Coastal Fisheries 2015
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COASTAL FISHERY REPORT CARD 2015 Photo: Quentin Hanich Quentin Photo: Introduction This Coastal Fishery Report Card provides high-level The Roadmap anticipates a 10-year timeframe for all Pacific advice on the current status of Pacific coastal fisheries in Island countries to have put in place policies and legislation relation to the goals, indicators and strategies adopted by that provide for the involvement of coastal communities in Pacific Islands Forum Leaders in the Regional Roadmap the management of their fisheries resources. Communities for Sustainable Pacific Fisheries. Of course, not every will drive local management regimes with clear user rights, fishery issue is covered here, but the Report Card provides supported by national controls on export commodities. a snapshot that fisheries stakeholders and political leaders can use as a benchmark to gauge future progress on implementing the Roadmap. #12 #11 #02 Mangrove crab Trochus (Scylla serrata) Rabbit(Tectus niloticus) (Siganidae) #01 sh #04GroupersParrot sh (Epinephelidae) (Scaridae) Streamlined spinefoot (Siganus argenteus) Trochus (Tectus niloticus) Mangrove or mud crab Species & GiantDistribution grouper The mangrove or mud crab,(Epinephelus Scylla serrata lanceolatus), is found in Peacock hind Steepheadh d parrot sh(Scyllah serrata) Little spinefoot (Cephalopholis argus)Greentropical humphead and sub-tropical parrot inshore sh areas from Africa to the Paci(Bolbometopon muricatum) (Chlorurus mirorhinos) (Siganus spinus) Goldspotted spinefoot c Islands. The shell colour(Siganus varies punctatus)from a deep, mottled green to very dark brown/purple. Other related species of Scylla may The status of Mottled spinefoot exist in some areas. Creel survey (Siganus fuscescens) Species & Distribution Yellow-edged lyretail Male and female crabs can be distinguished from each ot Spotted parrot sh by the shape of the The genus (Cetoscarus ocellatus) (Variola louti) sea cucumber Species & Distributionsnails commonlycrab; called the to The family Siganidae Trochus(see illustration). contains many diff and demographicrabbit The main species of interest ap isin narrow in males and much wider in females sh, in a single genus, Siganu resources Rabbit niloticus (ex p shells. ap (abdomen)Leopard on the undersidecoralgrouper of the in maze-like patterns. The across the shell base) which has an off erent (Plectropomusspecies of sea leopardus) Habitats & Feeding sh have small mouthsincludes and man 28 species, commonlyHoneycomb calledTrochus grouper niloticus), a large species (up to The mangrove crab is found in muddy are poison glands that are capabl oblique reddish stripes and an interi assessments (Epinephelus merra) Daisy parrot sh with mangroves and seagrassDarkcapped beds in the parrot tidal mouths sh of the Paci shell. This species is harv Habitatsrivers and sheltered & Feeding bays. (Scarus oviceps) Rabbit (Chlorurus sordidus) for its shell which is used to make mother of pearlc Islands is Tectus Vermiculated spinefoot and fisheries Paci (the Juvenile trochusThe settle crabs i burrow in the mud and generally have a restricted sh are widely distributed across the c Oceans. s. Solomon Islands one of gure which on has the been top ofdrilled thisested page to produce for shows its twbutton -white b shell with (Siganusher boulders vermiculatus) and rubblehome rangeo (area over which they move to feed). or layer of thick 150pearly mm of coastal finfish n spines are equipped w y species are covered e of giving a painful wound. esh and particularly On atoll reefs,Mangrove adult trochus crabs eat tend small clams, worms, shrimps, barnacles, sea cucumber The natural distribution of trochus is from the e Brown-marbledn intertidaln shallow grouper reef areas among the in Fiji reef crest whilesmall on management Ocean to the Paci (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus) in collaborationThese with guide the LMMA and information Network (www.lmmanetwork.org sheets have been produced) to assist by SPC people ( working down to d smaller, injured or weak mangrove crabs. Juvenile mangrove species has been succe buttons sh, plant material and other crabs. They also eatas associated with fishing communities in providing advice on appropriate fisheries management options. Species & Distribution o trochusHabitats shells, & Feeding crabs are eaten by wading birds and ats. a wide range of fisheries further to the east. In c 1957,Ocean they as far were eastAdult intr as Fiji.rabbit However, the epths of about high 20 islands, m. they Adult crabs have been found in the stomachs of sharks and ith Trochus graze on coral and rocks for to the Cook Islands and from Vanuatushallow to French coral reef lanks). larger Habitatsto aggregate & along Feeding the There are approximately Indian and Species & Distribution species vary g ssfully transplanted to countries are on reef slopes September 2013 Many species formastern shfeeding are Indian active sch in estuaries, lagoons and sh. large head and reatlymouth. but Many most160 speci have species a wideareas of groupers. body of