Vanuatu National Sea Cucumber Fishery Management Plan 2015

VANUATU NATIONAL SEA CUCUMBER FISHERY MANAGEMENT PLAN 2015

A NATIONAL POLICY FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF VANUATU’S SEA CUCUMBER FISHERIES

VANUATU FISHERIES DEPARTMENT JULY 2015

Vanuatu National Sea Cucumber Fishery Management Plan 2015

APPROVAL OF THE

VANUATU NATIONAL SEA CUCUMBER FISHERY MANAGEMENT PLAN 2015

The Vanuatu National Sea Cucumber Fishery Management Plan 2015 is made in accordance with Part 4, of the Fisheries Act No. 10 of 2014.

By virtue of powers conferred upon the Minister for Fisheries, under Section 11(5) of the Fisheries Act No.10 of 20014, I hereby approve the Vanuatu National Sea Cucumber Fishery Management Plan 2015.

COMMENCEMENT DATE

This Plan commences on the date on which it is approved by the Minister, according to section 11(5) of the Fisheries Act No. 10 of 2014.

Contents 1 PRELIMINARY INFORMATION ...... 5 1.1 Title ...... 5 1.2 Application ...... 5 1.3 Purpose and Objectives ...... 5 1.4 Interpretation ...... 5 2 VANUATU SEA CUCUMBER FISHERY OVERVIEW ...... 7 2.1 Background ...... 7 2.3 Fishing, production and monitoring ...... 8 2.4 Current management measures ...... 9 2.5 Status of resources ...... 9 2.6 Target Species ...... 10 3 MANAGEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES ...... 10 3.1 Strategies to achieve the Objectives ...... 10 3.2 Consultative process ...... 11 4 AUTHORITIES, ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES ...... 11 4.1 Fisheries Management Advisory Council ...... 11 4.2 Department of Fisheries ...... 12 4.3 Provincial Government ...... 13 4.4 Role of Area Secretaries/Authorized Officers ...... 13 4.5 Community and Resource Owners ...... 14 4.6 Other partners ...... 14 5 MANAGEMENT MEASURES ...... 14 5.1 Licensing and Permits ...... 14 5.1.1 License Types and permits ...... 15 5.2 Criteria for Assessing License Applications ...... 16 5.3 Permits ...... 17 5.4 License Fees, export permit fees, levies and auctioning ...... 17 5.5 Sea cucumber open season and open area ...... 18 5.6 Quota system (or TACs system) ...... 18 5.6.1 Quota (TACs) setting ...... 18 5.6.2 Quota allocation ...... 19

5.7 Other Sea Cucumber Products ...... 19 5.8 Sea Cucumber Aquaculture and sea ranching ...... 20 5.9 Sea cucumber reseeding guidelines ...... 20 5.10 Sea cucumber sea ranching guidelines ...... 20 5.11 Prohibitions ...... 21 6 MONITORING, COMPLIANCE AND REPORTING ...... 21 7 GENERAL ...... 22 7.1 Training Requirements ...... 22 7.1.1 Research ...... 22 7.2 Review and Amendments ...... 22

1 PRELIMINARY INFORMATION 1.1 Title The title of this plan is the Vanuatu National Sea Cucumber Fishery Management Plan 2015, there after referred to as “Sea Cucumber Management Plan”. This Plan sets out the policy of the Government of the Republic of Vanuatu in relation to the management, development and conservation of the sea cucumber resources in Vanuatu.

1.2 Application The Sea Cucumber Management Plan supplements and does not override the provisions of the Act or regulations promulgated under the Act and all activities under the Sea Cucumber Fishery Plan shall be subject to the applicable provisions of all Acts and Regulations of the Republic of Vanuatu: a. The Sea Cucumber Management Plan applies to all animals belonging to the Class Holothuroidae, commonly known as sea cucumber, and their fisheries and associated activities in regard to the collection, processing, buying, storage, selling, exporting of sea cucumber products, or aquaculture, restocking or ranching of sea cucumber; b. The Schedules to the Sea Cucumber Management Plan form part of the Plan and shall be read together with the Plan; c. The Plan is to be interpreted in accordance with Part 1 of the Fisheries Act No. 10 of 2014 and section 1.4 of this Plan;

1.3 Purpose and Objectives The purpose of the Sea Cucumber Management Plan is to provide the structure for the management, development and conservation of sea cucumber fisheries in Vanuatu. The objectives are to:

a. Ensure the fishery is ecologically sustainable; b. Ensure that harvesting and processing of sea cucumber has minimal impact on the marine environment; c. Strengthen ongoing monitoring programs to ensure effective monitoring and the collection of scientific information and to; and d. Optimize economic returns from the fishery to industry, communities and resource owners.

1.4 Interpretation Unless otherwise expressed, words and expressions used in the Plan shall have the same meaning as defined in the Fisheries Act No 10 of 2014. Where there is inconsistency between the Plan and the Fisheries Act, the Fisheries Act shall prevail.

Act means the Fisheries Act No.10 of 2014 as amended from time to time.

Bêche-de-mer means the raw, boiled and dried or other processed forms of sea cucumber.

Biomass means an estimate of species abundance (in weight of sea cucumbers) in a given area. 5

Density means an estimate of species presence (in number of sea cucumbers per unit of surface area) in a given area.

Department means the Department of Fisheries,

Fisheries Management Advisory Council means a council established pursuant to section 9 of the Fisheries Act. No. 10 of 2014

Fishery Management Plan means a plan for the management, development and conservation of any designated fisheries pursuant to Section 10 and 11 of the Fisheries Act No. 10 of 2014;

Final product means final processed product of sea cucumber that is ready for consumption.

Indefinite Closure means the fishery shall be closed permanently with short open seasons.

Licensed operators means sea cucumber harvest licensees and sea cucumber export licensees

Licensing period means a period from 1st January to 31st December of any year;

Marine Protected Area means a marine area protected and enforced by the community for the purposes of conservation of marine species.

Marine Reserve means a marine reserve pursuant to section 102 of the Fisheries Act.

Open season means a period of time declared by the Government as a period when certain fishing activity shall be undertaken.

Open area means a given area declared by the National Government or Provincial Government as an area where certain fishing activity shall be undertaken.

Quota means a Total Allowable Catch (TAC) defined for each species in open areas within the fishery during open seasons.

Resource Owner means person or groups of people, having traditional ownership right over certain marine areas and resources within.

Sea cucumber means the live form of any species of sea cucumbers present in Vanuatu waters.

Sea cucumber export license means a license issued under the Fisheries Act to undertake the purchasing, processing and sale of dried sea cucumbers or beche-de-mer for exporting to overseas market.

Sea Cucumber Processing license means a license issued under the Fisheries Act to purchase green and semi- processed sea cucumbers and processing to finished products for sale to exporters.

Tabu means a ban on a marine area enforced by a family or community group for the purpose of protecting all or certain resources for later harvest.

Target species means sea cucumber species specified in the processing and export license to be fished, purchased, processed or exported in a province and in an open season.

Threatened species any species of animals, fish and plants that is at risk of becoming endangered in the near future as a result of human or environmental impacts.

Village means a group of people or tribe living together and headed by a tradition chief.

