SPC Fisheries Newsletter #89 — April/June ‘99 SPC ACTIVITIES on F/V Tekokona II

ISSN 0248-076X FISHERIES Newsletter

NUMBER 89 IN THIS ISSUE APRIL Ð JUNE 1999 SPC ACTIVITIES Page 2

NEWS FROM IN AND AROUND THE REGION Page 19

VOICES FROM THE VILLAGE: A COMPARATIVE Page 26 STUDY OF COASTAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT IN THE PACIFIC ISLANDS by Bob Gillett

A net repair workshop was organised in Futuna by the Community Fisheries Section in May.

Secretariat of the Pacific Community Prepared by the Information Section of the Marine Resources Division Printed with the financial support of the Government of France SPC ACTIVITIES

CAPTURE SECTION

Masterfisherman Peter Watt The Samoa project was put on from the deck; and better utili- continued his project in Samoa, hold in early May, when Peter sation of bycatch once it was working with the Fisheries resigned from SPC to take up a caught and dead. Department on board their ves- position in Samoa as part of sel F/V Tautai Matapalapala. another project. Peter and his Masterfisherman Steve Beverly Initial work with this project work with the Capture Section spent one month during April saw the hydraulic system for of SPC as a Masterfisherman will and May in Kiribati working the mainline reel needing to be be greatly missed, and we wish with the Fisheries Division and rebuilt as well as other changes him well with his new position. Betiraoi Boatbuilding to progress made to the vessel to allow for a work on the 12 m wood outrig- smooth fishing operation. The Fisheries Development ger canoe, F/V Tekokona II Adviser, Lindsay Chapman, (Fisheries Newsletter nos 86, 87, During April, Peter undertook attended a gear and technology and 88). Sea trials and fishing two fishing trips where he used working group meeting of the trials were to have commenced time-depth-temperature record- Inter-American Tropical Tuna during the Steve’s visit. ing equipment to monitor the Commission (IATTC) in April. fishing gear. Catches were poor Unfortunately, little progress and the recording equipment The working group explored had been made on the vessel in revealed that the gear was not ways to reduce bycatch, mainly the interim since the last visit by fishing as deep as one would associated with purse-seine log- Steve, and work could not be expect. sets (drifting fish aggregating completed while he was in devices—FADs), such as using Kiribati as some parts and In fact, the sensors in the centre hydroacoustic equipment to try equipment were not available. of the catenery curve between and identify the species compo- floatlines were registering shal- sition and size of fish in a school Steve did, however, assist lower depths to the sensors clos- that was to be set on; gear mod- Betiraoi Boatbuilding in installing er to the floatlines. Interesting ifications to release unwanted the Fiji-made (Seamech) alu- what currents can do to the gear bycatch species once they were minium longline reel (Figure 1), without fishermen knowing! in the net; deck modifications to hydraulic tank, and keel cooler; release unwanted bycatch alive and the echo-sounder transducer

Figure 1: Seamech tuna longline reel mounted on F/V Tekokona II

2 SPC Fisheries Newsletter #89 — April/June ‘99 SPC ACTIVITIES on F/V Tekokona II. Plans to In May, Lindsay headed to complete the installation of Tokelau as part of an SPC mis- other necessary pieces of equip- sion, which included the ment had to be put on hold. Director-General, Bob Dun. The mission visited all three atolls A good lesson was learned by all (Fakaofo, Atafu and Nukunonu) in making sure that overseas to assess likely projects SPC can orders are done correctly, espe- assist with. cially in a remote place like Kiribati. Whether goods are In the fisheries area, Lindsay shipped by surface or airfreight, looked at the tuna longlining there are often delays with sup- operations being established pliers, agents, freight forwarders, using 12 m alia-type catamarans customs departments, and ship- (Figure 2) from Samoa. The ves- ping companies and airlines. sels set around 300 hooks per set using a hand-crank reel, and Some of the materials ordered have small insulated ice holds from Fiji for the hydraulic sys- for storing the catch which under construction. The project tem on F/V Tekokona II were should predominantly be alba- should be fully operational bumped off the flight going core tuna (Thunnus alalunga). around the end of 1999, and SPC from Nadi to Tarawa as other technical assistance may be pro- airfreight had priority. The second stage of this project vided early in the year 2000 in is to set up shore freezer facili- the areas of tuna longlining and This type of delay in a project ties on each of the atolls so that onboard handling of the catch. can be very frustrating as Steve, the catch can be frozen and the Fisheries Division, and stored for shipment to the can- Other areas of assistance identi- Betiraoi Boatbuilding found neries in American Samoa. fied during Lindsay’s meetings out. At the end of one month in with the Council of Elders on Kiribati, Steve was recalled to Three vessels are currently in each atoll and the Fisheries SPC headquarters as he had operation, one at each atoll, Department staff included: other duties to complete. with another three vessels assessment work on inshore

Figure 2: 12 m alia-type catamaran longliner used in Tokelau

3 SPC Fisheries Newsletter #89 — April/June ‘99 SPC ACTIVITIES resources; base-line studies on module was held in Noumea, of Passe de Dumbea, which is near the roles of men and women in New Caledonia. Part of the fish- Noumea. During the second community fisheries; several ing module took place on board week of fishing F/V Dar Mad areas of training at both the Marine Marchande’s training ves- went north to Baie de Saint national and regional level; FAD sel, F/V Dar Mad, and involved Vincent and Ile Puen. At night the technical assistance and the pro- five or six students at a time boat was left at anchor near Ile vision of information on new along with the vessel’s captain Puen while the students stayed FAD designs; post-harvest activ- and crew, Lucky and Velio. ashore in weekend cabins. ities using tuna and other species associated with tuna longlining; Steve assisted with fishing tech- Starting early each morning, maritime issues; and informa- niques and strategies. As there F/V Dar Mad left for Passe de tion pamphlets and general was no FAD available in New Saint Vincent. On the first day information. Caledonian waters at the time, out the crew of F/V Dar Mad no FAD fishing techniques were and the students deployed an During the months of June and carried out (vertical longlining, Indian Ocean style FAD that July, Steve assisted SPC’s Train- mid-water handlining, and they had rigged the previous ing Section with tutoring stu- trolling near FADs). week. The FAD was observed dents in the 1999 Nelson Practi- later in the week resting nicely cal Fishing Module (16 June to 2 Bottom longline fishing, drop- in 1,500 m of water about 8 km July 1999). [Ed: see also p. 9] line fishing, pelagic longline fish- west of the pass. It should be a ing for tuna and for swordfish, good fishing spot ready for next Every year participants in the and trolling techniques were year’s group of Nelson stu- SPC-Nelson Polytechnic Pacific demonstrated and carried out dents. The remainder of the Islands Fisheries Officers Course with student participation (Fig- time was spent fishing near spend the last five weeks of ures 3 & 4). During all of the Passe de Saint Vincent. their studies in the Pacific fishing trials a total of 24 fish Islands learning fishing tech- weighing about 100 kg were In late May, Lindsay travelled to niques. This part of the course is landed. Canberra for meetings with called the Practical Fishing AusAID regarding funding for Module. During 1999, as in the During the first week of fishing, the Coastal Fisheries Programme previous two years, the fishing F/V Dar Mad fished just outside for a three-year period, 2000 to

Figure 3: Hauling bottom longlining gear from F/V Dar Mad

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2002. Although the weather was cold, the meetings were warm and positive. The draft funding proposal was well received with constructive feedback from AusAID.

The final decision on funding will not be made though until official consultations are held in late 1999. Also in late May, the recruitment process for a new Masterfisherman to replace Peter was begun.

In Noumea, Project Assistant Marie-Ange Roberts finalised the layout of several reports ready to go to printing. In addition, the long-awaited ‘Deep- bottom fishing techniques for the Pacific Islands—a manual for fishermen’ has now been printed and distributed.

Figure 4: Coiling a branchline during the haul of the tuna longline

COMMUNITY FISHERIES SECTION

From April to June 1999, the Section’s activities focussed on the areas of information and training.

Information

Women in Fisheries The Bulletin is now available on booklet aims to improve the Information Bulletin the world wide web. It can be nutritional value of local diets found under Newsletters at by promoting greater consump- Issue #4 of the Bulletin was pro- http://www.spc.org.nc/coast- tion of seafood. Produced in col- duced and distributed in English fish/. laboration with the SPC Nutri- in March 1999 and in French in tion Programme, the booklet May 1999. Articles in Issue #4 Training manuals provides both fisheries and cover the work of the Section in nutritional information on a Palau, Tuvalu, Niue and else- The French version of the man- variety of marine resources, and where, news from around the ual, “Practical Methods for features recipes from around region (Tonga, Fiji, Samoa, Preserving Seafoods” was com- the region. Learning how to Solomon Islands, Kiribati, Nauru, pleted and distributed in June make new seafood dishes is Palau, Guam, Hawaii, New 1999. The manual on setting up very popular with women who Zealand and Australia, news a business has been translated attend seafood-processing work- outside the region (Asia, India into French and should be out shops. As such, this booklet will and Africa), and publications. by September 1999. be provided as resource material in the workshops. The book- Seafood Nutrition and Recipe let targets workshop partici- Booklet – Work began on this pants, trainers, and fisheries booklet in late March 1999. The extension officers

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Community Fisheries Manual – ment organisations and those eries, and stress the importance Work began on this new manu- involved in community devel- of considering both in an effec- al in April 1999. The manual opment. The manual will fea- tive management programme. aims to provide both fisheries ture background information on resource users and managers subsistence and artisanal fish- National assessments information on how to effective- eries, sustainable resource ly work together in managing development, and advice on Work on National Assessments fisheries on a community basis. how to involve communities in for Niue, Palau, Tuvalu contin- fisheries management. The ued, and a preliminary baseline The manual targets national manual will outline the roles of study for Wallis and Futuna fisheries workers, non-govern- both men and women in fish- was undertaken.

Training

New Zealand – The Regional Lyn Lambeth, the Community SPC Community Education Course on Seafood Business Fisheries Officer, taught the 3- Training Centre Fisheries Module Operations and Management for day workshop, providing prac- – Patricia Tuara, the Community Pacific Island Women was held tical instruction on making net Fisheries Adviser, visited Fiji for 4 weeks from the 12 April to needles, repairing nets, and from 25 April to 10 May 1999 to 7 May 1999. making a complete net from work on the development of the start to finish. CETC fisheries module. Organised by the SPC Fisheries Training Section in collabora- Equipment (nylon, needles) Working in collaboration with tion with the Nelson Polytech- were funded from the work- Tony Chamberlain, the Post- nic’s School of Fisheries, the aim shop budget, with funding and harvest Lecturer from the of the course was to improve organisational support being University of the South Pacific, the skills of Pacific Island shared between the SPC Pacific Patricia met with trainees from women in the seafood industry. Women’s Resource Bureau and CETC to obtain feedback on the the Community Fisheries module design. A 2-week Lyn Lambeth, Community Fish- Section. “Introduction to Fisheries module” eries Officer, went along to the was designed to include general course for the first 2 weeks, as a participant, and to provide administrative support.

It was an ideal opportunity for her to become familiar with the facilities at the Nelson School of Fisheries, meet with national representatives, and familiarise herself with the organisation of a regional workshop. (Ed: More about this course can be found under the Training Section’s activities)

Futuna – The Futuna Net Repair workshop was held from the 17–19 May 1999.

