OCTOPUS FISHERIES IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS (FIPs) IN THE UNITED REPUBLIC OF TANZANIA Inception Report October, 2017 1. Background and Introduction Tanzania has a well-developed octopus fishery along the coastal regions. The fishery is exclusively artisanal and Octopus cyanea is a dominant species (Roper et al., 1984; Guard and Mgaya, 2003). This species could be identified by the presence of two ocelli (eyespots) located a few centimetres below the eye, elliptical white spots found on the dorsal side of the tentacles and zebra stripes or bands on the ventral arm face (Guard and Mgaya, 2003). Of the past few years, fishery for octopus has become more important due to the increase in its demand for the external market (Jiddawi and Ohman, 2002; Brycesonet et al. 2006) as well as local markets. The volumes of exported octopus are well known and well quantified. For example, the exported octopus into different external markets has been decreasing from 5,195Mt in 2007 to 440Mt 2016 (MALF, 2016). However, information on the status of the stock, ecology and life cycles, level of fishing intensity and traceability of the resource in the local market in Tanzania Mainland is limited. The results from a recent study on stock assessment of octopus in Tanzania Mainland (TAFIRI, 2016) and assessment by using the Benchmarking and Tracking revealed some gaps which need to be addressed for qualification of status of octopus fishery versus the MSC principles. It is expected that findings from this project will contribute the information towards raising qualifications for MSC certification. It is worthy to note that the process of Octopus cyanea certification by Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) in Tanzania Mainland began in 2005 in collaboration with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). Under this initiative, a lot of activities were conducted as a way forward towards certification. Such activities not limited to; were pre-analysis and pre-assessment in conjunction with development of Octopus Fishery Management Plan (OFMP). This study therefore will add from the previous (TAFIRI, 2016) information on the status of the stock of O. cyanea in marine waters of Mainland Tanzania which include their abundance, distribution and their biometric information. The study will further gather information required for MSC assessment which includes Reference points and harvesting strategy for the exploitation of the Tanzanian octopus information needed for Scale Intensity Consequence Analysis (SICA) on the main by-catch species. 2. Problem statement Information on the stock status of the octopus fishery in marine waters of Mainland Tanzania is not sufficient specifically their abundance and distribution. Data on these aspects and those on population dynamics are crucial for Implementation of Octopus Fisheries Management Plan (OFMP) as well MSC certification of Tanzania Mainland Octopus. This assignment will conduct a spatial analysis of catch and effort to understand the impact of octopus exploitation on the general marine and coastal environment as well as the levels of exploitation (catch and effort) relative to the key ecological elements. Recent study by TAFIRI (2016) revealed that catch and fishing effort levels in the octopus fishery vary spatially in coastal waters of Tanzania. This study intend to validate the hypothesis on how the levels of fishing effort related to the ecosystem sensitive in particular coral reefs environment. The spatial assessment will also focus on areas with the highest fishing effort that are likely to impact octopus capture and the ecosystem. Specifically the study will elucidate: (i) The number of fishers using spears and other methods on shallow reefs and in deeper waters. (ii) Qualitatively assess the likely impact of fishers damaging coral reefs through their fishing methods. (iii) The temporal variability of fishing effort per season. However, the assessment will be supplemented with the existing data (TAFIRI, 2016) 3. Objectives of this study The specific objectives of the project are: i) To map the octopus reefs in Mafia and Kilwa ii) To assess environmental parameters on the sampling sites iii) To undertake spatial and size evaluation of Octopus catches in Tanzania iv) To address the supply chain of octopus catches at the sampling sites v) To characterize octopus fisheryand how fishing is operated and catch handled. vi) To assess and quantify primary and secondary by-catch associated with octopus fishery. vii) To find out if octopus fishers collect lobsters as a primary by-catch and document the extent. viii) To assess the impact of octopus fisheries on lobster. ix) To assess stock status of lobster in selected sites in Mafia and Kilwa. x) To assess and document the type of gears used in