2 VANUATU SEA CUCUMBER FISHERY OVERVIEW 2.1 Background There are over thousand sea cucumbers distributed throughout the world's oceans. Most sea cucumbers move slowly across soft and hard bottom areas of lagoons and reefs where they play an important role in cleaning the sea floor. They feed on dead plant and animal materials (detritus) in the sediments. Most sea cucumbers have separate sexes and some species undergo asexual reproduction. Some species, like the sandfish, are relatively fast growing and reach reproductive maturity within around two years but take another two years to reach an acceptable market size. Other species grow more slowly with lifespan of between 5 and 15 years. Successful reproduction involves fertilization of many millions of eggs, and this requires large numbers of adult sea cucumbers to be present in close proximity. Fertilized eggs hatch (planktonic larval stages) and drift with ocean currents from two to several weeks before settling on the sea floor as juvenile sea cucumbers. Adults appear not to move very far from the areas in which they settle. Sea cucumbers are not consumed locally by Ni-Vanuatu people, and exploitation is primarily for commercial purposes for the production of beche-de- mer for the export market. It is an old fishery dating back to the late 18th hundreds. In the 1920s to 1930s beche-de-mer was an important export commodity in the former New Hebrides.

Table 1: Commercial sea cucumber species present in Vanuatu waters

Common names Bislama names Scientific names 1 Amberfish Ambafis Thelenota anax 2 Black Teatfish Blak titfis Holothuria whitmaei 3 Brown curryfish Braon karifis Stichopus vastus 4 Brown sandfish Braon sanfis Bohadschia vitiensis 5 Chalkfish Jokfis Bohadschia marmorata 6 Curryfish Karifis Stichopus herrmanni 7 Deepwater blackfish Dipwota blakfis Actinopyga palauensis 8 Elephant trunkfish Elefenfis Holothuria fuscopunctata 9 Flowerfish Flaoafis Pearsonothuria graeffei 10 Golden sandfish Kolten sanfis Holothuria lessoni 11 Greenfish Krinfis Stichopus chloronotus 12 Hairy blackfish Blakfis Actinopyga miliaris 13 Lollyfish Lolifis Holothuria atra 14 Peanutfish Pinatfis Stichopus horrens 15 Pinkfish Pinkfis Holothuria edulis 16 Prickly redfish Paenapolfis Thelenota ananas 17 Red snakefish Red snekfis Holothuria flavomaculata 18 Sandfish Sanfis Holothuria scabra 19 Snakefish Snekfis Holothuria coluber 20 Stone Fish Stonfis Actinopyga lecanora 21 Surf redfish Sefredfis Actinopyga mauritiana 22 Tigerfish Taikafis Bohadschia argus 23 White teatfish Waet titfis Holothuria fuscogilva

2.3 Fishing, production and monitoring Fishers, licensed processors and exporters conduct fishing and processing of sea cucumber into beche-de-mer. For many years sea cucumber industry is controlled by Asian nationals who operate under joint venture with local interest owning 49% while foreigner 51% of the share arrangement. Finished dried products are sold to exporters who are based in Port-Vila and Luganville and who aggregate processed products for export. Product prices vary along the various processing stages and price data are being collected. While exporters encourage fishers to produce high-grade beche-de-mer products, it has been difficult to maintain consistent high quality with so many fishers in the rural areas processing their own ways. Lower grade products and wastage has been a feature of the sea cucumber fishery for many years. Some processors on Efate and Santo purchased raw or partly processed products for reprocessing to finished products. Production of beche-de-mer resumed in the 1980s after being dormant for many years with “boom” productions in the 1990s. Annual exports were 45 tonnes of beche-de-mer on average during the boom period and the highest production of 70 tonnes was achieved in 1994. However, verification of the export data were not being undertaken so current data may be lower than reality. The increased production was short lived and exports steadily declined to seriously low levels during the mid-2000s, which led to the closure of the fishery in 2008.

70 66 66 V 60 o l 50 u 48 48 m 43 42 e 40 39 38 ( t 30 27 o 25 26 25 n 20 n 18 15 14 15 e 12 10 9

) s 8 8 6 4 3 2 2 0

Year

Figure 1: Vanuatu beche-de-mer export trend over the last two decades since 1983

2.4 Current management measures Sea cucumber has been an active fishery for many years without formal fishery management plan and specific regulatory measures. Processing and exports were controlled under a common license - Fish Export Processing Establishment License and the issuing of export permits. Regulations on minimum size limit for some species was put in place in 2005 but this was not effectively enforced. Monitoring of fishing, processing and movement of products within the country has not been effective due to the lack of mechanisms in place and products prices are not known. Resource owners actively pursued community management effort on sea cucumber resource but whenever there was commercial pressure, it led to uncontrolled fishing activities. The current national moratorium on the fishery is the most effective management control measure implemented for the fishery and its effective enforcement can result in the recovery of the fishery. The moratoria on harvesting, processing and exports of sea cucumber is still in effect till 2017.

2.5 Status of resources Assessments surveys in Malekula and Efate in 2003 revealed that the sea cucumbers resources were over-exploited and recommendations were made to Vanuatu Fisheries Department in 2006 to close the fishery. The fishery was closed in 2008 for a five-year period and pending further assessments. Recent resources assessments since 2011 have indicated progressive recovery of stocks but stocks have yet to reach full recovery.

2.6 Target species In total 23 commercial sea cucumbers species exist in Vanuatu waters and their common English names, local Bislama names and scientific names are provided in Table 1. The presence and diversity of species vary by areas and is determined by habitat type so target species vary by fishing area. Fishing in the past targeted mainly the medium and high value species but this has changed as high value species become overexploited and fishing effort shifts to the low value species. 3 MANAGEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT STRATEGIES 3.1 Strategies to achieve the Objectives The ecosystem and the precautionary approaches to fisheries management will be applied to the sustainable development and management of the Sea Cucumber Fishery. These approaches shall also apply to non-target, associated and dependent species, taking into account the best scientific information and understanding available on the status of stocks at the time and the uncertainties inherent in all data associated with the fishery. Other management approaches such as co-management and adaptive management will also be applied in the fishery as necessary.

The management and development strategies applied to achieve the objectives of the Sea Cucumber Management Plan include the following: • To manage the fishery with indefinite closure, limited open fishing season and areas, and quotas when the resources stocks have recovered to healthy stock levels; • Establish licensing arrangements to control and monitor sale, processing and export of sea cucumber products; • To restrict particular fishing methods and gears for the collection of sea cucumbers; • To restrict, as required, the collection of certain sea cucumber species whose biological sustainability is deem to be threaten by fishing activities; • To support existing protected areas to protect sea cucumber populations to allow recovery from the pressures of fishing or to protect breeding stocks; • To establish an ongoing program for monitoring resources, catch, value and purchases of sea cucumbers, processing, exports and to collect scientific information to support management of the sea cucumber fishery; • To establish an effective monitoring and enforcement system to ensure compliance with the Sea Cucumber Management Plan, conditions of licenses and regulations; • To establish an effective public awareness and education program, to inform communities of developments in the sea cucumber fishery, and to provide feedback on the status of stocks and economic benefits derived from the fishery; • To restrict licensing of the sea cucumber fishery to only indigenous Ni- Vanuatu owned processing companies; or those Indigenous Ni-Vanuatu with over 52% shareholding of local registered processing companies; and, • To restrict traditional processing of sea cucumber and focus on value adding through processing and exporting final products

3.2 Consultative process The Director as may be necessary shall organize consultations with key stakeholders including but not limited to, appropriate government ministries and departments, Provincial Government Councils, fishermen, processors, exporters and other persons likely to be affected by the Plan. The scope of the consultation shall include matters relating but not limited to: a. The development, management and regulation of the fishery including licensing and conditions of licenses; b. Provincial Government Councils and communities sea cucumber fishery management initiatives; c. The development of fishing and processing including investment policies, financial arrangements and projects to promote sustainable sea cucumber harvesting, processing and marketing; d. Socio-economic or environmental impacts of sea cucumber fishing and processing; and e. Other such issues related to the sea cucumber fishery.