Women returning from fishing in Futuna

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Net mending in Futuna fisheries information, harvest- fisheries programme. In addi- The handbook will be useful to ing and gear technology, pro- tion, work has begun on the trainees when they return to cessing, making processing production of a training manual their communities. The module equipment, marketing and the that will be a course handbook will be taught from 20 Septem- development of a community for the trainees. ber to 1 October 1999.

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Other national activities

New Caledonia – There has Yaté visited SPC on 23 June to Community Fisheries Section been greater media coverage discuss with Patricia Tuara was approached by a Wallisan depicting New Caledonian ways in which to develop ties woman living in New women harvesting, processing with women in the Yaté fishing Caledonia. and marketing seafood. community. A visit to Yaté is being planned later this year. The Community Fisheries The Section was happy to meet Officer was able to provide one of the woman featured on As a result of a press release notes and diagrams on net local television. Mme Dremon, a covering the net mending work- repair for the woman. commercial fisherwoman from shop in Wallis and Futuna, the

TRAINING SECTION Pacific Island women tackle fisheries business in New Zealand

Nelson, New Zealand saw an Nauru, Palau, Fiji, Tonga, Tahiti, role in the seafood industry in the increase in its Pacific Island Tokelau, Kiribati and Tuvalu. Pacific, especially the process- community in April, with 13 ing and marketing side, but are women from around the Pacific Many of the women attending often overlooked when it comes attending the New Zealand came from private enterprises to training. Unless the course School of Fisheries for 4 weeks. and were well qualified in terms application specifically asks for of experience. However, most of women, it is likely that most of The first SPC regional course for the women had never been the applicants will be men. Pacific Island women on seafood given an opportunity for train- business operations and man- ing before, and were therefore Two previous courses have been agement was held in Nelson keen to upgrade their technical held at Nelson for Pacific Island from 12 April to 7 May 1999. skills and learn new strategies fisheries enterprise managers. to enhance their businesses. The first, in 1997, had three The course was part of the SPC women out of the 13 partici- Fisheries Training Section’s The course was developed in pants while the second had one regional training programme on collaboration with the New woman out of 12. the management of fisheries Zealand School of Fisheries and enterprises and was funded by the New Zealand seafood indus- Being in such a minority, the the governments of Australia try to meet the regulatory and few women tended to be over- and France. quality control requirements of shadowed by the men on these international seafood markets. courses. In the latest course the This was the first course to women were very comfortable specifically target women, in Subjects covered included sea- with each other and related well recognition of the fact that food production systems women are playing an increas- (HACCP, handling, quality, ing role in the development of value adding, marketing); busi- the seafood industry in the ness management practices Pacific. A lack of expertise in (commercial ethic, personnel seafood business operation and management and development, management and a lack of problem solving), and business opportunity for training often planning and accounting (spread- hamper women involved in sheets and computers for commercial fisheries enterprises. accounting, interpretation of financial information, business The course received a large plans). Classroom lectures were number of applicants, about 75, interspersed with practical ses- of which one third appeared sions and site visits around suitable. Nelson.

Of those, 13 were selected from So why have a course just for PNG, Solomon Islands, FSM, women? Women do play a large

8 SPC Fisheries Newsletter #89 — April/June ‘99 SPC ACTIVITIES together—all had children being tacts. All recognised the value of A request to fund similar work- cared for by extended family the course and recommended shops in Honiara was also and most had been occasionally that SPC should seek funding to received from the Solomon Island placed into positions of respon- repeat this training programme participant, Delker Lulumani. sibility in their companies with in future years. Some women no training and little support. asked SPC representatives if The enthusiasm shown by par- assistance could be given to ticipants in Nelson was rewarding The Pacific community in organise an in-country follow- for course organisers. Even more Nelson made the women wel- up to the Nelson training. encouraging was subsequent feed- come, hosting a Pacific night at back by some women, saying the School of Fisheries. Other Consequently, one course tutor they were already applying in extra-curricular activities includ- will go to Fiji in July to review their business some of the concepts ed a visit to a green-lip mussel Ocean Trader’s HACCP plan and strategies learnt in Nelson. farm; white-water rafting, and and production systems. In The Community Fisheries and sampling the sashimi and sushi August, Silika Ngahe, one of the Training Sections are keen to con- at a local Japanese restaurant. two Tongan participants, will run tinue with this training pro- some workshops on seafood gramme and, in July, a funding pro- The thirteen participants left processing and business man- posal for three consecutive courses Nelson with a wide range of agement, for the women of was submitted to NZODA. new skills and personal con- Ha’apai and Va’vau.

‘Hands-on practice in Noumea for the Nelson students

The practical fishing module of ules, runs 18 weeks in Nelson, Island countries were selected. the 20th SPC-Nelson Polytech- New Zealand, followed by a The purpose of the course is to nic Pacific Islands Fisheries five-week practical fishing give selected students, who are Officers Course was completed module in Noumea. working as fisheries officers, in July 1999 in Noumea for its relevant technical skills at a third consecutive year. The This year, eleven participants very practical level which they course, consisting of two mod- from eight different Pacific will use in the day-to-day oper-

Ricky Starr (Nauru) and Francis Katupa (French Polynesia) hold the catch of the day, a 37 kg wahoo.

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Sione Mailau (Tonga), David Eongen (Nauru) and Ms Erema Ebaurerei (Kiribati) rigging a FAD to be deployed about 5 miles from Passe de St Vincent ation of their work and which All with the intention to create a HACCP principles, prawn they may pass on to their col- deeper sensitivity in the partici- farming techniques, as well as leagues and local communities. pants to better serve the fisher- reef and mangrove ecology and men when they return to their environment. This year’s practical module in fisheries posts in their own Noumea, New Caledonia, was country. In Noumea the New Caledonia run by Teriihauroa Luciani, School of Fisheries École des Steve Beverly and Michel Blanc The participants’ ‘hands-on’ Métiers de la Mer (EMM), the of SPC and supported by Brian experience covered various Service Territorial de la Marine Fosset of Nelson Polytechnic. technical fishing methods Marchande, the Aquarium de which included trolling with Nouméa, the local aquaculture Every attempt was made to lures, fresh bait trolling, deep research station of Saint-Vincent keep the practical fishing mod- bottom fishing with hand reels (IFREMER) and the Environ- ule as ‘hands on’ as possible in and pelagic longline fishing for ment Unit Centre d’Initiation à order to give the participants a tuna and swordfish. l’Environnement (CIE) as well as realistic impression, through various SPC fisheries sections experience, of the hardships During fishing operations stu- have all worked together to their own fishermen face on a dents were asked to fill out the make this course a success. day-to-day basis. SPC vessel logbook and to analyse the finances of each With all these modern and spe- This included fishing trips on fishing trip. This year, students cialised facilities available and the open sea facing all the ele- also participated in the con- willing to help, Noumea is truly ments (sun, wind, swells, rain, struction and deployment of a the ideal location in which to wind, more rain, bigger swells, light Indian Ocean style FAD. run the practical module. We wind and more rain and rain look forward to another suc- and rain) and the disheartening As local expertise was available, cessful course next year. reality of a ‘no-catch’ day, as the course also included sub- well as the excitement of ‘a big jects such as how to catch catch’. aquarium fish, post-harvest and

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REEF FISHERY ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT SECTION In Thailand

Pierre Labrosse, Reef Fisheries • propose income and employ- • Group 3: Social and environ- Management Adviser, was ment alternatives to individ- mental aspects, including invited to participate in the Joint uals involved in dangerous technology transfer, coastal APEC-NACA-NICA Workshop and/or illegal grouper fish- community livelihoods. on Grouper Research and ing activities; and Development in Hat Yai on 7, 8 Each group evaluated the situa- and 9 April 1999. This work- • participate in the protection tion in the areas under consider- shop followed the meeting held of reefs threatened by exces- ation, identified those priority on 7–8 April 1998, where the fol- sive grouper fishing pres- issues that should be the subject lowing needs were highlighted: sure. of research, development and information activities, and then • pursue further research on A series of presentations pro- formulated proposals. the principal critical points vided an update on the current and constraints linked to situation regarding grouper These proposals were assem- grouper aquaculture tech- aquaculture research and devel- bled into a project proposal and nology; and opment in APEC countries in funding request that was pre- the very broadest sense, includ- sented to APEC immediately • set up a co-operative net- ing, in particular, post-harvest after the workshop. All the pro- work for grouper aquacul- issues concerning markets, posals were formulated in such ture research in the Asia- mainly concerning the live fish a way as to respond to the pri- Pacific region. market. ority issues identified by APEC, to implement co-operative activ- This second workshop allowed Three working groups dealt ities and to promote grouper participants to define and launch with the followings topics: aquaculture development in the the co-operative network on Pacific region. grouper research and develop- • Group 1: Production technolo- ment. This initiative will make it gy: research and industry possible to: development.

• determine the conditions • Group 2: Food safety: chemi- needed for the sustainable cal residues, handling/stor- development of grouper age, transportation, trade issues aquaculture, with significant (certification, quality labels, export potential; quality testing, marketing).

In Philippines

In June, Tim Adams and Pierre to discuss funding possibilities While in Manila, Tim Adams Labrosse from SPC, Andrew for the project of a regional strat- and Pierre Labrosse attended the Smith from The Nature Conser- egy on live reef fish fisheries. FishBase Steering Committee vancy (TNC) and Vaughan Pratt Following these discussions, it was meeting. It was a good opportu- from the International Marine- agreed that a funding proposal nity to discuss ways of activating life Alliance (IMA) met repre- should be submitted to ADB as the FishBase Pacific node for sentatives of the Asian Bank for soon as possible for a project which training coordinators are Development (ADB) in Manila that could start in early 2000. based at SPC.

In Solomon Islands With awareness of the negative aggregations are targeted, more On 17–20 May 1999, Being impacts of an uncontrolled live Pacific Island Fisheries are mak- Yeeting, Integrated Fisheries reef fish trade growing, espe- ing an effort to formulate effec- Management Associate, was cially where destructive meth- tive management strategies. invited to give technical advice ods are used and spawning and especially to provide a

11 SPC Fisheries Newsletter #89 — April/June ‘99 SPC ACTIVITIES regional perspective of the trade • to identify the requirements An interim management plan is in a consultative workshop for an economically and expected to come out from the organised by the Solomon environmentally sustainable workshop that will be used Islands’ Fisheries Division with fishery from the reef- until the necessary biological, assistance from The Nature owner’s and industry per- social and economical informa- Conservancy. spective; tion (through the ACIAR project starting in mid-1999) becomes The primary purpose of the • to review the Solomon available for a further revision workshop was to bring together Islands’ draft interim nation- and finalisation of the main the government (national and al live reef food fish trade management plan. provincial), industry and reef management strategy; and owners to discuss and express The Nature Conservancy is their views relating to the devel- • to provide specific recom- preparing the interim manage- opment and management of the mendations to the Govern- ment plan for review by The live reef food fish trade in the ment of the Solomon Islands Solomon Islands’ Fisheries Advi- Solomon Islands. The goals of on the sustainable develop- sory Council before approval the workshop were: ment and management of and implementation. the live reef food fish trade.

