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The Decline of the Sea Urchin, Tripneustes Ventricosus, Fishery of Barbados: a Survey of Fishermen and Consumers

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The Decline of the Sea Urchin, Tripneustes Ventricosus, Fishery of Barbados: a Survey of Fishermen and Consumers The Decline of the Sea Urchin, Tripneustes ventricosus, Fishery of Barbados: A Survey of Fishermen and Consumers ROBERT E. SCHEIBLING and PHILIP V. MLADENOV Introduction In Barbados, West Indies, a local but sumers. Since landings are not recorded economically important fishery for the and quantitative records of sea urchin Sea urchins are harvested for their go­ sea urchin Tripneustes ventricosus has abundance in Barbados do not exist, this nads, which are a highly prized delicacy existed for more than a century. Barbadi­ is the only means of obtaining such infor­ in parts of Asia, the Mediterranean, and ans consider the gonads of both sexes a mation. Moreover, these interviews pro­ the Caribbean. Worldwide, the sea delicacy and large numbers of these "sea vide a basis for assessing the cause and urchin fishery is the most important of all eggs" have been fished each year and consequences of the decline, and the po­ of the echinoderm fisheries, with re­ sold as food. Since 1879, the Barbados tential for rehabilitation of the fishery. ported landings of 47,560 metric tons (t) Government has imposed a closed season (live weight) in 1982 (Sloan, 1985). In for the fishery from May to August, the Methods peak of the breeding season (Lewis, addition, artisanal sea urchin fisheries Fishermen Interviews along the coasts of many tropical coun­ 1958), in an effort to conserve it (Bair, tries go largely unrecorded. These fish­ 1962). However, the abundance of these We interviewed 40 sea urchin fisher­ eries make important contributions to sea urchins in Barbados has declined dra­ men using a prepared questionnaire local economies, and some may have the matically over the past decade, and the (copies available from the first author). potential to be expanded to meet certain fishery has virtually collapsed. The questionnaire was divided into three export markets. At present, Japan is the In this study we document the recent parts: I) Personal information and fishing greatest consumer of sea urchin roe, im­ decline of the Barbados sea urchin fish­ and marketing practices, 2) questions porting it from at least 13 countries ery and its socioeconomic impact by in­ pertaining to the decline in the fishery, (Sloan, 1985). terviewing both fishermen and con­ and 3) questions pertaining to the cause of the decline and the potential for reha­ bilitation. The intervi~wees ranged in age from 21 to 77 years (X = 43 years). The majority were veteran fishermen-37 (52 percent) had fished sea urchins for ABSTRACT-For over a century, Bar­ tially ($25-45 Bds/liter in 1985), there has ~ 10 years, 25 (63 pecent) had fished badians have fished the sea urchin, Trip­ been a major loss of employment and in­ >20 years; only 3 (6 percent) had fished neustes ventricosus, for its roe which they come from this fishery. consider a traditional delicacy. However, Overfishing appears to be a major cause <5 years. The interviews were con­ the abundance of these sea urchins has de­ of the decline of T. ventricosus. A govern­ ducted at major fishing centers (Brid­ clined drastically in recent years resulting ment-imposed closed season during the getown, Oistins), as well as in smaller in the collapse of this fishery. Interviews peak breeding period of these sea urchins villages (Silver Sands, Long Bay, (between May and August) is not enforced with sea urchin fishermen and consumers Skeete's Bay, Conset Bay) (Fig. I). We document this decline and its socioeco­ and generally unheeded. Pollution may nomic impact. have contributed to the decline through the enlisted the assistance of one fisherman, The depopulation of T. ventricosus oc­ deterioration of natural habitats, particu­ Tim Jones of Long Bay, who acted as our curred along the south and southeast coasts larly the seaweed and seagrass beds upon liaison in soliciting interviewees. Before of Barbados in the late 1970's and along which these sea urchins depend for food an interview, fishermen were told only the east coast in the early 1980's. Prior to and shelter. this decline, sea urchins were intensively Recovery of populations of T. ventrico­ that we were researchers from Canadian harvested: Average catches exceeded sus is contingent upon recruitment via 1,000 sea urchins per person per day dur­ planktonic larvae; however, little is known about the mechanisms of recruitment and ing the height ofthe fishing season, provid­ Robert E. Scheibling is with the Biology Depart­ ing an average income of nearly $400 Bds the ecology of the early life history stages. ment, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Sco­ (or US $200) per person per week. At Artificial enhancement of recruitment, by tia, Canada, B3H 4J I. Philip V. Mladenov is present, sea urchins are rare to absent on seeding natural habitats with laboratory with the Biology Department, Mount Allison traditional fishing grounds, and although cultured juveniles, is a potential means of University, Sackville, New Brunswick, Canada, their market value has increased substan- rehabilitating the sea urchin fishery. EOA 3CO. 62 Marine Fisheries Review Figure I.