4 AUTHORITIES, ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES 4.1 Fisheries Management Advisory Council Pursuant to Section 9 of the Fisheries Act No. 10 of 2014, the Fisheries Management Advisory Council (FMAC) shall provide recommendation to the Director on the management, development and conservation of the sea cucumber fishery. The FMAC is comprised of the following: § Department of Fisheries; § Two Industry representatives (1 from artisanal fisheries sector and 1 from the offshore fisheries sector); § A representative from the Vanuatu Association of Non- Government Organization; § Vanuatu Agriculture Bank; § Vanuatu Investment Promotion Authority (VIPA); § Vanuatu International Shipping Registry; § Attorney General; § Commander of the Police Maritime Wing; § Director of the Department of Foreign Affairs; § Director of the Department of Local Authorities; § Director of the Department of Finance; § Director of the Department of Industry; and § Director of the Department of Cooperatives

When matters relating to sea cucumber fishery are discussed during a Fisheries Management Advisory Council meeting, stakeholders in the sea cucumber fishery shall be invited to the meeting. This is to ensure concerns by participants in the sea cucumber fishery are expressed, examined and addressed in a transparent forum.

Stakeholders of the Sea Cucumber Fishery shall comprise of the following: a. Representatives from Sea Cucumber Harvest Licensee and Sea Cucumber Export Licensee; b. Three elected representatives from amongst licensed sea cucumber processors; c. Representatives from Provincial Government shall be invited to participate in committee; meetings for when matters related to their area of jurisdiction need to be addressed or should the need arise; d. Representatives from resource owners and communities; and e. Any other interested individuals or organizations that have a direct interest in the fishery. 4.2 Department of Fisheries The role of the Department of Fisheries in the management, development and conservation of the fishery will include, but not limited to: a. Assess and review export and/or processing license applications and provide recommendations to the FMAC and Provincial Government Councils; b. Conduct sea cucumber resources assessments surveys; c. Provide advice on the lifting of the moratoria, the period of open seasons, associated open areas and quotas; d. Monitor harvest during open season by area; e. Release harvestable quota of sea cucumber in collaboration with communities; f. Assist and/or facilitate the development of management arrangement for Provincial Government and communities; g. Conduct inspection of processing and exporting facilities, their products and export consignment; h. Collect monthly log forms from processors and exporters; i. Advise the FMAC and stakeholders on the status of harvesting, processing and export activities; j. Enforce sea cucumber regulations and conditions of licenses; k. Coordinate implementation and the review of the Sea Cucumber Management Plan; l. Provide annual reports of the status of the fishery to the FMAC and stakeholders; m. Facilitate training for communities and other partners to improve monitoring activities, processing methods and quality control; n. Explore innovative product development marketing strategies to ensure fisher’s get the best value for their products; o. Collaborate with local and regional partners for advice and assistance regarding the fishery; p. Preparing annual reports that document the state of Sea Cucumber fisheries, actions carried out, and progress made towards each of the Plan’s goals; and q. Preparing and dissemination of sea cucumber materials for awareness and educational purposes.

4.3 Provincial Government The Provincial Government Councils roles in this management plan include, but not limited to: a. Collaborate with Department of Fisheries on the declaration of open seasons, and associated open areas; b. Collaborate with Department of Fisheries on preparation of Provincial, or community-based fisheries management initiatives; c. Recommend to the Department of Fisheries the declaration of designated marine areas for conservation and resource management; d. Develop and promulgate bylaws for sustainable fisheries development and management, which shall be consistent with Fisheries Act No. 10 of 2014; e. Certify sea cucumber products originating from the Province prior to the product leaving the Province. f. Issue a Provincial access fee for allowing sea cucumber operation; g. Assist with monitoring of fishing, processing and transport of products to prevent unsustainable activities; h. Work with Department of Fisheries to identify zonings of potential sites for sea cucumber fishery; i. Make available appropriate data of the potential sites of zonings; j. Assist to carry out enforcement on fisheries regulations; and k. Assist in the dissemination of sea cucumber materials for awareness and educational purposes.

VFD and relevant Provincial government may opt to operationalize the above provincial government roles through a memorandum of understanding (MOU).

4.4 Role of Area Secretaries/Authorized Officers The roles of Area Secretaries/Authorized Officers in this Plan shall include but not limited to: a. Collaborate and assist the Department of Fisheries to monitor and enforce ‘open seasons’ and ‘open areas’ when they are declared; b. Collaborate with Department of Fisheries to collect harvest and processing data; c. Assist Department of Fisheries to carryout monitoring, control and surveillance of designated marine areas for conservation and resource management; d. Promulgate and enforce bylaws passed by relevant provincial governments for sustainable utilization and management of fisheries resources, which shall be consistent with the Fisheries Act; e. Assist with monitoring of fishing, processing and transport of products to prevent unsustainable activities, f. Collaborate with Department of Fisheries to enforce and report fisheries infringements; g. Collaborate to prepare statement of infringements; and h. Assist in the dissemination of awareness and educational materials.

4.5 Community and Resource Owners The role of communities and Resources Owners in the management, development and conservation of sea cucumber fisheries shall include but not limited to: a. Responsible to harvest sea cucumber TAC in their respective declared open areas; b. Implement appropriate customary based management practices and their enforcement; c. Assist the Department of Fisheries, Provincial Government Council, Area Secretary and fishermen in conducting resources assessment surveys and monitoring fishing activities; d. Assist the Department of Fisheries in allocating TACs; e. Work with VFD to further allocate TACs to members of the community; f. Assist in disseminating information on management measures and regulations; g. Ensure fishing is conducted responsibly during periods declared as open seasons, within the areas declared as open areas, and according to quota; h. Provide relevant information about resources and fishing activities to the Department of Fisheries; i. Work with other government agencies and civil-society partners to implement other resources monitoring and protected area management activities; and j. Assist in the dissemination of awareness materials.

4.6 Other partners The role of other partners including other government agencies and the non-government organizations and regional organizations shall include the following: a. Collaborate with Fisheries Department on sea cucumber fisheries management issues; b. Align their activities with communities within the framework of this sea cucumber management plan for effective monitoring and management of the fishery; b. Provide training needs in harvesting, processing and marketing by fishers and processors; and c. Participate in conducting awareness and education about sea cucumber fisheries management.

5 MANAGEMENT MEASURES 5.1 Licensing and Permits This section outlines the different licenses and permits to be issued under this Plan for the sea cucumber fishery sea cucumber aquaculture activities and sea cucumber research.

5.1.1 License Types and permits Licenses shall be issued to individuals or companies wishing to, purchase, process, and export or carryout sea cucumber aquaculture operations.

Sea Cucumber Harvest The harvesting of sea cucumber will be exempted from licensing and shall ONLY be undertaken by resource owner.

The following licenses shall apply to each individual species or fishery:

1. Sea Cucumber Processing License • This license applies to persons or companies wishing to purchase and process sea cucumber; • The maximum number of license to be issued in a given declared open season shall depend on the number of species for which the license holder wishes to purchase and process; • The license is valid for a period of 12 calendar months (January to December of any year); • The license application form and format are attached in Schedule 1 and 3; and • Schedule 5 contains some conditions that could apply under the Sea Cucumber Processing License.