In Kiribati

A 24-day visit from 8 June to 1 Atoll (the Government sta- people from different sectors July was made by Being tion) to collect relevant infor- were consulted. Nine were from Yeeting, at the request of the mation about the trade. the national government, two Kiribati Fisheries Division. The from the local government, four purpose of the visit was to: For the field sampling, a total of from the industry, twenty-six 42 stations in 8 different habitat were local fishermen, one from • assist the Fisheries Division types were surveyed. The habi- a research institute and one in assessing the potential of tat types included western reef from the Development Bank. Abaiang Atoll for the Live sites (ocean and lagoon sides), Reef Food Fish trade, northwest reef sites, passages The information gathered (mouths and insides), lagoon would be used to define the major • formulate guidelines for a sites (north and south) and the issues and concerns of the dif- National Live Reef Food Fish windward reef area. ferent sectors and to develop development and manage- options for an appropriate man- ment policy; and Estimates of fish length of the agement and development sys- potential live reef fish species tem that could be implemented • make recommendations for were obtained, and of bottom within the current legal framework an appropriate management type. These data would be used and administrative structure. system including necessary to get an idea of the density and regulations that could be distribution of the LRFF species implemented and enforced surveyed. under the current Fisheries Act. Ultimately the information In response to the requests, two would enable the calculation of main lines of activities were the size distribution and the conducted. These include: biomasses of potential live reef food fish (LRFF) species. In • field sampling using under- addition, samples of algae water visual census (UVC) (Halimeda being the most com- in the sub-intertidal zone mon) were collected at sam- and lagoon area on Abaiang pling stations to check for the Atoll (one of the outer presence (density and distribu- islands); and tion) of Gambierdiscus toxicus, the dinoflagellate responsible • series of meetings with Gov- for ciguatera fish poisoning. ernment (central and rural), industry and local fishermen For the information gathering on Abaiang and Tarawa part of the work, a total of 43

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The results of the field surveys lations and a monitoring pro- them to extend the assessment and the findings from the meet- gramme for the trade. part of the work to other islands ings will be analysed and in Kiribati in the future to eval- described in detail in the techni- In addition to the formal work uate their potential for the trade. cal report to be published in conducted, the opportunity was This should also allow them to September this year. This report taken to train the staff of the become familiar with the will also include guidelines for Fisheries Division’s Resource method before using it exten- a national LRFF management Assessment Section in the under- sively for assessing other fish policy for Kiribati, a proposed water visual census method that resources in general. management system with regu- was used. This should enable

OCEANIC FISHERIES PROGRAMME Record participation at the 12th meeting of the Standing Committee on Tuna and Billfish

The 12th meeting of the Stand- Service des Ressources Marines • This SCTB meeting may be ing Committee on Tuna and (SRM), French Polynesia, kindly the last one before the Multi- Billfish (SCTB) was held from 16 hosted the meeting, and their lateral High Level Consulta- to 23 June in Tahiti, French staff, under the logistical direc- tion (MHLC) process, which Polynesia, at the invitation of the tion of Mr Stephen Yen, certain- should develop an arrange- French Polynesian Government. ly added to the well-deserved ment for the conservation reputation of Polynesian hospi- and management of highly The aims of the SCTB are to pro- tality. The French Institut de la migratory fish stocks in the vide a forum for scientists and Recherche pour le Développement WCPO, scheduled for com- others with an interest in the (IRD, ex-ORSTOM) also assisted pletion in June 2000. SCTB is tuna stocks of the western and greatly with the logistics and expected to form the basis of central Pacific region to meet organisation of the meeting. a possible scientific advisory and discuss scientific issues body to that arrangement. related to data, research and Financial assistance for the stock assessment. organisation of the meeting was • Lastly, ten days in a beautiful kindly provided by the Govern- hotel facing the ocean in The SCTB coordinates fisheries ments of French Polynesia and Tahiti, is an invitation hard data collection, compilation and France, and skillfully coordinat- to refuse. dissemination; reviews research ed by Hélène Courte, Technical on the biology, ecology, environ- Adviser to the President of The meeting was attended by ment and fisheries of tuna and French Polynesia. participants from American associated species; identifies Samoa, Australia, Canada, Cook research needs and provides a Some of the participants, who Islands, Federated States of mean of coordination to meet had been present at early SCTB Micronesia, French Polynesia, those needs. meetings, were nostalgically Japan, Kiribati, Nauru, New recalling the days when only 12 Caledonia, New Zealand, Niue, Participation in the SCTB is to 20 people were seated around Northern Marianas, Palau, open to scientists and others the table . . . this year’s number Papua New Guinea, Philippines, with an interest in the tuna fish- climbed to well over eighty. Republic of Korea, Samoa, eries of the western and central Some of the reasons for this Taiwan, Tonga, Tuvalu, United Pacific. Scientists of coastal states exceptional attendance were Sates of America, Vanuatu, and and territories of the region, probably that: Wallis and Futuna. from countries whose vessels fish in the region, and from • Tuna catches in the Western Two regional organisations international tuna fisheries man- and Central Pacific Ocean were also represented: the Inter- agement organisations are par- (WCPO) now represent more American Tropical Tuna Commis- ticularly encouraged to attend. than half of the world’s tuna sion (IATTC) and the Forum catches, and the SCTB’s role Fisheries Agency (FFA), as were The SPC Oceanic Fisheries Pro- as a regional scientific advi- various organisations and agen- gramme (OFP) served as sory body has grown in par- cies at national level. Secretariat for the meeting. The allel with this huge fishery;

13 SPC Fisheries Newsletter #89 — April/June ‘99 SPC ACTIVITIES

The meeting opened with an between each group, but this tuna fisheries noted that the esti- address by the Minister of Marine year, the Bigeye RG and Billfish mated total catch for 1998 for the Resources of French Polynesia, and Bycatch RG were accorded four main tuna species was the M. Llewellyn Tematahotoa, fol- slight priority, given existing highest on record (1,773,000 t), lowed by an address by Mr Jean resource uncertainties. with a record catch of skipjack, Aribaud, the High Commissioner particularly that taken by purse of the French Republic in French The meeting ended with a ses- seine, making up 66% of this Polynesia. Dr Ziro Suzuki, from sion allowing discussion on the total. The yellowfin and bigeye the National Research Institute MHLC process and the usual catches were the second highest of Far Seas Fisheries (NRIFSF), ‘Other Business’ session. You on record (407,000 and 97,600 t Japan, chaired the meeting. will find below, a brief summa- respectively), and the South ry of outcomes from these dif- Pacific albacore catch (41,100 t) After an overview of WCPO ferent sessions, including sum- the highest this decade. National tuna fisheries, the presentation mary statements for the five fishery reports provide further of national tuna fishery reports, Research Groups, extracted from details of these catches. and a session allowing organi- Dr Tony Lewis’ ‘Prompt Report’ sations to report on their activi- that was hastily prepared for all Reports by ties, the meeting convened as participants on the last day of organisations six working groups: the Statis- the meeting. tics Working Group (SWG), the Reports on relevant activities of Skipjack Research Group (SRG), Brief summary of other organisations were received the Albacore Research Group sessions from the Inter-American Tropical (ARG), the Yellowfin Research Tuna Commission (IATTC), the Group (YRG), the Bigeye Initial overview of Food and Agricultural Organi- Research Group (BRG), and the Western and Central zation of the United Nations Billfish and Bycatch Research Pacific Ocean (WCPO) (FAO), the Pelagic Fisheries Group (BBRG). tuna fisheries Research Program (PFRP) and the Interim Scientific Committee Normally, time allocated for The initial overview of Western on Tuna and Tuna-like Species in deliberations is equally shared and Central Pacific Ocean (WCPO) the North Pacific Ocean (ISC).

Some of the Pacific Islands delegates: Sione Leolahi from Niue, Samuelu Telii from Tuvalu and Iliapi Tuwai from Fiji

14 SPC Fisheries Newsletter #89 — April/June ‘99 SPC ACTIVITIES

Statistics Working procedures for collecting catch of a downward trend. Recent Group (SWG) and effort data from these ves- studies have begun to provide sels. Regarding the dissemina- some understanding of environ- The objectives of the SCTB Sta- tion of data, it was reported that mental influences on fluctua- tistics Working Group (SWG) catch and effort public domain tions seen in skipjack availabili- are to coordinate the collection, data, grouped by 5° latitude and ty and productivity of the stock compilation and dissemination 5° longitude strata and month, in the WCPO. of tuna fisheries data. In regard for all fishing nations combined, to the coordination of data col- are now available on the SPC Tag-based assessments from the lection, the SWG held a session Website. early 1990s found regional prior to the main SCTB meeting exploitation levels to be low to to establish minimum standards Other subjects discussed by the moderate at catch levels similar for catch and effort logsheets SWG included the statistical to those in recent years; com- and to review, as an example, areas used for compiling annual bined with the absence of clear the logsheets used in New catch estimates; the adjustment trends in fishery indicators, this Zealand and Australia. of bigeye and yellowfin catches would suggest that the current by purse seiners for the mis- catches are certainly sustainable. In the future, the SWG will identification/non-separation review other logsheets used in of bigeye and yellowfin in catch However, given the importance the region, including those and effort logsheet data and of the skipjack fishery, there is a developed by the SPC/FFA landings data; and the develop- need to improve the statistical Tuna Fishery Data Collection ment of a regional sampling coverage of the fisheries, which Forms Committee. design for port sampling pro- remains poor in some areas (eg grammes and observer pro- Indonesia, Philippines), to devel- During the main SCTB meeting, grammes. op improved assessment mod- the SWG Coordinator, Tim els which would be amenable to Lawson, reported on the status Skipjack Research reference-point-based manage- of data collection, compilation Group (SRG) - ment, to develop fishery indica- and dissemination. Data that Summary statement tors for use in stock assess- are compiled by the OFP on ments, and to continue to devel- behalf of the SCTB include Skipjack contribute two-thirds op an understanding of process- annual catch estimates, catch of the WCPO catch of the four es affecting stock productivity and effort data, length data, and main tuna species. The best and recruitment. other types of data. available estimates indicate that the 1998 skipjack catch in the Albacore Research Progress in data compilation WCPO was the highest on Group (ARG) - was achieved, although certain record (1.17 million tonnes, just Summary statement problems remain with some of exceeding the 1991 catch), with the catch and effort data provid- purse-seine fleets providing Albacore occurring in the South ed by Japan and Korea. both the majority of this catch Pacific constitute a single stock. (76%) and the catch increase The best fishery estimates indi- Concerning the provision of observed during 1998. cate that the 1998 albacore catch data by Japan, a participant (41,000 tonnes) was the highest from the National Research Available indicators (purse- annual catch this decade. South Institute of Far Seas Fisheries seine, pole-and-line) show vari- Pacific albacore were mainly stated that while the Fisheries able catch rates over time in the harvested by the longline fleet Agency has an agreement with fishery, but with no suggestion (88%) with a lesser amount con- SPC to provide catch and effort data, this agreement may not cover the provision of data compiled by the OFP on behalf of the SCTB.

