THE NEWSLETTER OF THE FISHERIES CENTRE – UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA VOLUME 12 ISSUE 1 J ANUARY/FEBRUARY 2006 The Andaman Sea jelly fishery: resiliency and adaptability of longtail fishers following the tsunami by Brian Crawford and Chris Dunbar Coastal Resources Center, University of Rhode Island and Theerachai Haitook Asian Institute of Technology

A while ago, Daniel Pauly came to University of coast have been working to Rhode Island and presented a lecture on fishing re-establish fishing liveli- down the aquatic food chain, based on his article hoods. The Thai govern- in Science demonstrating that as top trophic levels ment and numerous donors are intensively fished, the fishery moves to have provided compensa- targeting ever lower and lower trophic levels. He tion and replacement of jokingly said during his presentation “ We will all longtail fishing vessels and be eating jelly fish soon!” Well, that day has now gear lost during the tsu- come in nami. Fishers have reported Thailand some unusual changes in in the the fisheries and that they In this issue... A fishing boat loaded with jellyfish. Andaman Photo by Brian Crawford. attribute to the tsunami. Jelly fishing in the coastal One of these is the Andaman Sea fishery. Over the Andaman Sea jelly fishery which is proving to be a last several serendipitous bonanza for the local fishers, helping them months, almost recover from losses incurred over the previous year. Fishers Monitoring sea lice on all fishers with report that this unique fishery has been ongoing in the area salmon farms longtail boats for approximately 10 years during the October to February (replaced after the period but that catches this season have been significantly Chuck Hollingworth December 26, greater than at any time in the past. Almost all fishers with passes away 2006, Indian longtail boats replaced after the Indian Ocean Tsunami have Ocean tsunami) taken advantage of the unusually high abundance of jellyfish. Aboriginal fisheries have taken One fisher remarked it is more than he has seen in over forty advantage of an years of fishing. Boats are loaded so full of jellyfish that their logo contest unusual abun- hulls ride extremely low on the water. Almost every boat dance of jellyfish. observed entering one landing site in Suk Samran District in And, as always, lots of Following the January 2006 contained a full hold of jellyfish. Abundant News and Notes! tsunami, many processing tanks have sprung up along the beaches and in fishers along the the mangroves near every fishing village. Andaman Sea Continued on page 2 - Jellyfish FishBytes – January/February 2006 Page 2

Jellyfish - Continued from page 1 tarpaulin. Jellyfish are put in the tank, allowed to cool. They are then sea- The exploited jellyfish average between where they are processed over a five- soned with lime juice, vinegar, crushed 14-16 inches in diameter and float near day period with a mixture of bicarbo- fresh chili, garlic, shallots, fish sauce, the surface. They are scooped up with a nate of soda, salt and alum. They are and sugar added to taste. dip net with fairly large mesh size and moved from different ‘baths’ once a day The jelly fishery was not even deposited in the central hull portion of - the first day in salt and alum, the mentioned by fisher participants in the boat. Netting is placed fore and aft second in a mixture of salt, alum and community PRA exercises conducted in to provide a hold. Therefore, gear costs bicarbonate of soda, and the next three June of 2005 in Suk Samran. However, to enter the fishery are extremely low, days in salt. There is no wastage as the the rapid move into the jelly fishery by explaining why so many fishers have tentacles and bells are all used. Local almost every fisher several months later taken advantage of the fishery. The processors sell the final product to a demonstrates a good deal of adaptabil- fishery is very profitable with fishers firm in Ranong where they are pack- ity and resilience within these coastal reportedly making between 2,000 – aged with labels in Korean, Japanese rural fishing communities. As a new 4000 Baht per day (US$50-100). Each and Chinese. Processed jellyfish are resource abruptly presents itself in jellyfish weighs between 2-3 kg and is exported to Asian markets, but the unusual abundance, fishers quickly sold for 4 Baht off the boat to local delicacy is also found in local restau- change fishing tactics to take advantage processors. rants and on the dining tables of local of a profitable, even if short term, Jellyfish are processed in simple fishers. Before cooking, processed opportunity. Fishers are now gearing up tanks, approximately 3 m2 in size. The jellyfish need to be thoroughly soaked for the onset of the squid fishery as the tank frame is made of bamboo with and rinsed to remove preservative salt. jelly fishery winds down. lining made of blue or black waterproof They are boiled for 10 minutes and

A jellyfish being scooped. Holding tanks for processing the jellyfish. Photos by Brian Crawford In Memoriam: Dr Chuck Hollingworth

It is with great sadness that we To commemorate Chuck’s life and report that Dr Chuck Hollingworth work, a fund to create a prize in his passed away in his sleep at his memory has been established at the home in Montreal on 18 December, University of Wales in Bangor. An 2005. annual prize will be given to the best undergraduate research project write up in the School of Biological Sciences, where Chuck gave his ‘Scientific Writing’ courses and had his office. Anyone wishing to contribute to the fund should contact XXXXXX

Chuck was a friend and colleague to many in the Fisheries Centre and will be greatly missed.