2. Sea Cucumber Export License • This license applies to any persons or companies wishing to purchase processed beche-de-mer products and export out of Vanuatu; • The maximum number of licenses to be issued in a given open season period shall be capped at three (3); • The license is valid for 12 calendar months (1 January to 31 December of any year); • The license form and format are attached in Schedule 2 and 4; and • Schedule 6 contains some conditions that could apply under a Sea Cucumber Export License.

3. Sea Cucumber Aquaculture License • This license applies to persons or companies wishing to operate a sea cucumber aquaculture operation; • The license application form can be found in Schedule 19 of the Fisheries Regulation Order No. 28 of 2009; and • The license conditions can be found in section 46 of the Fisheries Regulation Order No. 28 of 2009.

4. Research Permit Research permit will only be issued for the sea cucumber fishery for the production of other sea cucumber products (Referred to in section 5.7 of this Plan) in consideration of value add and other must be done locally in Vanuatu

5.2 Criteria for Assessing License Applications 1. Sea Cucumber Processing License application criteria: Any persons (s) or companies wishing to obtain a Sea Cucumber Processing License must meet at least some of the following criteria: • The applicant (s) must demonstrated knowledge and experience in sea cucumber processing methods including quality control; • The applicant must have a processing facility; • Applicant(s) must be a registered company; • Applicant must provide an access permit from relevant provincial government where they wish to purchase and process sea cucumber; • Applicant must provide a signed letter from any communities where they wish to purchase and process sea cucumber including outcome or records of community meeting pertaining to granting access; • Applicant must provide a list of sea cucumber species they wish to purchase and process including weight (kg) and area of purchase; • Applicant is able to pay the license fee; and • Any other criteria imposed by the Director.

2. Sea Cucumber Export License Criteria a. The applicant is a registered business or entity in Vanuatu b. The applicant must have a processing facility that meets the processing standard impose by the Department; c. The applicant must demonstrate past experience in processing and export of sea cucumber products; d. Applicant must provide evidence of their suppliers e. Applicant must be able to pay a minimum of 20 percent of the Sea Cucumber Export License fee upfront f. The business or entity has complied with the relevant laws of Vanuatu relating to fisheries, environment, taxation, foreign investment, labor and immigration; g. Cooperates with community and inspection officers and the relevant authorities of Vanuatu, and abides by, assist in the development, and promotes appropriate sea cucumber processing and industry best practices; and h. Any other criteria impose by the Director to ensure sea cucumber fishery is utilized in a sustainable manner.

3. Sea Cucumber Aquaculture License Criteria The Department of Fisheries will work to put in place criteria to be used in assessing and reviewing of sea cucumber aquaculture operations in Vanuatu by 2015.

5.3 Permits Export Permit: 1 An Export Permit is issued for any and all consignments of sea cucumber products destined for export overseas. Sea Cucumber Export Licensees wishing to undertake exports must submit a request for an export permit to the Director 48hrs prior to the day of export. Export permit is issued upon submission of an export declaration form2 and completion of packing inspection and verification of export information provided. Issuance of a Sea Cucumber Export Permit is on condition that accurate information on product and sea cucumber species name, weight (Kg) by area of harvest are provided with the application of the Sea Cucumber Export Permit as in Schedule 7.

5.4 License Fees, export permit fees, levies and auctioning The Department of Fisheries shall charge license fees, export permit fees, inspection fees as return on the fishery or resource ‘rent’, as cost recovery of managing, monitoring and developing the fishery.

1. Sea Cucumber Processing License • The Sea Cucumber Processing License Fee shall be charge to Sea Cucumber Processing License holders; and • The license fees amount will be determined based on the current market value of products. Vanuatu Fisheries Department shall collaborate with regional organisations and sea cucumber fisheries experts to come with such fees.

2. Sea Cucumber Export License Fees: • Sea Cucumber Export License fee is charged to companies who buy, process, hold, pack and export products out of the country and; • The license fees amount will be determined based on the current market value of products. Vanuatu Fisheries Department shall collaborate with regional organisations and sea cucumber fisheries experts to come with such fees.

3. Sea Cucumber Aquaculture License Fees: • Sea Cucumber Aquaculture License Fees is charged to companies who wish to conduct sea cucumber aquaculture and release hatchery produced sea cucumbers on the reef for the purpose of growing juvenile sea cucumbers into marketable size; • The license fees amount will be determined by Vanuatu Fisheries Department after consultation with regional organisations and sea cucumber experts to come up with such fees.

1 A copy of an export permit is attached in Schedule 7 2 A copy of an export declaration form is attached in Schedule 8 17

4. Other fees Any person (s) or companies wishing to purchase beche-de-mer must use the minimum purchasing price by species as outline in Schedule 9.

5. Auctioning of licenses: Growing demand create lucrative market for sea cucumber. Vanuatu Fisheries Department shall collaborate with regional organizations and auctioning experts to assess potential for auctioning of products and/or of export licenses to derive current maximum value from the sea cucumber fishery.

5.5 Sea cucumber open season and open area a. Sea cucumber fishery shall be managed by an indefinite closure and limited duration open season(s) in specific open Area(s) of harvest; b. The sea cucumber open season(s) shall be implemented by Area of harvest one at the time (rotational system). The open season for one Area shall not be more than 2 months; c. When an open season is declared for an Area, the Department will coordinate in collaboration with respective communities the harvesting by Area within that province; d. The sea cucumber open season will be decided in an open Area after an assessment has been completed by the Department in this Area and when the results of that assessment indicate that stock estimates permit for sustainable harvesting of sea cucumbers. Monitoring and decision making procedures are illustrated in Schedule 9; e. When declaring open season, the Director in collaboration with Provincial Government, communities and FMAC shall give public notice not less than 28 days of the date nominated for the open season, and the restrictions placed on the harvesting and processing of sea cucumber; f. Department of Fisheries shall advise on species permitted to be harvested by area or province, associated open area(s) and quotas, for each Province for each open season; g. Provincial open season shall be declared by the Department of Fisheries in consultation with the Provincial Government and shall last for two (2) months; h. Department of Fisheries shall organize a monitoring and inspection team to be stationed at each open area during an open season; i. Fishing, processing and transport of sea cucumber shall take place within the declared open season in each Province; j. Communities and resource owners can decide whether to fish or not in their rightful reef area during an open season.

5.6 Quota system (or TACs system)

5.6.1 Quota (TACs) setting o The TACs will be derived from biomass stock assessments undertaken ONLY by the Department of Fisheries;

o TACs to be released for a new licensing period cannot be based on stock assessment undertaken in that same period; o In setting TACs, species that demonstrate volumes (metric tons) of greater than or equal to 2 metric tons per Area using the stocks assessment methods used by the Fisheries Department may be considered for opening (if resource assessment result show that the resource does not allow allocation of TAC above 2 metric tons, the fishery (by species) will remain close for the Area); o The TACs will be determined for live sea cucumbers, to allow for effective monitoring of catch.