octopus fishing and how they impact the fishery and habitat xi) To assess the impact of octopus fishery to the reef system. xii) To assess the impact of octopus fishery to the ecosystem. Study the trophic impact of removal of octopus and lobster on the coral reef. xiii) To assess the impacts of octopus fishery on Endangered, Threatened, and Protected Species (ETP) xiv) To assess the likelihood that sea cucumbers are illegally targeted by octopus fishers. xv) To assess the effectiveness of sea cucumber fishing ban on the population recovery. Find out which species of sea cucumber is under CITES list of species. xvi) To gather information on sea cucumber stock status. Check existing biological and ecological information related to sea cucumbers. Document effectiveness of data collection for sea cucumbers. xvii) To synthesize information on the current reef status. xviii) To check if Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries is applied to Octopus Fishery Management Plan and implemented. xix) To develop a Structured Research Programme on Tanzanian Octopus xx) To develop capacity building packages in artisanal fisheries data collection and statistics in both English and Swahili versions Kindly note that ‘‘assessment of leakeages, propose solutions and mechanisms to obtain total mortality and improve traceability of octopus catches in the sampling sites and traceability aspects of the octopus‘‘ which were expected to be done under this project (activity iv) will not be possible with the available funds and time. Instead only the supply chain of the octopus will be assessed. Whenever additional funds will be available, a study of these aspects will be conducted. 4. Scope of the work Obtaining a rigorous stock assessment of the O. cyanea is essential for sustainable management and development of the octopus fishery in the mainland Tanzania taking into consideration of MSC certification as well as livelihood security for the local communities who depend on coastal and marine resources. This study will gather information concerning the stock status of the octopus fishery in marine waters of Mainland Tanzania including their abundance and population dynamics. The study will also take into consideration of the distribution of octopus species in Tanzania Mainland. Supplemented with the findings by TAFIRI (2016), the project will tell on the seasonal abundance and distribution of the octopus. The study will be conducted to differentiate between the target species (Octopus cyanae) and the by-catch species caught. Quantitative data on the by-catch species of octopus (e.g. sea cucumber and lobsters) will be collected. The by-catch species may either be defined as “primary” or “secondary” by-catch. It is likely that to assess the status of these species, a Risk-Based Framework will be used as well as the SICA tables. The spatial maps shall as well be in the position to relate proximity of octopus catches to vulnerable species such as Endangered, Threatened and Protected (ETP) species. 5. APPROACH AND METHODOLOGY 5.1 Study Site This study will be conducted in two sites along the coast of Tanzania Mainland includes Somanga and Songosongo Island (Kilwa region); Bwejuu and Jibondo (Mafia Island) 1 2 Figure 1: A map of Tanzania showing the proposed study sites namely; 1 = Mafia, 2 = Kilwa 5.2 Data Collection Catch-effort data of O. cyanea will be collected from the landing sites each month during spring tide for three months in collaboration with enumerators (trained fishers/BMU) while the District Fisheries Officers (DFOs) in a respective site will act as the supervisors. Catch-effort data to be collected include the following: i. Time of departure from village ii. Time of arrival at the fishing site iii. Name of fishing site iv. Total area of the fishing site (coral reef) in Km2 v. Time of start fishing vi. Time of end fishing vii. Time of return viii. Length of time actively spent in fishing ix. Number of fishers x. Total catch of the octopus in weight (kg) and number xi. By-catch species in weight (kg) and number Except for the total area of the fishing site which will be obtained through GIS mapping, the above data will be collected using a structured interviews (standardised interviews) with the buyers/agents and fishers at the fish landing sites immediately after they return from fishing. Geo-reference catch-effort data will be used to calculate Catch per Unit Effort (CPUE). Other data to be collected will include, number of days spent fishing per month, fishing regime (Rotational or repeatedly) and marketing aspects for octopus [supply, market destinations (at different levels)]. Further, iinformation on exploited octopus and number of fishermen by gender with specifications on level of engagement of these fishermen in octopus fisheries will be recorded. Catch-effort