It was also noted that there are two ex-Korean purse seiners and several ex-Taiwanese purse seiners flagged in Vanuatu, but the Vanuatu Department of Fisheries has not established

15 SPC Fisheries Newsletter #89 — April/June ‘99 SPC ACTIVITIES

Terii Vallaux from SRM French Polynesia and François-Xavier Bard from IRD (ex-ORSTOM) tributed by the troll fleet (12%). catch are sustainable given the analysis to better incorpo- Longline catches have escalated moderate exploitation rates and rate recent fishery develop- in several domestic longline recent increases in catch rates of ments, consideration given to the fisheries, especially Samoa, domestic and distant-water likelihood of localising the American Samoa and French longline fisheries. model to smaller scales, incorpo- Polynesia. In these three coun- rating assessment of precaution- tries, the 1998 catch totalled In addition, there was some evi- ary reference points and better 9,700 t or nearly 25% of the dence of ENSO impacts on both understanding how fleet behav- entire South Pacific catch. catchability and recruitment. A ior or albacore targeting may be recent production model analysis related to economic factors. The Taiwanese distant-water is also consistent with the good longline CPUE provides the stock condition interpretation. Yellowfin Research best long-term indicator for the Group (YRG) - fishery, and catch rates in 1998 The MULTIFAN–CL assessment Summary statement were high (>4 albacore per 100 needs updating, and could be hooks) compared to fishery per- improved by updating Taiwanese The yellowfin tuna catch for the formance earlier in the decade. longline statistics, re-structuring western and central Pacific Ocean (WCPO) has increased Trolling catch rates of the USA since the 1980s, when purse- and New Zealand fleets are seine fishing began to expand more variable than those of the significantly in the WCPO. longline fishery, possibly due to factors affecting availability Although expansion has slowed rather than changes in stock in recent years, the catch has abundance. reached record high levels. The best estimate of the 1998 catch is A length-based, age-structured about 407,000 mt, which is stock assessment (MULTI- among the highest on record. FAN–CL) applied from 1962 to This is an increase for the purse- 1993 suggested that current lev- seine and other gear catches, els of South Pacific albacore and a decrease for the longline

16 SPC Fisheries Newsletter #89 — April/June ‘99 SPC ACTIVITIES and pole-and-line gear catches es. On the other hand, the sur- priate stock assessment be over 1997 catches. face-fishery catch in the EPO urgently undertaken, for exam- increased markedly beginning ple, (i) determine better esti- This level of catch appears to be in 1994 with decline in the long- mates of the bigeye catch by sustainable and is not adversely line fishery catch, and the total surface fisheries, (ii) determine impacting the stock. Evidence catch has stabilised between estimates of mixing rates and for this conclusion is based on 70,000 and 90,000 mt. movements of fish across the the time series of purse-seine range of the stock, and (iii) deter- CPUE, which is variable but The longline catch in the EPO mine estimates of biological with no particular trend, and declined from 83,000 t to about parameters (growth and size- the time series of standardised 35,000 t in 1998, and has been specific natural mortality rates). longline CPUE which is flat, or replaced by a large purse-seine with a downward trend, catch since 1993. The purse- Billfish and Bycatch depending on fishing area and seine catch in the EPO increased Research Group (BBRG) type of analysis. from about 8,000 t in 1993 to - Summary statement over 50,000 t in 1996 and 1997. Other indicators (the MULTI- It declined to 34,000 t in 1998. Some information is available FAN–CL length-based age-struc- on marlin stock structure and ture model and tagging data) Because a comprehensive stock broad movement patterns. show exploitation at low to high assessment for this species is However, BBRG highlighted levels depending on the yel- hindered by the scarcity of data gaps in other information lowfin tuna statistical area, but and the absence or poor quality required for the development of on a whole and at the stock of estimates for some key bio- quantitative stock assessments. level, exploitation is at a low to logical parameters, the current moderate level. stock status is uncertain. These are major gaps in information on age and growth, mix- In short, the WCPO yellowfin To overcome this situation, the ing rates and natural mortality. tuna stock appears to be in good application of the integrated Historical catch and effort data condition and able to safely sus- (Multifan-CL) model, which are available for several com- tain the current level of catch. utilises all available data and mercial fleets, especially Japan- estimates all parameters simul- ese longliners. But catches of Bigeye Research Group taneously, is planned for the billfishes are often incidental to (BRG) - Summary coming year. commercial fishing operations. statement The Group, however, noted that Consequently, there is uncer- Although the catch of bigeye for preliminary estimates of rela- tainty over the reporting of dis- the total Pacific Ocean accounts tive stock abundance from carded catches, and catch rates for a relatively small portion (8 standardised longline CPUE need to be standardised if they % of total tuna catch in the indicate a decline in abundance are to be used as an index of Pacific Ocean), its economic since the late 1970s in the WCPO stock abundance. Size data are value is substantial (approxi- and since 1990 in the EPO. also required. Useful catch, mately US$ one billion annual- Although the estimates require effort and size data might also ly). In 1998, the catch was further developments, the pre- be gathered from gamefishing 100,000 t and 70,000 t for the liminary results raise concern of operations that target billfishes. WCPO and EPO, respectively. overfishing and decline in adult biomass. BBRG does not yet have a histo- The catch increased gradually in ry of stock assessment to draw the WCPO reflecting increases in Cohort analysis performed by on. BBRG did not attempt to longline and purse-seine catch- the IATTC for the stock in the develop a statement of stock EPO also indi- status because of the informa- cated a similar tion gaps mentioned above. decline in the adult biomass. In the interim, BBRG’s coordi- The Group there- nator offered to develop a state- fore strongly rec- ment that subsequent meetings ommends that of BBRG can consider. Thus it directed research will eventually create an agreed efforts support- statement on stock status and ing the appro- add to this as results of dedicat-

17 SPC Fisheries Newsletter #89 — April/June ‘99 SPC ACTIVITIES ed research and assessment issues will be drawn to the Showing the exceptional rela- become available. attention of MHLC 5. tionship that the French Polynesian Government has Update of the The meeting closed with the built with their local fishing Mulilateral High Level approval of the summary state- industry, the farewell cocktail Consultation (MHLC) ments prepared by the Group was jointly organised and spon- process Coordinators, and discussion of sored by the two sectors. It cre- reporting procedures. As a ated a good opportunity for the The meeting was provided with result, a Prompt Report was meeting participants to get to an update of the ongoing prepared for the first time, to know some of the very enter- MHLC process, to develop an enable participants to return prising Tahitian fishermen who arrangement for the conserva- with a meeting summary, have built an impressive local tion and management of highly accompanied by a commitment tuna longline industry in a few migratory fish stocks in the from the Secretariat to post the short years, and provided a fit- WCPO, scheduled for comple- draft report on the SPC website ting farewell for the 12th and tion in June 2000 (Convention by the end of the month. (This largest SCTB. and Commission). was duly done on 29 June). A draft report from the 12th SCTB is The implications for SCTB in Following an invitation from available, in PDF format, on the SPC terms of the provision of scien- the Kingdom of Tonga, SCTB 13 website at the following address: tific advice to the proposed may be organised in another Commission, as well as the pro- island paradise: Vava’u. (These http:/www.spc.org.nc/oceanfish posed Convention area and tuna people must have developed (click SCTB in the menu) species to be addressed by the special skills to always get invited Commission, were discussed at to the right places . . .). length by the group. Several

Do it with a smile, part of the very efficient team that worked behind the scene: Babera Kaltongga from OFP, Christine de Floris and Frédéric Leproux from Service des Ressources Marines, French Polynesia

18 SPC Fisheries Newsletter #89 — April/June ‘99 NEWS FROM IN AND AROUND THE REGION

FSM FISHERIES MANAGEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT PROJECT

The Federated States of FSM has few exportable natural Rationalisation will be support- Micronesia (FSM) are about to resources, and fisheries seems ed by an institutional strength- undertake a major project to to be the country’s only imme- ening programme aimed at improve the economic returns it diate candidate for rapid eco- improving the capacity and effi- receives from its fisheries, espe- nomic development. In the past, ciency of public sector fishery cially those for tuna. The Fish- the focus has been on licensing management activities. In addi- eries Management and Develop- foreign fishing vessels in order tion, options for the privatisa- ment Project (FMDP) is financed to generate revenue that has been tion and improved manage- by the Asian Develop-ment Bank used to finance the Government. ment of FSM’s various publicly- under a Small-Scale Technical owned commercial fishing enter- Assistance Grant. The project, In the future, however, the Gov- prises will be examined, and which is being carried out by the ernment will need to come up where possible mechanisms put consulting company of Gillett, with ways of ensuring that the in place so that these can be Preston and Associates Inc., will tuna fishery contributes more transferred to the private sector. commence in late July 1999 and broadly to FSM’s economy by These enterprises include will run for about 16 months. providing direct opportunities purse-seine and longline fishing for investment, employment, companies, wharves, slipway The project is prompted in part and participation by the domes- facilities, fish processing plants, by an increasingly urgent need tic private sector. and international fish air-freight for FSM to generate new operations. sources of income to support its economy. For the past 15 years The FMDP has been designed to Finally, the project will examine FSM’s main foreign revenue assist with this transition. ways of transferring fishery source has been the funds Project activities will address a management costs to the fishing received from the USA under wide range of policy, economic industry, and assist FSM to the Compact of Free Association. and regulatory issues aimed at move towards a user-pays man- improving the overall benefits agement system. This will not However, Compact payments that FSM receives from its fish- only reduce the cost to Govern- have been progressively reduced eries, and reducing the costs of ment, but will also provide every five years, and will termi- managing them. Studies will be increased security of access to nate altogether in the year 2000, undertaken to assess the eco- resources for fishing industry greatly reducing the funds nomic benefits (in terms of members, and with it a greater available to Government, which licence fees, employment, invest- motivation for sustainable is the country’s major employer. ment, taxes, resource rents, etc.) resource use. that will be produced by various The Government is already mixes of foreign and domestic (Source: Gillett, Preston and Associ- tightening its belt in anticipa- fleets, and of fishing vessel types. ates Inc.) tion, by shedding staff and reducing the number of Strategies will then be devel- Government Departments. oped to enable FSM to move towards the optimum situation, However, alternative sources of and these will be formally incor- income are needed to replace porated into FSM’s fishery man- the revenue and employment agement and development poli- previously provided under the cies and regulations. At the Compact arrangements. same time, the fishery management roles and responsibilities Other Micronesian countries of various federal and state have successfully developed agencies will be examined with tourism, but FSM’s lack of facil- a view to rationalisation of func- ities, as well as the difficulty tions, in line with the Govern- and high cost of flying to and ment downsizing exercise cur- within the country, mean that rently underway. this is unlikely to be an immedi- ate prospect.

19 SPC Fisheries Newsletter #89 — April/June ‘99 NEWS FROM IN AND AROUND THE REGION

MARSHALL ISLANDS ARE EXPECTING A US$ 3 MILLION GRANT FROM JAPAN

Japanese officials in Majuro Japanese officials in Majuro The Japanese embassy in have approved in principle a indicated that the proposal was Majuro has already approved it US$ 3 million grant to aid estab- similar in nature to the pilot and is waiting for the response lishment of a community-based fisheries project that was from the Japan International commercial fishing operation in launched on Arno Atoll with Cooperation Agency, which a remote atoll in the Marshall Japanese aid in the late 1980s, would be the funding agency. Islands. and then expanded in the mid 1990s to include three other Japan’s Overseas Fisheries Coop- The Marshall Islands Marine outer atolls. eration Foundation, which Resources Authority (MIMRA) already has an ongoing pres- is seeking to add a new atoll to Danny Jack said that the aim of ence in the Marshall Islands, is the four that have already been this project was to stimulate expected to provide a range of developed with the aid of Japan- income earning opportunities technical assistance for carrying ese funding. The currently exist- among remote island communi- out the project, including training rural fish bases on these ties by marketing fish caught in ing of staff for marketing, boat small islands market fish in the Jaluit within the atoll, as well as maintenance, handling of fish two main urban centers in the in nearby Kili — where the dis- and promotion of sustainable Marshall Islands. placed Bikini Islanders live — fishing technologies, according and Majuro, the capital, which to MIMRA. The US$ 3 million if, as expect- has nearly half the country’s ed, it is approved in Tokyo later 65,000 residents. (Source: Marianas Variety News and this year, will enable the devel- Views, 9 July 1999) opment of a fish handling facili- Danny Jack added that to avoid ty on Jaluit’s main island, Jabor, population influx into urban with cold storage, fish process- centers, it was necessary to ing and marketing areas. make life in the outer islands attractive and promote settle- Other islands in Jaluit would be ment of young people, thus supplied with fishing boats, decentralising the population. gear, other equipment and training opportunities to sup- Both MIMRA and Japan embassy port development of a local officials indicated that the pro- commercial fishing industry, ject, originally requested for the according to MIMRA’s Deputy 2001 fiscal year, could start in Director Danny Jack. 2000, if it is approved in Japan.