-Places and subareas (A, B, C) of sea urchin fishing grounds re­ ferred to in the text. River Bay Speightstown Martin'sIe Bay / Consel Bay Bath Skeele's Bay universities, unaligned with the Barbados Ragged Point Government, and that we wished to ac­ BARBADOS quire information about the sea urchin fishery that may aid in attaining research B assistance. Consumer Interviews Crane Beach BRIDGETOWN Sixty Barbadian consumers were inter­ viewed by anthropology students from Union College, N. Y., using a prepared questionnaire (copies available from the Silver Sands A first author). The questionnaire was aimed at examining consumer preference for sea urchins and consumption habits. 5 Km The respondents, representing various \ socioeconomic groups and occupational categories, were from the four northern parishes: S1. Lucy (26), S1. Peter (18), 51. Andrew (9), 51. James (7). powered fishing boat ("day boat"). The heavy wave action. In the past many sea number of fishermen per boat ranges urchins were collected in shallow Results from 2 to 6 with an average of 4 (N = 20 nearshore areas by wading with net bags l respondents ). Sixty-five percent of the or rafts. Fishing Methods fishermen interviewed used both the pole-and-bag method and boats to fish for Fishing Grounds Fishermen collect Tripneustes ventri­ sea urchins; 25 percent used the pole­ cosus by skin diving with mask, snorkel, and-bag method exclusively. The current Tripneustes ventricosus and fins. They swim out from shore, In general, fishing methods have fishing grounds range from Silver Sands singly or in pairs, with a floating log changed very little. The face mask and on the south coast to Bath on the east ("pole") from which they suspend large fins were introduced about 15-20 years coast (Fig. I). This area is partitioned net bags or sacks. Sea urchins, 7-10 cm ago. Although scuba is now available into three subareas for the purpose of this in diameter, are scraped off the rocky (and used by some spear fishermen) it is study: Area A, Silver Sands to Crane bottom with a small iron rod and col­ not used in the collection of sea urchins. Beach; Area B, Crane Beach to Ragged lected in the bags which, when full, are The increasing scarcity of sea urchins has Point; Area C, Ragged Point to Bath. floated back to shore on the pole. Alter­ resulted in a greater dependence on boats Ninety-five percent of the fishermen natively, sea urchins may be collected in for fishing remote populations in areas of interviewed fished in Area B and/or Area floating wooden boxes or rafts. C. Three respondents indicated that, in Fishermen may also work in teams recent years, they had ventured as far as 1Where not all interviewees provided answers to from a boat, either a small rowboat a question, the number of respondents (N) is River Bay on the north coast to fish sea ("Moses") or a larger (-20-foot) diesel­ given. urchins. Sea urchins also were fished ex­ 49(3), 1987 63 Closed season of the season in September. Therefore the be discarded on the fishing grounds, al­ 100 I I decline in the number of fishermen fish­ though a number of fishermen that we 90 Cl ing in November and December may re­ interviewed denounced this practice, _.!: 80 o ~ 70 flect a decrease in the abundance of sea claiming that it caused the sea urchins to ~u:: 60 urchins due to intensive fishing at the migrate away from the area. There may E~ 50 start of the season. A marked decrease in be some truth to this contention, since ~ E40 the number of sea urchin fishermen oc­ other species of sea urchins have been ~~ 30 curs after December, when many begin shown to be repelled by the scent of £ 20 10 fishing for flying fish, Cypselurus wounded conspecifics in laboratory cyanopterus. (Tegner and Levin, 1983; Mann et aI., JFMAMJJASOND The average (±S.D.) number of sea 1984) and field (Snyder and Synder, Month Figure 2.-Percentage of sea urchin urchin fishing days per week reported by 1970; Vadas et aI., 1986) studies. fishermen fishing in each month respondents (N=24) was 5 (± 1) days. The catch is sold fresh on the beach when Tripneustes ventricosus were Since this did not include 14 respondents directly to local consumers or to vendors last abundant. who said that they fished every day that ("hawkers") who market the roe in the weather permitted, this may be a conser­ streets. Twenty percent of the fishermen vative estimate of fishing frequency, at we interviewed sold to hawkers. Occa­ least at the height of the fishing season. sionally, sea urchin roe also is sold to Marketing restaurants.
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