The Live Reef Food-Fish Trade in Solomon Islands
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Managing for Sustainability: the Live Reef Food-Fish Trade in Solomon Islands Ryan Donnelly B.App.Sci (Hons) Graduate Research College Southern Cross University, Lismore NSW Thesis submitted for the Degree of Master of Science (Research) 12 July 2009 Statement of Sources I certify that the work presented in this thesis is, to the best of my knowledge and belief, original, except as acknowledged in the text, and that the material has not been submitted, either in whole or in part, for a degree at this or any other university. I acknowledge that I have read and understood the University's rules, requirements, procedures and policy relating to my higher degree research award and to my thesis. I certify that I have complied with the rules, requirements, procedures and policy of the University (as they may be from time to time). Ryan Donnelly 12 July 2009 Acknowledgements I would like to acknowledge the co-operation of all the villagers in the three areas visited for their patience and good humour in the conduct of this research. Visits to the regions were characterised by good will and warm hospitality. Gregory Bennett did an excellent job of conducting the bulk of the survey. He went about the task with a typically positive outlook. Nelson Kilé stood in for Gregory for the Ontong Java leg of the research. We shared many enjoyable hours exchanging stories and laughing. Prior to the Ontong Java survey, I enjoyed the hospitality of Nelson and Michelle Lam at their home in Honiara. I would like to thank them both for making me welcome. In Australia, Lyle Squire Snr provided invaluable advice and friendship, Derrin Davis showed me a lot of faith, Katrina Luckie was terrific with her data analysis, and Peter Harrison was positive and prompt with his editing and feedback. Thankyou. ii Abstract This thesis presents the results of a project funded by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, which was devised in response to claims from the Solomon Islands government that the Live Reef Food-Fish Trade (LRFFT) in that country was conducted in a manner considered highly unsustainable. The project sought to establish a plan of management that would enable the fishery to be conducted on a sustainable basis. The population in Solomon Islands is overwhelmingly rural with largely subsistence economies at the village level. However, urban migration and cash dependence are growing phenomena. Unsustainable conduct of the LRFFT was considered a threat to the social and cultural fabric of the majority of the population, one that threatened food security and, in light of high population growth, the tenability of village life. The aim of the thesis is to assemble the information necessary to establish management of the LRFFT in Solomon Islands on a sustainable basis. The primary focus entailed a socio- economic evaluation of village life prior to, and in the presence of, a live fishery in order to gauge the impact of the live fish trade. It also examined the biological and ecological consequences of the adopted fishing practice; and the legislative and customary frameworks upon which the trade might be managed in a sustainable manner. Interactions between fisheries development, coral reef ecosystems and demography determine that the study of fishing, especially subsistence fishing, requires the integration of research on the ecology of the reefs and their resources with research on coastal economies and societies. This has consequences for development and management programs and the evaluation of their impact on village communities. The demographic and food issues associated with fishing are at the focal point of fisheries dynamics. Consequently, this thesis examines the various components of the LRFFT and focuses on the social dynamics and development opportunities in Solomon Islands. The study found that the rate of participation, and the fishing effort exerted, in the LRFFT differed in each of the three regions within Solomon Islands that hosted the trade. The difference was related to proximity to markets and alternative sources of income. The common aspect among these regions was that participation accompanied intensive fishing in seasonal and highly predictable spawning aggregations of the targeted species. Such fishing practice elsewhere has led to the collapse of fish aggregations and subsequent failure to reform. These species do not feature as a staple in the diet of villagers but do form a iii component. Fishers were paid marginally more for live fish than they received periodically for dead fish. During the three-month spawning period, villagers earned an apparently large amount, yet over the duration of one year, the returns were unremarkable. The disturbance to village life during this fishing period, the threat to future food security and the ecological consequences of the mass removal of top end reef predators, however, are the important consequences of the LRFFT conducted in a previously unregulated manner. Observance of the Customary Marine Tenure system in Solomon Islands is strong. There is a strict hierarchical decision-making structure within the villages and clan groups. Defence of fishing access entitlements for a commercial purpose is vigilant and Custom Law is exercised for all but the most serious breaches. The government Fisheries Division is poorly resourced and, consequently, has a limited enforcement capacity. The scope for community-based co- management is very good. Solomon Islands has modern Fisheries legislation that emphasises sustainable utilisation of marine resources. In accordance with this legislation, this project devised a plan of management that places customary reef owners central to the issue of LRFFT licenses and the conditions outlined therein. Intending operators must meet the conditions of a three-tiered approval process. Overriding all negotiated conditions is that fishing is prohibited in areas that are declared fish aggregation sites for three ten-day spawning periods per year, as is the export of Napoleon Wrasse. Fisheries Officers were trained in aspects of live fish husbandry in a format designed for community extension. A stock monitoring program has been established, using Underwater Visual Census, which will form the basis of feedback between reef owners and Fisheries Officers, thereby cultivating an advocative relationship. iv Table of Contents Statement of Sources ______________________________________________________ ii Acknowledgements _______________________________________________________ ii Abstract_________________________________________________________________iii Chapter 1: The Live Reef Food-Fish Trade_____________________________________ 1 1.1 Introduction __________________________________________________________ 1 1.2 History and Development of the LRFFT ____________________________________ 2 1.3 Exporting Countries ____________________________________________________ 4 1.3.1 Indonesia and Philippines ____________________________________________ 4 1.3.2 Pacific Region _____________________________________________________ 6 1.3.3 Other Source Countries ______________________________________________ 7 1.3.4 Aquaculture/Mariculture _____________________________________________ 8 1.4 Scope of the Study _____________________________________________________ 9 1.5 Aims and Objectives___________________________________________________ 10 Chapter 2: Sustainability and the LRFFT _____________________________________ 12 2.1 The Concept of Sustainability ___________________________________________ 12 2.1.1 Institutional Role in Achieving Sustainability ___________________________ 12 2.2 Sustainability Issues in the LRFFT _______________________________________ 16 2.2.1 Habitat Degradation from Sodium Cyanide Use__________________________ 17 2.2.2 The Cycle of Debt _________________________________________________ 19 2.2.3 Poorly Defined Property Rights ______________________________________ 20 2.2.4 Economic Impacts of Reef Habitat Destruction __________________________ 21 2.2.5 Ciguatera Poisoning________________________________________________ 21 2.3 Intensive Fishing in Spawning Aggregations________________________________ 22 2.3.1 Spawning Behaviour of Reef Fish_____________________________________ 23 2.3.2 The Impacts of Fishing Spawning Aggregations _________________________ 26 2.3.3 Biological Consequences of Fishing Spawning Aggregations _______________ 27 Chapter 3: The LRFFT in Solomon Islands ___________________________________ 30 3.1 Solomon Islands Background____________________________________________ 30 3.1.1 People __________________________________________________________ 30 3.1.2 Settlement Pattern _________________________________________________ 31 3.1.3 Economy ________________________________________________________ 32 3.1.4 Contemporary Political Climate ______________________________________ 33 3.1.5 Population Pressure ________________________________________________ 33 3.1.6 Population Dynamics_______________________________________________ 34 3.1.7 Urban Migration __________________________________________________ 35 v 3.1.8 Religion _________________________________________________________ 35 3.1.9 Fishing Activity___________________________________________________ 36 3.2 Development of the LRFFT in Solomon Islands _____________________________ 38 3.2.1 Origins __________________________________________________________ 38 3.2.2 Dynamics of the LRFFT in Solomon Islands ____________________________ 39 3.2.3 Moratorium ______________________________________________________