MILLIONS OF DOLLARS AVAILABLE FOR CORAL REEF PROTECTION

Million of U.S. dollars will be U.S. coral reef ecosystems and to Senator Inouye. He added that available to states and U.S terri- assist in the conservation and the Act would also authorise tories to preserve and protect protection of coral reefs by sup- US$ 15 million per year in coral reefs under the Coral Reef porting conservation pro- grants to support coral reef and Protection Act of 1999, accord- grammes. coral reef ecosystem conserva- ing to U.S. Senator Daniel tion and restoration projects. Inouye. This Act would leverage the federal dollars appropriated for Any relevant state or territorial The Coral Reef Protection Act, these purposes by establishing a natural resource management according to Senator Inouye, formal mechanism for collecting authority or other government would authorise appropriations and allocating matching mone- authority with jurisdiction over totaling US$ 100 million over a tary donation from the private coral reefs ecosystems, or edu- period of five years to preserve, sector to be used for coral reef cational or non-governmental sustain and restore the health of conservation projects, according institutions with demonstrated

20 SPC Fisheries Newsletter #89 — April/June ‘99 NEWS FROM IN AND AROUND THE REGION expertise in the conservation of Commerce to enter into an servation and restoration coral reefs would be eligible to agreement to authorise a foun- efforts. It would also authorise apply for these grants which dation to sollicit, receive, hold the Secretary to enter into joint would be administered by the and administer gifts and dona- projects with any federal, state, Secretary of Commerce. Except tions received to further the territorial, or local authority, or for projects costing less than purposes of this Act. These provide financial assistance to US$ 25,000, or specific exemp- funds could be combined with any person involved in coral tions granted by the Secretary, the federal grant funds in sup- reef conservation projects. these grants would be subject to port of coral reef projects. a 25% non-federal matching (Source: Samoa News, 6/7/99) requirement. Furthermore, the Coral Reef Protection Act of 1999 would Additionally, the Act would authorise US$ 5 million per year authorise the Secretary of to directly support federal con-

MODERN SPEARFISHING:A RISKY BUSINESS

Spearing for coral reef fishes is down the reef slope. Similar In Nauru, day and night scuba one of the oldest traditional reports have been documented spearfishing grew in popularity fishing methods in the Pacific. in French Polynesia, Wallis and in the 1970s and 1980s with up In the past, the effects of Pohnpei. to 30 people regularly fishing spearfishing were minimal as the reef slope. Over time, divers fishers were limited to spearing As the fish move to deeper noted that stocks of snapper from the surface or in relatively waters, so do the spearfishers. and groupers were depleted in shallow waters accessible by Increasingly dependant on shallow water and spearfishers free-diving. scuba gear to reach these greater increasingly harvested smaller depths, the spearfishers take specimens. As in Guam, snap- Over the past half century, how- greater risks. pers and grouper populations ever, spearfishing potential has had retreated into deeper water. been greatly enhanced by new In Guam commercial fishers use Expansion of dive fishing activ- technology, including scuba gear, up to three cubic-foot scuba ity into these depths by uncerti- powerful underwater flash lights, tanks per diver per night and fied divers led to several severe spear guns, “Hawaiian slings” venture as deep as 180 feet (55 cases of the bends and the (catapults to propel steel spears), m) on their first and second acquisition of a hyperbaric and bang sticks (devices employ- dives. Spearguns and bang chamber by the Nauru hospital. ing 12-gauge shotgun cartridges sticks are used to maximise that can stop even sharks and catches of popular humphead The threat to reef fishes posed large fish). Throughout the parrotfish and Napoleon by scuba spearfishers, particu- Pacific, the efficiency of modern wrasse. Spearfishers have expe- larly on small islands with high spearfishing has created con- rienced cases of the bends as demand for reef fish, have led cern both for fish and for divers. well as a few emergency ascents some traditional chiefs and local due to regulator blowouts. The governments to take or contem- Dive fishing often occurs at fishers must also combat strong plate regulatory action to curb night when many reef fish are currents and predatory tiger this method of fishing. On other the most vulnerable, sleeping or and reef sharks, which may islands, strong local support for hiding under coral ledges and steal their catches. spearfishing means that regula- in holes. In Palau, for example, tion is unlikely. Without regula- fishers using powerful under- tion, however, large snappers, water flashlights and spearguns groupers, parrotfish, wrasses have exploited large humphead and other reef fish will continue parrotfish, which normally sleep to live below their normal depth in “dormitories” on the shallow range and spearfishers will like- reef. Faced with increasing fish- ly take increasing risks to hunt ing pressure, these, as well as their quarry. other fish species that normally inhabit the plateau crest and (Source: Pacific Islands Fishery upper slope of reefs, are driven News, Spring 1999) to inhabit deeper waters further

21 SPC Fisheries Newsletter #89 — April/June ‘99 NEWS FROM IN AND AROUND THE REGION

ECONOMIC VALUE OF “MARINE ECOTOURISM” IN THE MALDIVES

This article is based on a BSc thesis prepared by Ali Waheed, who is a scientist with the Marine Research Centre of the Ministry of Fisheries, Agriculture and Marine Resources, Republic of the Maldives

With over 1200 islands, the Estimates of the number of on the other hand, can help to Maldives offers visitors an over- dives made annually, as well as conserve biodiversity. If there is whelming variety of historical, tourist survey results, show that a decline in marine wildlife, the cultural and natural attractions. the viewing value of shark is Maldives would attract far Although the islands are small, about US$ 6 million per annum. fewer ecotravellers. the marine territory of this arch- The figure was derived simply ipelago covers about 90,000 by asking a hypothetical ques- The Maldives can be readily square kilometres. Tourists enjoy tion about how much the divers marketed as an excellent venue the rich biodiversity, the clear were willing to pay to see more for ecotourists. A dynamic wild- waters and the abundant, var- sharks. The same survey con- life tourist industry can lead to ied marine life. cluded that manta rays have a relatively high returns, provid- viewing value of US$ 7 million ed that the protected areas of Tourism began in 1972, with per year, and turtles US$ 4 mil- the Maldives are properly man- two resorts that offered visitors lion. This value is expected to aged and exploitation is not 280 beds. The industry has increase as the tourism in the pursued indiscriminately. expanded rapidly over the past Maldives grows. 20 years and is now the largest The most significant threats to in the country. Within the The survey also indicates that the protected areas of Maldives tourism sector, scuba diving is the viewing value of reef shark are illegal fishing and coral min- the main attraction. In 1996, a may be 10 times the entire ing on or near the protected total of 338,733 tourists visited export value of all sharks prod- reefs. Ecotourism can generate the Maldives: some 56 per cent ucts. Thus it could be argued adequate funds in the form of of them undertook scuba div- that non-extractive exploitation fee collection from divers. ing. Cost per dive averages about of the reef resource is economi- US$ 33 including the boat cost. cally more productive that extrac- It is estimated that about US$ 0.9 The cost varies between operative exploitation (tourism can million can be raised annually tors and depends largely on the earn more foreign exchange for by introducing an environmen- type of holiday package the the Maldives than fishing can). tal charge of one dollar per dive tourist divers are pursuing and per day from each diver. These the time of the year they visit. Estimates show that the com- funds could also be used for bined viewing value of marine community development of The total revenue generated wild animals exceeds US$ 19 reserve areas and for carrying from tourism may help deci- million. In addition, scuba div- out biological and market sions on whether to aggressive- ing alone generated in excess of research on alternative options ly pursue a policy of conserva- US$ 41 million in 1996. This rep- for fishermen whose lives are tion or exploitation of wild resents average net earnings for affected by the protected areas. resources. The reefs are rich in each resort of approximately biodiversity and boast a variety US$ 0.56 million per year. (Source: Bay of Bengal News, of marine creatures and corals December 1998) that are of interest to divers. The Ecotourism is the fastest grow- major marine life in the Maldives ing segment of the world tourism that attracts divers consists of industry and is dependant on the sharks, manta rays and turtles. natural environment. Ecotourism,

22 SPC Fisheries Newsletter #89 — April/June ‘99 NEWS FROM IN AND AROUND THE REGION

LIVING MARINE RESOURCE PRODUCTION VARIATIONS IN THE EQUATORIAL PACIFIQUE UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF EL NIÑO

Every three to four years, the ial upwelling. The contact area from the quantity of nitrate Equatorial Pacific experiences a between these two water bodies available. This model was cou- major climatic disturbance, the is clearly demarcated by a front pled with the oceanic circula- well-known El Niño, which is which is biologically rich in zoo- tion model developed by one phase of a global climate plankton and fish (especially LODYC. When applied to an El fluctuation system: ENSO (El tunas). Niño-type event (1994), the cou- Niño-Southern Oscillation). pled model made it possible to During a warm episode (El represent interactions between The main physical (atmospheri- Niño), under the influence of oceanic dynamics (winds, cur- cal and oceanic) mechanisms frequent, strong westerly winds rents) and biological flows. responsible for this event are in the Equatorial Pacific and the now quite well understood by currents they generate, the mass This research has shown that, scientists; little, however, is of warm water grows in size. when the eastern boundary of known about the geochemical Over a space of a few months, the warm and oligotrophic pool variations affecting exchanges its eastern edge moves two to moves several thousand kilo- of carbon dioxide nitrate, etc.) three thousand kilometres east- meters eastwards under the and the biological variations wards along the Equator. influence of El Niño and the (primary, secondary and ter- cold-water area shrinks to a tiary production) associated Conversely, during a cold similar extent, the nitrate-rich with ENSO. episode (La Niña), the mass of and productive waters situated hot water is pushed westwards to the east of the basin also tend By coupling two oceanic simu- from its mean position. These to shrink in size. lation modules, IRD (Institute of dynamics, peculiar to the Pacific Research for Development, for- Ocean, have been incorporated Simulations of the variations in mally ORSTOM) scientists have into a digital ocean circulation nitrate contents and in biologi- just achieved a breakthrough in model developed by LODYC cal flows that this model yields the understanding of interac- (Dynamic Oceanography and were confirmed by data record- tions between the physical and Climatology Laboratory of ed in the same part of the Pacific biogeochemical processes at CNRS/IRD/Paris VI), which during French (FLUPAC and work in the Western Equatorial includes data gathered from the OLIPAC) and American (EqPac) Pacific during a low-amplitude whole Pacific Basin by means of oceanographic cruises carried El Niño episode. a network of buoys and satellites. out between 1992 (La Niña period) and 1994 (El Niño period). When applied to variations in What then is the impact of these primary and secondary (phyto- oceanic dynamics on biological On the basis of the primary pro- and zooplankton) production, production in the Equatorial duction fluctuations deter- these models make it possible, Pacific? To answer this question, mined as above, this modelling in short, to better understand tuna modelling is needed, because was used to estimate the varia- movements in this oceanic region. data on biogeochemical produc- tions in secondary production tion over this ocean as a whole related to the oceanic dynamics Known to scientists as the are scarce. IRD scientists there- generated by ENSO. “warm pool”, the Western fore use a biogeochemical Equatorial Pacific is an oceanic model making it possible to More specifically, it emerged region with exceptionally warm simulate nitrate consumption that this nutrient-rich region surface water (28.5°C mean by phytoplankton in surface (zooplankton and micronekton) temp.), of low salinity and olig- oceanic waters with ample light. for tuna is located in the vicini- otrophic (nutrient-poor). At the ty of the front between the Equator, the eastern boundary Nitrate was chosen because it is warm pool and the cold water of this pool is in contact with a component of the vegetable area (Equatorial upwelling) and colder water (24°C mean temp.), biomass and because, in its moves eastwards in phase with which is highly saline and nutri- absence, primary production El Niño events. This would ent-rich (especially in nitrate) tends to disappear. Biological explain why Equatorial Pacific due to the mineral-rich Equator- production can be estimated tunas (mostly skipjacks) move

