The message of the presentation by Dr. Glenn Hurry, Executive Director of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC), could not have been more direct.
The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture - 2014 /
Every two years my former employer FAO (Food and Agriculture Organisation of the Unites Nations) publishes its report over the status of fisheries and aquaculture worldwide. Is the best source of information available on the topic, here are some of it key findings.
According to the latest edition of FAO’s The State of World Fisheries and Aquaculture, global fisheries and aquaculture production totalled 158 million tonnes in 2012 - around 10 million tonnes more than 2010.
The rapid expansion of aquaculture, including the activities of small-scale farmers, is driving this growth in production.
At the same time per capita fish consumption has soared from 10 kg in the 1960s to more than 19 kg in 2012.
The new report also says fish now accounts for almost 17 percent of the global population’s intake of protein -- in some coastal and island countries it can top 70 percent.
FAO estimates that fisheries and aquaculture support the livelihoods of 10–12 percent of the world’s population.
Since 1990 employment in the sector has grown at a faster rate than the world’s population and in 2012 provided jobs for some 60 million people engaged in capture fisheries and aquaculture. Of these, 84 percent were employed in Asia, followed by Africa with about 10 percent.
Fish remains among the most traded food commodities worldwide, worth almost $130 billion in 2012 – a figure which likely will continue to increase.
An important trend sees developing countries boosting their share in the fishery trade – 54 percent of total fishery exports by value in 2012 and more than 60 percent by quantity (live weight).
This means fisheries and fish farming are playing an increasingly critical role for many local economies. Some 90 percent of fishers are small scale and it is estimated that, overall, 15 percent are women. In secondary activities such as processing, this figure can be as high as 90 percent.
Global marine capture fishery production was stable at about 80 million tonnes in 2012, the new report indicates.
Currently, under 30 percent of the wild fish stocks regularly monitored by FAO are overfished – a reversal in trend observed during the past few years, a positive sign in the right direction.
Just over 70 percent are being fished within biologically sustainable levels. Of these, fully fished stocks – meaning those at or very close to their maximum sustainable production – account for over 60 percent and underfished stocks about 10 percent.
Global aquaculture production marked a record high of more than 90 million tonnes in 2012, including almost 24 million tonnes of aquatic plants. China accounted for over 60 percent of the total share.
Aquaculture’s expansion helps improve the diets of many people, especially in poor rural areas where the presence of essential nutrients in food is often scarce.
However, the report warns that to continue to grow sustainably, aquaculture needs to become less dependent on wild fish for feeds and introduce greater diversity in farmed culture species and practices.
The report also notes that illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing remains a major threat to marine ecosystems and also impacts negatively on livelihoods, local economies and food supplies.
Food chain traceability is increasingly a requirement in major fish markets, especially in the wake of recent scandals involving the mislabelling of food products. FAO provides technical guidelines on certification and ecolabelling which can help producers demonstrate that fish has been caught legally from a sustainably managed fishery or produced in properly run aquaculture facility.
The world tuna conference in Bangkok this week /
The biggest gathering of major tuna industry players, tuna governing bodies, NGOs, service providers and government officials from 21-23 May
On my way to Bangkok, I been invited by INFOFISH to be a speaker at their annual Tuna conference, the biggest event in the Tuna world... and I'm trilled to be asked.
My talk elaborates on a subject that I'm quite keen and have been championing for a while: the need to capture data as well as fish at industry level.
My presentation will challenge the perception that we need to collect data for certifications only (Catch Certs for market access, ecolabelling, etc)... it proposes that data capture by industry is fundamental for todays fisheries at management, bio-economic, trade and MCS levels. And that certifications are a useful by product, but they should not be the driver... this latest attitude (unfortunately the most prevalent) is like putting the cart in front of the horse.
Finally I like to challenge the main industry players if they would accept from their logistics and banking providers, the same amount of transparency they offer to their regulators and customers?
So lets look for our solutions on those two sectors, instead on the loading the Regional Fisheries Management Organisations with that load or trusting that transparency to commercial brands such as the ecolabels.
Otherwise we always are going to be on the back foot, like now...