seagrass. wi The The key habit of southernwww.spc.int) Palauin spots of yellow, species of sh known Parrot sh are found on rocky coasts and in seagrass beds The rabbitfamily Scaridae includes ats over during 90 the day. resource status and oduced from Fiji Habitats & Feedingas well as onvery coral small reefs. plants. in spawning aggregations. green and brown.as parrot shsh. are the areas (sites) at March 2014 Diff es are well camou erent species a Polynesia.th a around the world. In the Paci Rabbit The key fused At night parrot sh sleep in crevices or holes after wrapping recommendations © Copyright SPC, 2011 re found in tropicalParrot and temper sh have evolved aged bright colours and habitats teeth in the life cycle of group The status Secretariat of the Pacific Community September 2014 parrot water areas of cocoon of mucus. BP D5 - 98848 Nouméa Cedex - New Caledonia generally decreases from into parrot-like sh feed onbeak seawes. Most species reach 30 to 50 cm in themselves in a transparent covering or coral free of suff ools and graze over large species are sh, they are believed tos, be the responsi greenthe humphead coral parrot coral sh, rubble (where Thethe mucusyoung may repel parasites or hide the scent of the sh continuallyc thelength. number on The seagrass oflargest bed specie reef (where the adults live) sh. found in all tropical islands. ate waters aggregationats in the3 lifem sites long,cycle ofand from night-time predators. The key habitats in the life cycle for management west toby east a largeBolbometopon but number important of reef murica food tum, may whichgrow they to gather1. to breed ers are the shallow d, in many species, the areas Telephone: +687 26 20 00 The giant reef foodweigh webs. up to 46species kg. Parrot sh are found in relatively shallow(where adults gatherof to parrot reproduce). sh are coral reefs an ocating plant growth Adults of many species appea sh settle), Facsimile: +687 26 38 18 largest bonygrouper, Epinephelus lanceolatustropical, is onwaters throughouted and the seagrasses world anand,d thelike largest where and thethey spawninggather to breed (the spawning aggregation weighs up to sh in the world an ranges (areas i c oceans. sites), often on the outer reef slope or in channels. The Locally-M E-mail: [email protected] number of species is found in the Indian and Paci anag have a group of several ed Ma 50 cm long) are more importan n which they live and feed) and one rine Ar 600 kg. Many of the smaller groupe r to have relatively small hom ea (LMM A) N d grows up to 3 m long and etwork communities, howev e of the s. Because rabbit With their fused teeth, parrot sh scrape coral to feed on sh, they are . importanThey appear to graze Groupersble for are keeping not fast swimmer females in an areaplant of reef.growth and some may feed on the very small plants er. t in the catches of coastal e rs (40 to they often l (zooxanthellae) male may living within the coral. Some of the coral fisheries and I gills as powerfulie in wait pumps for theirto suck prey thei or use their mouths mprovi of sea cucumber ng th sh are eaten and this helps with the digestion of the e surface is eaten practice o resources f marine conservatio s over long distances and They eat n plant material. They graze large quantities of coral to gain sh, small sharks, juveni November 2013 and spinyt lobsters.in coral small amounts of food and continually release clouds of ne r prey from crevices. sh can produce about le sea turtles,coral particles.octopusesand As each adult parrot in Vanuatu year, their contribution to the 90 kg of coral particles each sand of lagoons and tropical beaches is important. Their feeding activity also prevents coral becoming smothered by plants. The predators of parrot sh include moray eels, snappers and a wide range of larger reef sh. The status of Information sheets Information 2011 at Tokelau reefresources invertebrate and July 2013 Guide recommendationsfor management Samoa fisheries2012/2013 socioeconomic survey report Adequate and relevant information to inform management and policy and national polices. Intermediate outcomes against the following main result areas will be annually updated and reported to Forum Leaders: i. Informed, empowered coastal communities with clearly defined user rights. Goal 1 – Empowerment ii. Adequate and relevant information to inform The number of well-managed coastal fisheries in the management and policy. Pacific islands is surprisingly small. Ineffective coastal Recognition of, and strong political commitment and fisheries management is a real threat to the sustainability iii. support for, coastal fisheries management on a national of Pacific fisheries, as it is these fisheries that currently and sub-national scale. provide Pacific islanders with most of their nutrition and employment from the fisheries sector. Governments iv. Re-focused fisheries agencies that are transparent, need to establish policies and legislation that protect accountable and adequately resourced, supporting fisheries resources and facilitate the ongoing supply of coastal fisheries management and sustainable marine foods to coastal communities.