23 SPC Fisheries Newsletter #89 — April/June ‘99 NEWS FROM IN AND AROUND THE REGION eastwards, accompanying this References Contact front, during a warm ENSO episode. These results, obtained STOENS A., C. MENKES, M.H. Yves Dandonneau, with modelling, have been cor- RADENAC, Y. DANDONNEAU, N. Laboratoire d’océanographie roborated by data from tuna GRIAM, G. ELDIN, L. MÉMERY, dynamique et de climatologie fisheries. These indicate that, C. NAVARETTE, J. M. ANDRÉ, T. (LODYC),IRD/CNRS during El Niño years, maxi- MOUTIN ET P. R AIMBAULT. Université Pierre et Marie Curie, mum catches are located 2,500 (1999). The coupled physical- Paris, France kilometres further east than new production system in the Tel. : +33 (0)1 44274427; during “normal” periods. equatorial Pacific during 1992- Fax: +33 (0)1 44273805; 1995 El Niño, Journal of Geo- E-mail: [email protected] IRD scientists are further devel- physical Research, February oping this coupled model by 1999. To obtain the illustrations from associating it with a third mod- these works, please contact: Indigo ule simulating the carbonate- LEHODEY, P., J.M. ANDRÉ, Base, Banque d’images de l’IRD, carbon dioxide system in the M. BERTIGNAC, J. HAMPTON, A. Claire Lissalde. Tel.: +33 (0)1 48037899; ocean for the purpose of gaining STOENS, C. MENKES, L. MÉMERY, E-mail: [email protected] a better understanding of how N. GRIMA. (1998). Predicting carbon dioxide (CO2) exchanges skipjack tuna forage distibu- (Source: Fiche d’actualité scientifique, between the atmosphere and the tions in the Equatorial Pacific IRD, No.86, March 1999) ocean might change during cli- using a coupled dynamical mate warming events, of which bio-chemical model, Fisheries El Niño episodes are examples. Oceanography, 1998.

NEW SPECIES OF COELACANTH DISCOVERED IN INDONESIA

Since the discovery of the first to have disappeared some 70 Mark Erdmann’s discovery, in coelacanth (Latimeria chalumnae) million years ago and which, July 1998, of a coelacanth at a in 1938, all the evidence implied morphologically, had evolved location more than 9,000 kilome- that it was unique in its genus very little since its appearance tres away, i.e. near the island of and that it formed a small pop- in the Devonian, more than 400 Menadotua in the Sulawesi ulation living almost exclusive- million years ago. island group (Indonesia) contra- ly in the Comoros island group. dicted this theory and raised The approximately 200 other many questions. The recent capture of a coela- coelacanths recorded since the canth in Indonesia cast doubt end of the 1930s were, for the In order to determine whether the on this theory, especially as the most part, discovered in the Indonesian coelacanth belongs to morphological and genetic Comoros. Previous scientific a different population from the analysis carried out on this research on some specimens had Comoros one, a team of scien- specimen by scientists from IRD suggested that Latimeria chalumnae tists from the IRD (Institute of and Indonesian scientific insti- was a population whose habitat Research for Development, for- tutes (LIPI, CRIFI-RIFF) has just was limited to the Mozambique merly ORSTOM), LIPI (Division shown that it belongs to a new Channel or even to only certain of Zoology Research and Devel- species (Latimeria menadoensis). Comoros islands (Grand Comoros opment Centre for Biology, This discovery, first reported in and Anjouan). Indonesia) and CRIFI-RIFF the Comptes Rendus de l’Académie des Sciences, sheds new light on the coelacanth’s evolutionary history.

In 1938, the first live coelacanth (Latimeria chalumnae) was cap- tured off the eastern coast of South Africa. This major discovery revealed the existence of a ‘living fossil’ which was thought Latimeria chalumnae

24 SPC Fisheries Newsletter #89 — April/June ‘99 NEWS FROM IN AND AROUND THE REGION

(Central Research Institute for The Indonesian coelacanth was Without a doubt, this extraordi- Fisheries, Indonesia) carried out caught on the reef slopes of a nary fish is still full of surprises. a genetic and morphological geologically recent volcanic The fact is that we had to wait study of the new specimen. island, i.e. in surroundings sim- for the Comoros coelacanth’s ilar to those where the Comoros jubilee to witness the arrival of These scientists then respective- species lives, thereby confirm- an unexpected guest, who, nev- ly analysed two parts of the ing the fish’s preference for this ertheless, is also a close relative. genome (mitochondrial DNA) type of environment. The and described the main mor- crevices which form when lava References phological characteristics of the flows into the sea provide shel- Indonesian coelacanth. They ters in which the coelacanth can POUYAUD L., S. WIRJOATMODJO, then compared their results to take refuge during the daytime. I. RACHMATIKA, A. TJAKRAWIDJAJA, available data on the Comoros R. HADIATV, W. HADIE. (1999). species. While recent studies have Une nouvelle espèce de cœla- shown that coelacanths can canthe: preuves génétiques et The results obtained revealed travel from one cave to another morphologiques, Comptes significant genetic and morpho- one several dozen kilometres Rendus de I’Académie des logical differences between the away, this semi-sedentary fish sciences, n°4, avril 1999. Indonesian species and the does not swim at great depths Comoros coelacanth popula- or in open water. It would there- COMBES C. (1999). Cœlacanthes: tion, which shows a surprising fore seem very unlikely that the métapopulation ou clade ? lack of polymorphism. Comoros species was able to Comptes Rendus de I’Acadé- travel almost 10,000 kilometres mie des sciences, n°4, avril The genetic differences observed across very deep oceanic trench- 1999. were such as are generally es against the currents to reach found for close but distinct Indonesian shores or vice-versa. Contact species. The researchers there- The genetic differentiation fore concluded that the speci- observed between the two species Laurent Pouyaud men discovered in the Sulawesi can therefore be explained by IRD-Indonesia island group seemed to belong significant geographic isolation. Catfish Asia Project, to a new species, which they Instalasi Penelitian Perikanan named Latimeria menadoensis, in Latimeria menadoensis’ distribu- Air Tawar, Jaluan Ragunan - reference to its place of capture. tion area may not be limited to Pasar Minggu northern Sulawesi. Recent inves- P.O. Box 7220/jkspm, The molecular clocks (speed of tigations have, in fact, shown Jakarta 12540, Indonesia evolution of a gene as expressed that other coelacanths may have by the accumulation of muta- been observed elsewhere in the To obtain the illustrations from tions over time), which are Indonesian archipelago. The these works, please contact: Indigo known for the two genes stud- analysis of additional speci- Base, Banque d’images de l’IRD, ied, showed that Latimeria mena- mens would certainly make it Claire Lissalde. Tel.: +33 (0)1 48037899; doensis and Latimeria chalumnae possible to further refine the E-mail : [email protected] differentiated about 1.5 million important results just obtained, years ago, a relatively recent event in particular to elucidate coela- (Source: Fiche d’actualité scientifique, given the coelacanth’s evolu- canth movements over the last IRD, No. 87, March 1999) tionary history, which began million years. some 400 million years ago.

25 SPC Fisheries Newsletter #89 — April/June ‘99 should they be allocated to VOICES FROM THE VILLAGE: maximise the chances of success? And, very importantly, A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF what are the key national policies that influence on-site man- COASTAL RESOURCE agement? The Comparative Study of MANAGEMENT IN THE Coastal Resource Management in the Pacific Islands aims to help PACIFIC ISLANDS Pacific Island coastal resource managers gain a greater understanding of the factors con- Coastal resources are of funda- tributing to the success or fail- mental importance in the Pacific by Bob Gillett* ure of coastal resource manage- Islands. Much of the region’s ment arrangements. nutrition, welfare, culture, employment, and recreation are The development based on the living resources in importance of coastal resources, of the study the zone between the shoreline of the requirement for some form and the outer reefs of the region. of resource management, and of The idea for a study of coastal The continuation of current the present problems of current resource management in the lifestyles, the opportunities for management schemes. What is Pacific Island region evolved future development, and food less certain are what forms of over a period of time. The security are all highly depen- management would be appro- Director of the Fiji Fisheries dent on coastal resources. priate in the present conditions. Division requested World Bank assistance in assessing the For many centuries there has Governments and various strengths and limitations of been a recognition by Pacific groups interested in promoting community-based management Islanders that some form of effective coastal resource man- in coastal areas. resource management is neces- agement have carried out many sary to assure sustainability of initiatives over the last several Subsequently, the concept of a these resources. In former times decades, but the success has multi-country study of the issue traditional management of been mixed. The reasons for any was developed during the coastal resources was undertak- management success are not course of several regional meet- en by many coastal or resource- always clear and, the lessons ings in consultation with coastal owning communities and learned from either successful resource management specialists appears to have been reasonably or unsuccessful interventions and representatives of regional successful. are not readily available to organisations and non-govern- coastal resource managers. mental organisations (NGOs). In recent years, however, seri- ous problems in the manage- In this current situation, there During early 1998 the plans for ment of coastal resources have appears to be a need to careful- the study were further articulated arisen. There is the dual prob- ly examine the successes in in the form of a concept paper lem that the authority of local coastal management and focus which was peer-reviewed by traditional leaders has been on identifying factors contribut- the World Bank in late May. To eroded, while the threats to the ing to that success. What are the finalise the methodology and to resources (over-harvesting, destruc- processes most likely to result in discuss implementation aspects, tive fishing, pollution and a successful management? What a workshop was held in Suva, wide range of land-based should be the role of external Fiji in late June 1998 which was threats) have increased. stakeholders (governments, attended by 18 coastal resource NGOs) in supporting these management experts, most of In the Pacific Islands there is processes? When resources for whom were from the region. widespread recognition of the management are scarce, where The survey questionnaire was

* This study was commissioned by the World Bank as part of its programme of assistance to the Pacific Island region, The study was carried out by a Pacific-based team in collaboration with a World Bank team. The findings, interpretations and conclusions expressed in this paper are entirely those of the author(s) and should not be attributed in any manner to the World Bank, to its affiliated organizations, or to members of its Board of Executive Directors or the countries they represent.