5.6.2 Quota allocation o The Department of Fisheries shall establish and implement a system of quotas allocation (or Total Allowable Catch, (TAC)) for each species by Area within for the fishery; o TACs will be set for each species and associated open area(s) for each open season at a Provincial or Community level. The procedure to set TACs is illustrated in Schedule 9; o When establishing a TAC system, the Department of Fisheries in close collaboration with Provincial Governments and communities will devise a system for administering TACs, sub-dividing, allocating and monitoring these TACs among communities and dealing with TAC or quota overruns; o The TACs cannot be reviewed when they are set and allocated for each species by Area in a licensing period by the Department; o In allocating TACs and prior to releasing TACs for particular areas, the Department shall seek community agreement to allow for the harvesting of the allocated TAC.

5.7 Other Sea Cucumber Products Any person or company intending to process other sea cucumber product [e.g. for pharmaceuticals, aphrodisiac or cosmetic or any other non-food production] shall first obtain written permission from the Director. Potential investors shall submit to the Director a proposal outlining the following:

a. Proposed operations and its objectives, b. The types of activities the operation shall undertake, c. Source and quantity of sea cucumber species, d. Site of proposed operation, e. Monthly or yearly production, f. An evaluation of environmental impacts, g. Procedures the operation shall undertake to avoid detrimental environmental impacts, h. Business plan, and i. Any other information as may be required by the Director.

The Director will review the proposal and consider issuing a license to operate with terms and conditions of a license (including open periods, open areas and quotas) and prescribed

fees for such operation. The conditions of the licence shall be aligned with the conditions for open periods, open areas and quotas as described in the above sections. Quota allocated under this section shall be part of the total TAC released for a licensing period.

5.8 Sea Cucumber Aquaculture and sea ranching The Vanuatu Aquaculture Development Plan 2008- 2013 supports sea cucumber as an aquaculture commodity but rated it as a medium commodity.

Any person or company intending to use locally available stocks for breeding and grow-out hatchery produced sea cucumber or imported stocks shall first obtain written permission from the Director. Potential sea cucumber aquaculture investors, or persons or companies interested in ranching sea cucumber are required to submit to the Director a proposal outlining the:

a. Proposed operations and its objective; b. Goals to be achieved, the types of activities the operation shall undertake and specified timeline for activities to be achieved; c. Target sea cucumber species; d. Source and quantity of brood stock species, site of proposed operation (aquaculture and reseeding sites); e. Monthly or yearly production of sea cucumber juveniles per species (number and average weight); f. An evaluation of environmental impacts; g. Procedures the operation shall undertake to avoid detrimental environmental impacts; h. Business plan; i. Indicators to measure the success of the operation; j. How the plan meets the requirements of the Vanuatu Aquaculture Development Plan; and k. The Director may require any other information as required from time to time.

The Director will review the proposal and if satisfied shall consider issuing a license to operate a sea cucumber aquaculture activity, with terms and conditions of the specified licenses and prescribed fees for such operation as specified in the aquaculture license. 5.9 Sea cucumber reseeding guidelines Vanuatu Fisheries Department shall develop a sea cucumber reseeding guidelines as a formal set of guidelines for any sea cucumber reseeding programme. 5.10 Sea cucumber sea ranching guidelines To ensure clear designation between hatchery bred and wild sea cucumber stock, Vanuatu Fisheries Department shall develop a sea cucumber ranching guidelines. This guideline shall be implemented and enforced upon companies or persons wishing to carryout sea cucumber ranching anywhere in the archipelago.

5.11 Prohibitions a. Fishing for sea cucumber shall be restricted to hand picking or collecting through free diving or wading (reef walking) and during daylight hours; b. The harvesting of sea cucumber will be exempted from licensing and shall ONLY be undertaken by resource owner; c. Fishing or collection of sea cucumber using underwater breathing apparatus (UBA) shall be prohibited; d. Collection and harvesting of sea cucumber shall only be carried out by indigenous Ni-Vanuatu members of communities in each respective Area; e. Species that are rare or threatened by fishing shall be prohibited from fishing, processing and export. f. The Department of Fisheries shall determine and publicize the species permitted for collection, processing and exports by Province and by Area. g. Collection for sea cucumbers during aquarium fish collection is prohibited. h. Collection or being in possession of, or export of under size or underweight sea cucumber as listed in the Fisheries Regulation is prohibited. i. Export of broken or damaged pieces of beche-de-mer is prohibited. j. Harvesting of sea cucumber in marine reserves, conservation areas, marine protected areas, world heritage sites, shall be prohibited. k. Leasing a marine area for the purpose of securing wild sea cucumber stocks shall be prohibited. l. Sea cucumber or beche-de-mer export for personal consumption shall be prohibited. m. Sea cucumber or beche-de-mer export for research purposes shall be prohibited. n. Collection and export of live sea cucumber for introduction purposes is prohibited; o. Harvesting sea cucumber in the absence of an Authorized Fisheries officer is prohibited.

6 MONITORING, COMPLIANCE AND REPORTING

a. Movement or transport of sea cucumber products across provinces shall be accompanied by a certificate issued by a Fisheries Authorized Officer or Provincial Officer; b. All sea cucumber or beche-de-mer products destined for export to overseas markets shall be inspected prior to issuance of a sea cucumber export permit; c. All sea cucumber harvest license and sea cucumber export license holders must provide logbooks in a form to be prescribed to the Department of Fisheries for each calendar month, within seven (7) days of the end of the month being reported;

d. All sea cucumber export processing establishments must be inspected and certified by the Vanuatu Seafood Verification Agency; e. Standard trade names to be prescribed shall be used in reporting; f. License holders may be required to submit further information regarding the foreign exchange remittance arrangements for the export; g. Failure to submit the required reports within seven (7) days, or submitting incorrect data, including incorrect trade names, or incomplete forms may result in suspension or cancellation of the export license or non-renewal of license; h. Department of Fisheries shall organize monitoring and inspection teams to be stationed at Provinces during an open harvest seasons; and i. Harvesting of sea cucumber cannot occur in the absence of a Fisheries Authorized officer or Fisheries Observer. 7. GENERAL 7.1 Training Requirements The Department of Fisheries in collaboration with license operators and other training providers shall develop a training strategy aimed at developing and strengthening the industry’s capacities in areas of best practice for the sustainable collection, processing and packaging, quality assurance and standards as well as transfer of appropriate skills, technologies and expertise in the sea cucumber or beche-de-mer industry.

7.1.1 Research All licensed operators will collaborate with Vanuatu Fisheries Department, Provincial Governments, recognized national/regional agencies/organizations, research/academic institutes or Non-Government Organizations (NGOs) with interest in the conservation, development and management of sea cucumber fisheries, develop and administer a program of applicable research on sea cucumber stocks in Vanuatu. Research may include life history studies and fishery data analysis (including catch per unit effort, catch composition, stock density and biomass, species diversity by area, size structure in the fishery for any given period of time, and as time series). 7.2 Review and Amendments The Sea Cucumber Management Plan shall be reviewed after five (5) years or if determined necessary by the Director. The Director shall conduct an analysis of the conservation and management measures set out in this Sea Cucumber Management Plan and determine whether the Plan should be reviewed. The Sea Cucumber Fishery Plan may be reviewed upon the written approval of the Director. In reviewing the Plan the Director shall give particular attention to: a. The objectives of the Act and this Fishery Plan; b. The effectiveness of the data collection and monitoring programs; c. The status of the stocks, including changes in yield, species and size composition and/or distribution; d. Social and economic benefits to local communities and the distribution of these opportunities around Vanuatu;

e. The ecological status and economic viability of the fishery; f. The appropriateness of fees and penalties; g. The effectiveness of the conservation and management measures.

