiji's export income. Fiji has gradually built its place in the world markets and today PAFCO (Pacific Fishing Company) tuna is recognised world-wide as of the highest quality. At present IKA Corporation Ca government statutory body) owns a iv fleet of five pole-and-Iine vessels and a further two such vessels are privately owned. There are also two long-tern1 chartered Japanese vessels, one long-term New Zealand vessel and four Kiribati vessels which occasionally fish in Fiji waters. Despite the success of large purse seiners in tropical areas of the Pacific, the pole-and-line method remains a viable economic enterprise at the latitude of Fiji. In addition, smaller vessels with comparatively high crew numbers fit well with national development objectives. The bait requirements of pole-and-Iine fishing in Fiji occasionally come into conflict with local interpretations of customary fishing rights and expansion of the fishing fleet will exacerbate the problem. Hence Fisheries Division in Fiji identified the interrelationships between commercial baitfishing and artisanal fishing as a priority area for research. In addition the rational management of Fiji's baitfish resources (which lie almost entirely within customary artisanal fishing areas and are vital for the pole-and-line fleet) is a priority task of the Fisheries Division. Fiji approached CSIRO in 1989 exploring research collaboration. Research undertaken during the BRP indicated that collaborative research between Fiji Fisheries Division and CSIRO could rapidly provide the sound biological base so urgently needed for management. Baitfish research in Fiji was constrained by a shortage of skilled staff, expertise and funding. The research into these vital questions in Fiji was undertaken by the BRP and completed by June 1993. This Proceedings of the final project workshop held in Nadi in August 1993 includes background papers, highlights management issues which need to be addressed' and contains the results of biological studies. This recently completed second phase of the BRP has had outputs relevant to many South Pacific countries. The experience gained by Australia (CSIRO) in undertaking the research, place it in a unique position to contribute further to such projects in developing countries as well as to recently emerging baitfish problems in eastern Australia. S.l.M. Blaber Division of Fisheries CS/RO Marine Laboratories Cleveland, Queensland Australia v Acknowledgments The staff of the Baitfish Research Project would like to thank the following for their assistance during the project.

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