26 SPC Fisheries Newsletter #89 — April/June ‘99 VOICES FROM THE VILLAGE: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF COASTAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT IN THE PACIFIC ISLANDS finalised in mid-July and field- agement of a resource that is tics, such as the quality of local work was carried out at 31 sites already being harvested is an leadership and the extent of in 5 Pacific Island countries (Fiji, increase in productivity (catch community dependence on Palau, Samoa, Solomon Islands, per unit of effort or CPUE). The coastal resources, and manage- and Tonga) between mid-July study obtained simple percep- ment processes, such as interac- and mid-December. Data cod- tions of CPUE trends for three tion with external partners (e.g. ing took place in December and key resources used by village NGOs working at the site) and analysis was undertaken groups over the period of a the involvement of villagers in January to April 1999. decade: a perceived improved decisions regarding resource use. trend, in the absence of external Methodology factors, would tend to indicate The answers from the commu- that management is effective. nity were complemented by The study relied primarily on Similarly, a perceived declining study team observations of site community perceptions of fac- trend may signal the absence or conditions and interviews with tors affecting coastal resource ineffectiveness of management. representatives of government management at the village level. agencies and external partners. Trends in habitat condition— At focus sites, the survey car- There were two main reasons This measure consisted primarily ried out 16 interviews with dif- for this approach: first, there of perceived changes in three ferent village groups. was no comprehensive ecologi- local habitats, such as condition cal survey of coastal resource of live reef or extent of seagrass The study sites conditions in the Pacific that area, over a period of a decade. could be used to compare con- The study was carried out at 31 ditions between the sites. The Trends in incidence of sites in the five countries (see costs and time involved in con- threats—The study team map on page 28). There were 12 ducting such a survey would obtained perceptions of the focus sites (four- to seven- day have been beyond the scope of importance and urgency of key visits) and 19 supplementary this study. threats to the site, and the extent sites (one- to three-day visits). to which they have been con- The 31 sites ranged in size from Second, and perhaps most tained, or increased. 0.6 square kilometres in Papa importantly, the majority of (Samoa) to 2,360 square kilome- decisions regarding coastal Compliance with management tres in Luaniua, Ontong Java resources are made by local rules—The study team obtained (Solomon Islands). communities based on their perceptions of villagers on their own perceptions. A better under- compliance with a selection of The sample included two urban standing of their perceptions is five local and national rules. sites (Koror in Palau and therefore essential to help Honiara Fishing Village in the Pacific Island governments and A questionnaire was formulated Solomon Islands), five peri- donors formulate appropriate for the collection of information urban sites and twenty-four national policies and coastal at the village level on the suc- rural sites. Several of the rural programmes. These insights cess factors and on other aspects sites were very isolated and could not be obtained through of coastal resource manage- lacked regular transportation. an ecological survey. ment. Eight sites, including all sites in Tonga and in Cooks and Several indicators could poten- Perceptions of success were col- Honiara Fishing Village in the tially be used for determining lected from a total of 133 small Solomon Islands, lacked any site management success, but focus groups, including elders, form of customary marine user many require intensive data women and men resource users. rights and were operated under gathering and quantification. In addition, the study collected open-access regimes. All of the The study used four relatively information from various other remaining sites had some form simple ‘success’ indicators community sources (such as vil- of customary marine tenure. which did not suffer from this lage leaders, large village meet- limitation: ings, key respondents, village teachers, and shopkeepers) on Trends in productivity of key the factors that may affect man- resources used—In the absence agement success: external fac- of other major factors influenc- tors, such as natural disasters ing resource abundance, one of and degree of government sup- the first signs of successful man- port to the site; site characteris-

27 SPC Fisheries Newsletter #89 — April/June ‘99 VOICES FROM THE VILLAGE: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF COASTAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT IN THE PACIFIC ISLANDS

Solomon Islands Site Locations Palau Focus Supplemental

Samoa

Fiji

Tonga

The study sites

Key results of the text at the 31 sites did not Overfishing and destructive study appear capable of supporting practices, however, were com- objectives that revolved around monly identified as among the Coastal resources are perceived optimal harvesting yields. most important threats to to be declining . . . Community coastal resources. groups were generally pes- The goals of local management simistic about resource trends. tended to be more basic, such as The outlook for coastal Only ten per cent of the respons- preventing further decline or resources is perceived to be es said that catch per unit of collapse of important species, bleak . . . Respondents at 21 of effort had increased over the last and preventing habitat degra- the 31 sites believed coastal 10 years, and only three per cent dation through control of resources would continue to associated such an increase with destructive practices such as decline in the future. In village management interventions. poison fishing. Overall, the after village, people whose study results indicate a much livelihood depends on the Perceptions about habitat con- greater need for attention to health of coastal resources ditions and threats to coastal coastal resource management argued for stricter enforcement resources were more optimistic, throughout the region. of existing regulations and with about half of the responses additional restrictions on com- seeing negative trends. Several . . . and the nature of the threats mercial harvesting. of the communities where to coastal resources appears to resources were perceived to be be changing. Communities per- There were also some notes of declining were villages with ceived pollution as the fastest optimism: in Samoa, respon- low population densities, sug- rising threat to coastal dents at five of the six sites gesting that even in remote resources, while destructive believed that resources would areas, the impact of a few effi- fishing threats were perceived improve in the future because of cient commercial fishers on the to be declining the most. recent community management exploitation of fragile coastal efforts. And in Luaniua (Ontong resources should not be over- Threats caused by overfishing, Java, Solomon Islands), the looked. The political will, man- siltation and mining fell community adopted an extend- agement tools, and social con- between these two extremes. ed ban on their own fishing for

28 SPC Fisheries Newsletter #89 — April/June ‘99 VOICES FROM THE VILLAGE: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF COASTAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT IN THE PACIFIC ISLANDS trochus and beche-de-mer management rules, indicating vate business interests that may despite depending on coastal that the authority to restrict conflict with their responsibili- resources for 70 per cent of their access by outsiders is a power- ties towards the community. income. This suggests that com- ful incentive for community- munities are willing to make based management. Compared . . . yet coastal resource man- sacrifices to gain long-term ben- with restricted-access sites, agement seems to be receiving efits if they are aware of the open-access communities per- low priority. In general, the potential benefit and are guided ceived threats to coastal resources study found a need for greater by strong local leadership. to be increasing faster and felt government attention to coastal less capable of dealing with resource management. Only Simple management rules local threats. Open-access com- about one fourth of the staff work best . . . The study found munities also tended to be less time of national fisheries agen- that at 13 of the sites (42 per aware of the benefits of coastal cies is spent on coastal manage- cent) respondents were not resource management. ment matters. familiar with many of the national rules designed to man- Communities need help . . . Given the low priority accorded age coastal resources. In gener- Community-based manage- to coastal management, it is not al, those interviewed believed ment was found to be insuffi- surprising that only about 40 that the following types of rules cient in five major areas: first, per cent of the villages had been obtained the most compliance: the villagers felt that some form visited by a government official of outside assistance was need- to discuss coastal resource man- • national regulations which ed to handle coastal pollution, agement issues during the pre- were seen to be relevant to mining operations, commercial vious ten years. the community and which overfishing, and other threats were subsequently adopted such as dredging, construction of Half of the sites visited were by village leaders as local causeways and drilling for oil. receiving funding support from community rules; donors, indicating that donor Second, nearly 40 per cent of the assistance may be used in some • national rules enforced by villages lacked mechanisms to cases as a replacement for much- buyers or exporters, such as control their own fishing effort. needed government support. the national ban on trade in Where such mechanisms exist- crocodiles in the Solomon ed, external partners had acted Further collaborative efforts Islands; and as catalysts for community are needed, but perhaps of a action, or the village benefited different kind than presently • marine sanctuaries, closed from strong local leadership provided . . . Overfishing was the seasons for specific fisheries, and from a high dependence on most frequent cause cited for and rules restricting destruc- coastal resources. catch declines and one of the tive fishing practices (e.g. a most important threats found at ban on night diving). Third, communities had diffi- the study sites, yet in many cases culty in enforcing local rules it cannot be addressed adequate- In general, the results of the when it was unclear whether ly by current regulations. study indicate that the simpler the rules conflicted with nation- the national rules, the better al laws (this was particularly Programmes may be needed to they were understood and fol- true in Fiji and the Solomon strengthen the communities’ lowed by coastal communities. Islands). ability and awareness of the need to restrict their own fish- . . . while open access con- Fourth, communities may need ing effort, and to restrict the strains community action. Eight access to expert advice on the issuance of commercial licenses. of the villages lacked any mech- technical aspects of managing anisms to exclude outsiders resources. Many of the threats that, in the from using their coastal site. view of respondents, require With one possible exception, Fifth, several respondents at vil- some form of external assis- none of these open-access sites lages reported that external tance — for example, coastal had developed community commercial operators had cir- pollution, mining, coastal infra- rules for managing coastal cumvented local management structure construction — cannot resources. rules by forming alliances with be controlled only by the insti- local leaders. Many sites seemed tutions that traditionally have By contrast, all of the restricted- to lack ways to prevent their been given responsibility for access sites had adopted local leaders from engaging in pri- dealing with coastal resource