Having conducted the review, the Director shall make recommendations to the FMAC. In particular the Director may make recommendations regarding the amendment, or revocation of the Sea Cucumber license. The Fisheries Department may revise and amend the attachments as necessary. Any amendments or revisions to this Plan will be made public.

SCHEDULE 1: APPLICATION FORM FOR A SEA CUCUMBER PROCESSING LICENSE

INSTRUCTIONS Attach recent passport size photograph Underline surname • For ‘address’ provide as much details as possible • Leave no questions blank • If not applicable, write N/A • • Must attach recent photograph of applicants (s)

ADDRESS TO: The Director Vanuatu Fisheries Department PMB 9045 Port Vila, Vanuatu.

I hereby apply for the Sea Cucumber Processing License at the place and in a manner described below:

1 Name and address of company establishment

2 Name and address of owner(s) 3 Contact details of owner(s) 4 List of sea cucumber species to be processed and Islands or Areas where to be processed (please tick) Quantity Quantity Species Tick Area Species Tick Area (kg) (kg) Amberfish Hairy blackfish Black teatfish Lollyfish Brown curryfish Peanut fish Brown sandfish Pinkfish Chalkfish Prickly redfish Curryfish Red snakefish Deepwater Sandfish blackfish Deep water redfish Snakefish Elehpant trunkfish Stone fish Flowerfish Surf redfish Golden sandfish Tigerfish Greenfish White teatfish (Attach full detail description on a separate piece of paper and label it as “Attachment 5 Products to be processed 1”) (Attach full detail description on a separate piece of paper and label it as “Attachment 6 Nature of operation 2”) (Attach full detail description of the construction and maintenance standards on a 7 Cleanliness and sanitation separate piece of paper and label it as "Attachment 3"

I understand that I am required to report any changes in the information contained in this Form to the Director of Vanuatu Fisheries Department, Port Vila within 7 days of the changes

------……………………………… Signature of Applicant (s) Date

……………………………….. Name of Applicant (s)

SCHEDULE 2: APPLICATION FORM FOR A SEA CUCUMBER EXPORT LICENSE

INSTRUCTIONS Attach recent passport size photograph • Underline surname

• For ‘address’ provide as much details as possible • Leave no questions blank • If not applicable, write N/A • Must attach recent photograph of applicants (s) ADDRESS TO: The Director

Vanuatu Fisheries Department PMB 9045

Port Vila, Vanuatu. I hereby apply for a Sea Cucumber Export License at the place and in a manner described below:

1 Name and address of company establishment

2 Name and address of owner(s)

3 Contact details of owner(s)

4 List of sea cucumber species to be processed and exported, (please tick).

Quantity Name of Quantity Name of Species Tick Species Tick (kg) product** (kg) product **

Amberfish Hairy blackfish

Black teatfish Lolly fish

Brown curryfish Peanut fish

Brown sandfish Pinkfish Chalkfish Prickly redfish Curry fish Red snakefish Deep water Sand fish blackfish Deep water redfish Snakefish

Elehpant trunkfish Stone fish

Flowerfish Surf redfish Golden sandfish Tigerfish Green fish White teatfish Products to be processed 5 (Attach full detail description on a separate piece of paper and label it as “Attachment 1”) and exported

6 Nature of operation (Attach full detail description on a separate piece of paper and label it as “Attachment 2”)

(Attach full detail description of the construction and maintenance standards on a 7 Cleanliness and sanitation separate piece of paper and label it as "Attachment 3")

I understand that I am required to report any changes in the information contained in this Form to the Director of Vanuatu Fisheries Department, Port Vila within 7 days of the changes. ------……………………………… Signature of Applicant (s) Date

……………………………….. Name of Applicant (s)

SCHEDULE 3: SEA CUCUMBER PROCESSING LICENSE FORMAT

GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF VANUATU GOUVERNMENT DE LA REPUBLIQUE DE VANUATU

SEA CUCUMBER PROCESSING LICENSE

License No:

The person/ Company named as licensee below is hereby licensed in accordance with the Fisheries Regulation Order No. 11 of 2014 with the terms and condition set out in this license and conditions prescribed from time to time in the Fisheries Regulations and by the Director of Vanuatu Fisheries Department.

NAME OF LICENSEE:

NAME OF BUSINESS:

ADDRESS OF PREMISES:

TEL NO: CONTACT DETAILS: EMAIL ADDRESS:

PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT AREA

ISLAND:

AUTHORIZED AUTHORIZED AUTHORIZED TAC WET HARVEST AREA SPECIES WEIGHT (KG)

AUTHORIZE HARVEST AREA, AUTHORIZED TARGET SEA CUCUMBER SPECIES, & AUTHORIZED TOTAL ALLOWABLE (TAC) TO BE HARVESTED

TOTAL AGGREGATED TAC:

TOTAL HARVEST FEE PAYABLE IN VATU

AUTHORIZED LICENSE PERIOD:

……………………………………………… ……………………………………

DIRECTOR DATE

SCHEDULE 4: SEA CUCUMBER EXPORT LICENSE FORMAT

GOVERNMENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF VANUATU GOUVERNMENT DE LA REPUBLIQUE DE VANUATU

SEA CUCUMBER EXPORT LICENSE

License No:

The person/ Company named as licensee below is hereby licensed in accordance with section 32 of the Fisheries Act No. 10 of 2014 to use the premises described below as a sea cucumber processing establishment in accordance with the terms and condition set out in this license and conditions prescribed from time to time in the Fisheries Regulations and by the Director of Vanuatu Fisheries Department.

NAME OF LICENSEE:

NAME OF BUSINESS:

ADDRESS OF PREMISES:

TEL NO: CONTACT DETAILS: EMAIL ADDRESS:

PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT

AREA ISLAND: AUTHORIZED AUTHORIZED AUTHORIZED NAME OF EXPORT PROCESSING SPECIES TAC WET PRODUCT (S) AREA WEIGHT (KG) FOR AUTHORIZED PROCESS EXPORTING AREA, AUTHORIZED TARGET SEA CUCUMBER SPECIES, & AUTHORIZED QUANTITY TO BE EXPORTED & NAME OF EXPORT PRODUCT (S)

TOTAL AGGREGATED

EXPORTING WEIGHT

TOTAL EXPORT FEE

PAYABLE IN VATU AUTHORIZED LICENSE

PERIOD:

……………………………………………… ……………………………………

DIRECTOR DATE

SCHEDULE 5: CONDITION FOR SEA CUCUMBER PROCESSING LICENSE

The following conditions shall apply to the Sea Cucumber processing License: 1. This License is valid only for the processing of sea cucumber from the authorized declared open areas within a certain a province; 2. This license is not transferable.

3. The Licensee: a. Must not undertake any harvesting of Sea cucumber from any authorized declared areas and season; b. Must only process sea cucumber species authorized under this license and shall not process over the authorized TAC/s; c. Must only process sea cucumber species of the legal size and weight as stipulated under the Fisheries Regulation Order No. 11 of 2014; d. Must comply with open seasons and TACs per sea cucumber species declared for Authorized Areas per province by the Director of Fisheries; e. Must maintain and provide processing reports in a format as may be determined by the Director of Fisheries and any other information requested by the Director of Fisheries from time to time; f. Must not provide misleading or false information and must declare all sea cucumbers harvested and intended for shipment out of the authorized harvesting area, island and province; g. Must not process sea cucumber obtain from illegal harvesting practices; h. Shipment of processed sea cucumber to export points must be accompanied by a shipment certificate signed by a Fisheries Authorized Officer, Fisheries Observer, community resource monitors or provincial area secretary; i. Must purchase sea cucumber using a the minimum purchase price attached in Schedule 9; j. Must not process sea cucumbers from areas established by national or local governments or local communities as closed areas, marine protect areas, marine reserves, marine parks, marine sanctuaries, disputed areas or from areas declared as important archaeological sites; k. Must upon request, present his/her license to a Fisheries Observer or Fisheries Authorized officer; and, l. Must allow for inspection of processed sea cucumber and purchased sea cucumber raw materials, holding facility or packaged consignments of sea cucumbers by a Fisheries authorized officer.

