Transcript Characteristics of Pohnpei Coral Reef Fisheries

Application of Ecosystem
Based Fisheries Management
A Pohnpei Case Study – Federated
States of Micronesia
History
• Top Down Regulatory Measures
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FOREST CONSERVATION (1971)
ENDANGERED SPECIES (1980)
MARINE AND AQUATIC RESOURCES (1981)
CONSERVATION AND RESOURCES ENFORCEMENT (1982)
MARINE SANCTUARY AND WILDLIFE REFUGE SYSTEM (1999)
• Bottom – Up Approach
– Establishment of MPA Network – Locally Managed Marine
Areas Network (2003)
– MPA Executive Committee
– Marine Advisory Council (MAC)
Characteristics of Pohnpei Coral Reef
Fisheries
• Declines in abundance
• Declines in fish size
• Declines in fish fecundity (number of eggs
produced)
• Loss of species (e.g. giant clam)
• Deteriorating reef condition
• Habitat loss
• Worsening water quality
• Reduced catch and income, impoverished fishers
Declining Fish Abundance
• Data from the last 12 years
of underwater fish
monitoring within the
Kehpara Marine Sanctuary
shows ongoing and
significant declines in
spawning grouper
• A continuation of these
trends without proper
management will result in a
the loss of this spawning site
around 2020
Declining Fish Size and Egg Production
• A single illegal fishing
event at Kehpara in
1998 resulted in
declines in mean size
and age of
E.polyphekadion
• Less fish and smaller
fish mean fewer eggs
Fishers and Markets Rely on Undersized, Immature Fish
• Undersized and
immature fish
dominate up to
90% of marketed
catch for some
species
Loss of Ecologically Important and
Iconic Species for Tourism
Development
• Giant clams- Endangered (no breeding populations)
– Max. age – 100 years
• Humphead wrasse- Endangered (no large adults, rapid
population declines in recent years)
– Max. age – 25 years
• Bumphead parrotfish- Endangered (90% population
decline since 1960s)
– Max. age – 42 years
Sedimentation and Loss of Nursery
and Feeding Habitat
• 1998— “The dredge sites surveyed have soft silty bottoms that do
not appear to support food sources for animals in comparison to
the reef flats, seagrass beds and mangrove areas.” Smith, R. et al.
(1998) SOPAC Tech. Report 257.
• 2005 — “Some reefs have been adversely affected by sediment
runoff, dredging and predation……and have caused a major loss of
coral cover and diversity….” Turak and Devantier. (2005) REA Report
to CSP.
• 2006 — “….sedimentation (from poor farming and land-use
practices) smothers corals and leads to substantial coral mortality in
the lagoon. The mud is not flushed out….” Victor et al. (2006)
Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science.
Micronesia Challenge and Coastal Fisheries
• Micronesia Challenge status:
– 36,687 out of 122,289 hectares of near shore is under
conservation/management… (GAP analysis 2010)
• Management agencies involved with MC: PRMC
– DLNR – Management/Regulatory mandate (MC)
– OFA – Economic Development/AIG (PIMPAC)
– CSP – Community Network (LMMA Network)
• Opportunities and challenges to MC:
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Sustainable Financing
Enhancing conservation & management practice and awareness
Research and capacity building
Enforcement and compliance
Increase population vs. unstable economy
Community Request
Municipal Government
Project Team
Traditional Leaders/Project Team
Community/Project Team
Explain about the programme
Seek their blessing
Project Task Force
Prepare plan of activities
Community Consultation/Workshops
Situation analysis using the problem/solution tree
Not endorsed
Establish Community Committee
Community Undertakings
DRAFT MANAGEMENT PLAN
Project Team
Undertakings
Endorsement/Approval by Community and Project Team
Implementation
Community
Project Team
Monitoring and Evaluation
-Bi-annual review by Community and Project Team
-Review Report for discussion
Department of Land and
Natural Resources
Develop community by-laws and/or
relevant policy
Current Management
• Export ban on marine resources, except aquacultured
products or by permit only
• Seasonal ban on sale and catch of:
– Turtles June – August & December – January
– P.areolatus: January-May
– E. poly & E. fusco: February-May
• Restrictions on net mesh size less than 4 inches;
• 10-year moratorium on kemeik, merer, maud and giant
clam
• Size limits
– 10 species or groups of fish (e.g. grouper)
Current Management
• 6 learning sites representing +20 villages
• MPA Executive Committee
– 6 village chiefs sharing lessons
• Watershed Steering Committee
– Inter-agency/community reps
• Marine Advisory Council
– 25 members (fisherman/fish market owners)
• Fisheries Working Group
– Multi-agency/organization committee
2003
2010
Fisheries Reform
• Launched a fisheries awareness campaign
•Target groups
•Community-based initiatives
•Data poor stock assessments
•Decentralization of resource management roles (turf)
•Municipality ordinance incorporating & recognizing
community-based management plans
Challenges
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Community buy-in
Translating SCIENCE into MANAGEMENT
Enforcement & Compliance
Financial resources
Data management
Lessons Learned
• Fisheries management is far greater than any one
agency can solve alone
• Press leaders to prioritize fisheries issues
• Accessibility of information and awareness
• Involve fisherman in decision making process
• Once a plan is developed, be responsive, be ready
to adapt strategies
• Synchronize or align our efforts
– Avoid duplication, rather supplement & maximize complementary
efforts.
Kalahngan/Thank you