29 SPC Fisheries Newsletter #89 — April/June ‘99 VOICES FROM THE VILLAGE: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF COASTAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT IN THE PACIFIC ISLANDS le to exclude efers only to (AIGs) income introduced Alternative generations Sites with AIGs: 19 Sites w/o AIGs: 12 present Sanctuaries Sites with sanctuaries: 14 Sites w/o sanctuaries: 17 Weak No No Strong Yes No Strong No No WeakStrong Yes Yes Yes Yes Strong No Yes Strong Yes Yes Strong Yes Yes Medium No Yes Medium No No marine Strongest YesStrongestStrongest Yes No NoStrongest Yes No No Yes Strongest Yes Yes Strongest No Yes StrongestStrongest Yes No Yes No Strongest Yes Yes tenure ## Open access Yes Yes Open access No No Open access NoOpen accessOpen access No Yes No No No Open access No Yes Strength of Strength of tenure StrongestStrongMedium 2 Open Access 12 7 8 from tourism fisheries/ % income Average % of income from fisheries /tourism: 41% Easy 84 Easy 50 Easy 35 EasyEasy 30 Easy 17 Easy 43 19 Easy 60 Easy 40 Easy 35 Easy 50 EasyEasyEasy 80 80 Easy 35 Easy 10 Easy 10 Easy 20 Easy 25 EasyEasy 5 0 75 Easy 27 Medium 5 Strongest No No Ease of Medium 60Medium Strongest 40 Yes Open access No No Yes Medium 81 Medium 70Medium Open access 43 Yes Yes perishable marketing products # Ease of marketing: Easy 22 Medium 8 Difficult 1 Village Medium Medium Medium Medium Medium MediumMedium MediumMedium 35 Strongest Yes Yes Medium develop. Village development: HighMediumLow 12 9 10 systems No. eco- Average no. of ecosystems: 7 High 8 High 7 High 6 High High 4 Low High 7 High 6 High High 7High Low 9 Low island High/low High islands: 7 Low islands: 24 Urban/ peri-urban Urban/Peri-Urban: 7 Rural: 24 13.9 No High28.2 7 Yes Low High 6 32.2 No25.3 High No23.7 9 High No 8 High 8 61.8 No High 6 High 25.5 Yes High 8 High 18.8 Yes Low 8 High 36.4 Yes High 10 High 10.8 No High 7 High 132.3 No High 7 High 177.8 No2,5001,700 High No No 8 High High High 3 4 High High 121.7 Yes High 3 High m – Can be done but involves much planning/costs; Difficult Very difficult/impossible. Note that integration into markets r 2 density (people/ site area) ndertaking conservation activities. Population clude all except non-customary users; Medium-leaders outside the village have power to exclude outsiders; Weak-not possib ) Avg. pop. density: 218 2 2,360 0.7 No Low 7 Low Difficult 70 Strong No Yes 1,300 0.2 No High 10 1,204 1.3 No High 9 Low 1,655 0.2 No Low 8 Low (km Site size Avg. site size: 262 km External partners Sites w/ partners: 15 Sites w/o partners: 16 site Yes* Yes Yes* No 20 6 No Low 7Yes* Low Yes* Yes Yes 9.5 105 1.7 No Low 8 Yes* Yes 4 Yes* Yes Yes* Yes 665 Yes* NoYes* 12 Yes 3 Yes*Yes* Yes 112 Yes 5.4 48Yes* No 1.7 Yes No 26 Yes**Yes** Yes 1.2 No Yes** No 10 Yes** No 11 Conservation Conservation sites: 20 Non-conservation sites: 11 Suppl. Focus Suppl. Suppl.Suppl. NoSuppl.Suppl.Suppl. No No No NoSuppl. 130 No Suppl. No Yes No 0.8 71 220 Yes NoSuppl. 3.6Suppl. 0.6Suppl.Focus 2 No No Yes No 181 No NoSuppl. LowSuppl. NoSuppl. No 0.6 8Suppl. No 1 1,246.7 No Low Suppl. 22 No NoSuppl. NoSuppl. 25 No 2.7 71 No 8.1 Low No 7 Low Medium 30 Focus sites:Supplementary: 19 12 Viti Levu, near Rewa river delta Central Upolu, east of Apia Northern Lau group, off Vanuabalavu Focus Yes**Lofanga Island, Ha’apai Cons. Area Focus Eastern Vava’u NoHa’atafu Marine Reserve, NW Tongatapu 6.5 Safata, S Central Coast of UpoluAleipata, Eastern End of Upolu Focus Focus Yes** Yes**Arnavon Marine Cons. Area, NW YesIsabel Arnavon Marine Cons., Wagina Island Yes 4.5 1.5 400Near Ngerukewid/Ngerumekaol/ Ngemelis area, Koror Central E Babeldaob, S Ngirwal No Ngeremeduu, central W Babeldaob General location Type DromunaUcunivanuaSusui SE Galoa Verata (SE Viti Levu, SW Ovalau)VunivutuNakawaga Focus Koulo Galoa Isl, off NW Vanua Levu N Central Vanua Levu Lofanga Mali Isl., off N Central Vanua Levu FalevaiTu’anekivale Lifuka Island, Ha’apai Cons. Area NukuhetuluHa’atafu SW Kapa Island, Ha’apai Group N Central Tongatapu Isl. Fusi Satitoa FocusManasePapaSolosolo Yes**Lealaalii N Central SavaiiFishing Village N Luaniua Western end of Savaii Honiara YesKia N Central Upolu, west of Apia Cooksin Ontong Java Atoll 5 NaroNiu FocusOnneNgiwal Western end of Guadalcanal Kayangel NoPeleliu Niu Isl., Marau Sound, E Guadalcanal Marovo Lagoon, Western Province Focus Koror Central E Babeldaob Island Kayangel Atoll, off N BabeldaobMelekeok No Peleliu Isl., SE Koror Ngaremlengui Focus Focus 1.3 outsiders; Open Access – Traditional user rights inexistent or eroded. perishable products, since trade in non-perishable products is not hindered by distances. Site Listed in Regional Action Plan for Nature Conservation the Pacific Islands. Country Site name Fiji Tonga Samoa Solomons Palau Sites in: Fiji 6 TongaSamoaSolomonsPalau 6 6 7 Total 6 31 Key site characteristics Key ## Strongest: village leaders have the power to exclude all except non-villagers; Strong- ex ** Site not listed in regional list but either (a) recognised by the country as a conservation area; or (b) where community is u # Ease of marketing: Easy – Traders come to the site and/or village sellers can access markets for perishable products; Mediu *

30 SPC Fisheries Newsletter #89 — April/June ‘99 VOICES FROM THE VILLAGE: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF COASTAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT IN THE PACIFIC ISLANDS management (the fisheries and At several sites, villagers said as important for biodiversity environmental agencies). that ice plants introduced to importance, and often involved support offshore fishing had the introduction of new process- Mechanisms are needed to coor- actually helped opened up new es at the village level. Although dinate government assistance markets for fresh coastal prod- the time needed for these new across multiple sectors, a major ucts and therefore increased processes to be absorbed was institutional difficulty in many overexploitation. much longer than for Category Pacific Islands where inter-min- B partnerships, the donors sup- isterial cooperation remains This suggests a need to explore porting Category-A partner- weak. The study also indicates income generation opportuni- ships tended to have a shorter that the type of research that ties outside the fisheries sector, funding horizon than national coastal communities most need should they exist. agencies and local NGOs that may not involve complex stock were typically involved in assessment, but instead a better . . . and some of the most val- Category-B partnerships. understanding of the socio-eco- ued partners play primarily an nomic incentives that affect advisory role to the communi- Mechanisms to ensure longer- coastal resource use, and the ties. Fifteen study sites (48 per term involvement for Category- development of simple techni- cent) were being assisted by A partners should be consid- cal solutions to assist them in external partners in managing ered. Community satisfaction the management of coastal their coastal resources. In gener- with Category-B partnerships resources. al, communities perceived the seems to be pronounced, in that benefits of partnerships to out- external partners fulfilled the . . . most alternative income weigh their shortfalls, but com- role of honest broker, providing generation programmes do not munities and external partners quick and sound advice to the appear to have been successful tended to have different percep- communities. Often, these part- in reducing pressure on coastal tions about the benefits of the nerships relied on little more resources. . . A common strate- partnership. Local communities than technical support and gy to reduce pressure on coastal tended to focus on short-term, awareness raising, and were resources has been to introduce tangible benefits, while external effective at relatively low levels alternative ways to earn partners were more interested of funding. income, such as aquaculture, in process-oriented results (e.g. offshore tuna fishing and deep strengthening local manage- Sanctuaries seem to act as cata- slope fishing. ment institutions). lysts for community awareness of the benefits of coastal Community perceptions at the Communities perceived unkept resource management. . . Marine study sites are that these pro- promises, inadequate consulta- sanctuaries were found at 14 of grammes have generally not tion, and slowness in achieving the study sites. In general, com- been successful in reducing benefits as the main flaws of the munities adjacent to the sanctu- pressure on coastal resources. partnerships, while the external aries had favourable impres- Commercial aquaculture opera- partner focused on the failure of sions of their impact. tions were seen to be facing villagers to fulfil their commit- marketing difficulties. Tuna ments. The study also found Compliance was perceived to be fishing did, in some cases, pro- that while external partners felt good, and key species were vide by-catch at the village that they had made strong thought to be increasing in level, but there was a perception efforts to provide information to abundance. The communities that tuna boat crews were often the communities, there was also felt, in general, that the not coastal fishers. often little evidence that vil- sanctuaries would be sustained lagers had absorbed the infor- into the future. Perhaps as rele- mation provided. vant as their management role, sanctuaries seem to act as cata- In general, partnerships fell into lysts for enlarging community two categories: those which awareness of the benefits of were largely initiated by the coastal resource management. external partner (Category A), and those where the community The study team found, howev- itself requested the assistance er, that greater attention needs (Category B). Category-A part- to be paid to ensuring that the nerships tended to be located at results of ecological monitoring sites internationally recognised are available to villagers, that

31 SPC Fisheries Newsletter #89 — April/June ‘99 VOICES FROM THE VILLAGE: A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF COASTAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT IN THE PACIFIC ISLANDS no-take rules inside sanctuaries inter-sectoral collaboration to Are stated perceptions true are strictly enforced, that sanc- address land-based threats to perceptions? Perceptions of tuaries are properly located and coastal habitats. resource trends were found to sized, and that villagers clearly be remarkably consistent at any understand the sanctuaries’ Communities with good local particular site. With the excep- objectives and benefits. While leadership and sites of complex tion of habitat trends, the study sanctuaries were generally per- ecosystems had significantly found no statistically significant ceived to provide benefits, they lower perceptions of threats to differences between the percep- do not eliminate the need for resources. tions of different focus groups. other management interventions. Perceptions of compliance with Communities which shared the management rules appeared to Which factors affect perceived benefits or losses of manage- be the only indicator where success at the site level? The ment equally among their mem- there might be a clear incentive relatively small number of sites, bers perceived trends of higher to underreport the incidence of along with data constraints, catches and lower threats. Water violations, but the indicator is made it difficult to distinguish pollution at a village site caused nonetheless useful to compare the effects of multiple factors on a perception that habitat trends the relative perceptions of com- perceived indicators of success- were worsening. Population pliance with different manage- ful resource management. growth rates and density did not ment rules. appear to have a negative impact However, some general conclu- on the perceptions of successful Voices from the sions can be drawn. Among fac- management of coastal resources. village:The value tors external to the site, natural of perceptions of disasters (e.g., cyclones) were However, the presence nearby coastal communities significantly associated with the settlements resulted in percep- perception that fish catches were tions of worsening habitats and This study departed from con- recovering and habitats had increasing threats. The presence ventional methods by relying improved following a major of modern fishing technology heavily on the perceptions of event. led generally to perceptions of coastal communities. This increased catches, reflecting resulted in some useful insights The study provided indications improved access to distant fish- as well as some surprising find- of the national policies that may ing grounds. ings that are relevant to the be needed to support communi- management of coastal resources ty-based management of coastal More educated villagers tended in the Pacific. The experience resources: simple and clear to perceive worse habitat indicates that in future work, national regulations, a frame- trends, presumably due to high- careful attention should be work which facilitates the adop- er awareness of human impact given to the views of coastal tion and enforcement of local on coastal habitats. High local communities. rules, awareness programmes awareness and effective local aimed at local leaders, assis- enforcement were also seen as tance with technical aspects of important factors in manage- resource management, and ment success.

The full text of the report “Voices from the Village:A Comparative Study of Coastal Resource Management in the Pacific Islands” is available from: Mr. David Colbert, Papua New Guinea and Pacific Islands Country Management Unit, East Asia and Pacific Region,The World Bank, 1818 H Street, NW,Washington DC, U.S.A. 20433, Fax (1) 202-522-3393 e-mail: [email protected].

or Bob Gillett, Gillett, Preston and Associates, P.O. Box 3344, Lami, Fiji

© Copyright Secretariat of the Pacific Community 1999 The Secretariat of the Pacific Community authorises the reproduction of this material, whole or in part, in any form, provided appropriate acknowledgement is given. Original text: English Secretariat of the Pacific Community, Marine Resources Division, Information Section, B.P. D5, 98848 Noumea Cedex, New Caledonia. Telephone: +687 262000 Ð Fax: +687 263818 Ð E-mail: [email protected] Ð Web: http://www.spc.org.nc/coastfish/index.html

32 SPC Fisheries Newsletter #89 — April/June ‘99