SCHEDULE 6: CONDITION FOR SEA CUCUMBER EXPORT LICENSE

The following conditions shall apply to the Sea Cucumber Export License:

1. This Export License is valid only for export of sea cucumber harvested and processed from the authorized declared open areas, island and province specified herein; 2. This license is not transferable. 3. The export of processed or semi- processed sea cucumber products under this license is subject to inspections, and certifications by the Seafood Verification Agency Authorize Officer confirming the products are derived from an approved fish processing establishment or any alternative approved facility that has met the requirements of the Fisheries Act and is fit for export. 4. The Licensee: a. Must not trade or purchase or process or export any sea cucumber from an area or island or province other than the area, island and province specified and TACs authorized in the license; b. Must not buy, store, possess, process, sell, or export any sea cucumbers that are smaller than the prescribed minimum length and weight as set out in Schedule 27 of the Fisheries Regulation Order No. 11 of 2014; c. Must not purchase, or process, or export any sea cucumbers deemed to be stolen or poached from other provinces, islands, or areas where there has not been an authorized TAC for sea cucumber established; d. Must provide true, complete, and accurate information in the prescribed forms as may be provided for by the Director of Fisheries; e. Must not export sea cucumber raw or semi-processed products out of the harvest areas, islands and Province without authorization of Fisheries Authorized Officer or a Fisheries Observer, and must have the signed consent of the community chief or the community resource owner; f. Must declare to the respective provincial government authority concern all sea cucumbers products that have been harvested, packed, intended for shipment out of the province; g. Must upon request, present his/her license to a Fisheries authorized officer; h. Must allow purchased sea cucumber raw materials, processed products, holding facility or packaged consignments of sea cucumbers intended for sale or export to be inspected by a Fisheries authorized officer or a Fisheries Observer; i. Must allow the processing premises, equipment, packaging materials, and tools to be inspected by the Seafood Verification Agency Officers; j. Must ensure that the processed sea cucumber product has been properly preserved by freezing, chilling, salting, canning, drying, dehydrating, or by any other approved method; and the sea cucumber products is properly packed, labelled and is in good order and condition at the time when it is placed on board ship or aircraft for export; k. Must ensure that any condition imposed in respect of the entry of the sea cucumber product into the importing country or in respect of its sale for human consumption in that country, have, so far as they can be complied with in Vanuatu, been complied with; 4. The Licensee must not export any sea cucumber products overseas under this license except with a written approval of the Director of Fisheries upon payment of the 80% of fee payable for the Export License and Export Permit, and in accordance with such additional conditions he or she may specify.

5. Should the Licensee contravene paragraph (4) above, the Licensee is guilty of an Offence and is punishable by a Spot Fine of VT1, 000,000. 6. The Director of Fisheries may suspend or revoke this license upon failure of the Licensee to comply with any of the terms and conditions of this license, and may not renew the revoked or suspended license for a period of one year from the date of revocation or suspension. 7. The Director may prescribe any other conditions from time to time.

SCHEDULE 7: CERTIFICATE OF EXPORT OF SEAFOOD PRODUCT

EXPORT PERMIT NUMBER: ______

Insert Company name here

Export License No.:

Exporter Name and Address:

Name: Telephone No.

Address: Email:

Port of Shipment: Vessel/Carrier:

Country of Origin: VANUATU

Consignee Name and Address:

Name: Telephone No.

Address: Email:

CONSIGNMENT DETAILS

Common/Scientific Name: Product Description:

Number of Fish: Quantity (Kg):

F.O.B. Value ($): Presentation or Product Type:

Flight No.: Airway Bill No.:

Date of Export: Country:

EXPORT DECLARATION:

The product(s) describe above was/were caught or harvested, handled and processed at all times in accordance with the Fisheries Act No. 10 of 2014 and other applicable legislation.

Signature of Consignee: ______Date: ______

SVA Use Only

The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Forestry, Fisheries and Biosecurity as the Competent Authority:

The products described in this form have been audited in accordance with the requirement s of

the Fisheries Act No. 10 of 2014, and at time of audit, the product (s) are: certified as fit for use and approved for export.

Signature of Authorized Officer:______Date: ______

SCHEDULE 8: SEA CUCUMBER EXPORT DECLARATION FORM

(To be completed by exporting company prior to export)

Send completed form to: The Director, Department of Fisheries, PMB 9045, Port Vila Telephone: (678) 5333340

Name of Exporting company: ...... Date of shipment: ......

Sea cucumber Export License No.: ...... Export permit No: ......

Sea Cucumber Product No. of 20kg Number of Total weight Export Value/Currency Species type bags pieces per of each bag Destination per kg bag (kg)

TOTAL

Black teatfish (BTF) White teatfish (WTF) Prickly redfish (PRF Brown sandfish (BSF) Surf redfish (SRF) Tigerfish (TF) Curryfish (CF) Greenfish (GF) Elephant trunkfish (ETF) Lollyfish (LF) Amberfish (AF) Pinkfish (PF), Sandfish (SF), Golden Sandfish ( GSF ), Blackfish (BF ), Chalkfish (CHF ), Stonefish ( STF ), Peanutfish (PNF ), Snakefish (SNF)

Signature:………………………………………… Signature:…………………………………

Sea Cucumber Export Licensee Fisheries Authorized Officer/Inspector Date:…………………………… Date:……………………………

SCHEDULE 9: MINIMUM SEA CUCUMBER AND BECHE-DE-MER PRICES IN VANUATU

Minimum Minimum buying price buying price Product (wet weight in Vatu) (dry weight in Vatu) 1,300 1 Amberfish 400 5,000 2 Black teatfish 1,200

3 Blackfish

4 Brown curryfish 1,300 5 Brown sandfish 200 1,300 6 Chalkfish 500 2,000 7 Curryfish 300 1,000 8 Deepwater blackfish 500 1,000 9 Elephant trunkfish 400 1,300 10 Flowerfish 500 6,000 11 Golden sandfish 2,400 5,000 12 Greenfish 200 1,000 13 Lollyfish 100

14 Peanutfish 500 15 Pinkfish 200 4,000 16 Prickly redfish 2,500

17 Red snakefish 8,500 18 Sandfish 3,600 1,500 19 Snakefish 200 2,000 20 Stonefish 550 4,000 21 Surf redfish 300 2,000 22 Tigerfish 250 8,000 23 White teatfish 3,200

SCHEDULE 10: GUIDELINES FOR ASSESSING THE RESOURCES AND DECIDING TO OPEN THE FISHERY

Procedure for resource assessments surveys

1. Fishery Department is to conduct resources assessments prior to an open season to assess stock status and prescribe species to be allowed for fishing-by- fishing areas and provinces of Vanuatu. Assessment for sea cucumber would be based on the standardized methodologies prescribed by Vanuatu Fisheries Department. 2. Resources assessment shall be undertaken at the main fishing areas as deem necessary and with funding availability. 3. Resources surveys shall follow the same standardized methods to enable monitoring of stock conditions over time and for estimation of fishable stocks. 4. Data collected shall be entered into a database such as the Fishery Department’s invertebrate database for which a backup can be maintained elsewhere such as at the IRD and SPC 5. If resources are healthy to allow fishing, estimation of stock biomass and abundance shall be performed using appropriate mapping tools and sampling protocols to provide reliable stock estimates by size class based on statistical uncertainty and harvest size regulations. 6. Resources surveys undertaken by other partners shall follow the same methodologies so for compatibility for the same purposes. 7. Rare species and species whose harvestable stocks are low should be prohibited from harvesting during an open season. 8. Total stocks, mature stocks above legal minimum size and harvestable stock shall be estimated in numbers and wet and dry weight for prescribed species by fishing area. 9. The results are then communicated to the Director for decision making in an open season.

Procedure for opening of the sea cucumber fishery

1. The Minister shall open the fishery following written recommendation from the Director after he/she has consulted with respective provincial governments and local communities; 2. Fisheries Department to announce the opening of license application and selection of licenses based on the criteria set out in section 5.2 of this Plan. 3. Fisheries Department in collaboration with other partners to conduct awareness with communities on the open season and new management measures. 4. Fisheries Department to coordinate and conduct training for fisheries and provincial officers on monitoring and reporting during an open season. 5. Fisheries officers will be stationed in their respective areas before the opening season begins. 6. The start and finish of the opening season will be announced through appropriate media outlets 7 days before the opening date.

SCHEDULE 11: SEA CUCUMBER MONTHLY EXPORT LOG

th To be submitted by all exporters on the 7 day of the month following month of reporting, th e.g., submit on 7 of June when reporting for May)

Send completed form to: The Director, Department of Fisheries, PMB 9045, Port Vila Telephone: (678) 23119/23621; Fax: (678) 23641

Name of Exporting company: ...... Reporting Month: ......

Sea Cucumber Export License No: ......

DATE Full name of Species Number Weight Area, Product Export processor name of pieces (kg) Island type Price per kg/piece

*Product Type: unprocessed (UP) semi-processed (SP) dried product (DP)

SIGNATURE:……………………………………… DATE:……………………………………. Export company owner

SIGNATURE:……………………………………… DATE: ……………………………………. Fisheries Authorized Officer/Inspector

SCHEDULE 12: SEA CUCUMBER MONTHLY PROCESSORS LOG

th To be submitted by all licensed processors on the 7 day of the month following month of th reporting, e.g., submit on 7 of June when reporting for May)

Send completed form to: The Director, Department of Fisheries, PMB 9045, Port Vila Telephone: (678) 23119/23621; Fax: (678) 23641

Name of Processor: ...... Reporting Month: ......

Sea Cucumber Processor License No: ......

DATE Full name of Species Number Weight Area Product Comments fisher name of pieces (kg) type*

*Product Type: unprocessed (UP) semi-processed (SP) dried product (DP)

SIGNATURE:…………………………………………… DATE: ……………………………………. Export company owner

SIGNATURE:…………………………………………… DATE: ……………………………………. Fisheries Authorized Officer/Inspector

SCHEDULE 13: GUIDELINES FOR MONITORING, COMPLIANCE AND REPORTING

Inspection of processing and exporting facilities and products

1. Fisheries authorized officers, trained Provincial Officers and community workers shall inspect minimum sizes/weights on the beach and return undersize sea cucumbers to the sea alive. 2. All sea cucumbers leaving the provinces by sea and air to Port-Vila or Luganville shall be accompanied by a Provincial Sea cucumber Shipment Form signed by an Authorized fisheries officer or designated Provincial Officer. 3. Exports of sea cucumber products out of Vanuatu shall be accompanied by an export declaration permit issued after all necessary export requirements are completed. 4. Fisheries authorized officers shall inspect all consignments prior to issuing of an export permit. 5. Fishers, processors and exporters may be asked to provide more information on their respective activities. 6. Monitoring and inspection fees can be charged if deemed necessary to cover overtime of inspection officers. 7. Fisheries authorized officers should work closely with customs inspection officers to monitor exports. 8. Inspection time sheet shall be provided by fisheries for the payment of inspection fees on a monthly basis.

Monitoring of harvest, processing and export

1. All licensed operator shall submit completed logs to the Director on a monthly basis. 2. All licensed exporters shall submit export and processing log to the Director on a monthly basis. 3. Export and processing log forms should contain prices per product type. 4. Export and processing data shall be entered into a database such as the Fisheries export database provided by SPC and information used to monitor quota allocation by exporters, prescribed species or by area to advice license holders of their quota limit. 5. A relative database can be developed for catch data from licensed processors. 6. Vanuatu Fisheries Department should also monitor live sea cucumber data being exported by aquarium trade exporters and advice on number of specimen exported. 7. Vanuatu Fisheries Department shall advice license holders and fisher’s accordingly about the state of their quota allocation on a timely basis to prevent overruns. 8. Vanuatu Fisheries Department should also develop harmonize data collection protocol with Customs Department to prevent repeated or misreporting of export information.

SCHEDULE 14: RECOMMENDED MINIMUM HARVEST SIZES AND WEIGHT RESTRICTIONS

Minimum size Minimum weight Minimum pieces

Common name Local name

Wet dry wet dry 1kg 10kg

Amberfish Ambafis 40 cm 15 cm 1600g 80g 12 120

Black teatfish Blak titfis 30 cm 15 cm 1000g 100g 10 100

Blackfish Blakfis 20 cm 10 cm 340g 34g 29 290

Brown curryfish Braon karifis 20 cm 10 cm 260g 10g 96 960

Brown sandfish Braon sanfis 25 cm 12 cm 700g 28g 35 350

Chalkfish Jokfis 15 cm 7 cm 130g 8g 128 1280

Curryfish Karifis 35 cm 15 cm 1000g 40g 25 250

Deepwater blackfish Dipwota blakfis 30 cm 15 cm 660g 79g 12 120

Elephant trunkfish Elefenfis 40 cm 20 cm 1700g 221g 4 40

Flowerfish Flaoafis 30 cm 15 cm 470g 19g 53 530

Golden sandfish Kolten sanfis 25 cm 12 cm 660g 53g 19 190

Greenfish Krinfis 20 cm 10 cm 150g 4g 222 2220

Lollyfish Lolifis 20 cm 10 cm 280g 14g 71 710

Peanutfish Pinatfis 20 cm 10 cm 190g 8g 132 1320

Pinkfish Pinkfis 20 cm 10 cm 150g 6g 166 1660

Prickly redfish Paenapolfis 35 cm 17 cm 1300g 91g 11 110

Red snakefish Red snekfis 30 cm 15 cm 260g 10g 100 1000

Sandfish Sanfis 20 cm 10 cm 300g 15g 66 660

Snakefish Snekfis 40 cm 20 cm 340g 14g 73 730

Stonefish Stonfis 20 cm 10 cm 650g 32g 30 300

Surf redfish Sefredfis 25 cm 12 cm 500g 30g 33 330

Tigerfish Taikafis 30 cm 15 cm 800g 32g 31 310

White teatfish Waet titfis 35 cm 16 cm 1400g 126g 8 80