The programme of the conference is here
Unusual places for a fisheries consultant /
Muscar in Herzegovina
The hills of Sarajevo
The deaths of Sarajevo...
Over the last week I have been working in Serbia and Bosnia - Herzegovina. Places I never expected to work, been a fisheries consultant.
However, as they go trough the ascension process to the EU (after the incredible fratricidal dismembering of the former Yugoslavia) I been asked to go trough a series of seminars (Belgrade, Sarajevo and Bagna Luka) to facilitate the understanding of the EU requirements and the role of Ecolabels and other commercial certifications in the aquaculture and fisheries sector, under a programme from the Swiss government.
Life can take you to quite unexpected places, if you don't have many preconceptions on how it should be!
So much for comercial fisherman been always the bad guys! /
from the Waiheke Island Gulf News!
Happy they got caught!
Happy World Tuna Day! /
In 2011, the 8 PNA countries , that comprise much of the world’s tuna fishing waters declared May 2 to be World Tuna Day. Today marks the very first—a time for global celebration of these amazing fish and a reminder of the need to conserve them.
From the gigantic, warm-blooded, 680-kilogram Atlantic bluefin to the smallest skipjack, the label “tuna” actually includes more than 20 species that range from the tropics to the frigid waters of the Arctic and the Southern Ocean.
World Tuna Day recognizes the critical role these fish play in marine ecosystems. They support some of the world’s largest and most valuable fisheries, as well as many people who rely on them for their livelihoods.
And at a personal level, I owe the last 20 years of my life to that fish. Thanks and respect!
The World's Largest Seafood Trade Event in Brussels (4-8 May 2014) /
As you may imagine trade events are not my cup of tea...
The Brussels seafood show is the biggest conglomeration of seafood buyers and sellers in the world. And while this particular type of people ain't my favourites... they are part of the deal. I only wish they knew more about the people down the line, the fishers and the workers their decisions affect.
Part of my work portfolio is with a Swiss Government organisation (SIPPO) whose innovative approach to assistance, is to by pass governments and offer assistance directly to small and medium size producers in some development and transitional countries that pass some stringent criteria in regards sustainability, compliance and social responsibility. My work is to advice the organisation during the selection process and during the trade show offer them technical support around market access issues, eco-labelling and private certifications.
The package that SIPPO offers this companies includes a stand at fair, extensive matchmaking services, a communication package, support during the preparation and follow-up phase, a preparation workshop in Brussels and hotel accommodation during the trade fair.
There some key reasons i do this job (even if i don't like going to Brussels);
- The effect is immediate, with one company (2 peruvian brothers) they started with 8 employes, 3 years later they have 70, no other project I ever work hast that direct impact.
- I get he opportunity to interact with many of the regulatory decision makers from the EU that assist to the show (assist countries to implement their requirements is a key part of my work),
- I really like the people I work with.
Furthermore they seem to like me, because the keep contracting me to do the technical side as well as to do all the publications involved , which I do with my friend Raul under - Freshfish - (Branding -Strategy - Design)
If you happen to be in Brussels come and say hello: SIPPO Pavilion - hall 7 | stand 7-1953, as you imagine being from Switzerland they are very organised and the free chocolates are excellent :-)
Lack of access to data frustrates scientists in the Pacific /
A meeting of over 20 stock assessment scientists from the Asia–Pacific region last week heard that the scientific assessment of tunas in the western and central Pacific Ocean (WCPO) continues to be hampered by some fishing states not making data available to scientists. Dr Shelton Harley, head of the Stock Assessment and Modelling team within the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) Oceanic Fisheries Programme noted that ‘the most frustrating aspect is that the data have been collected and are just sitting on computers in countries and not contributing to the efforts to determine the health and safe harvest levels for the largest tuna resource in the world.’
The purpose of the annual meeting, hosted by SPC, is to review progress in assessing the status of bigeye, skipjack, and yellowfin tunas in the WCPO. This year is critical as it will be the first time in three years that these tunas are being assessed and also the first assessment for bigeye tuna since the independent review of the previous assessment conducted in 2012. Bigeye tuna is the species whose health has been of most concern in recent years, with rising catches associated with purse-seine fishing around fish aggregating devices.
The independent review – funded by the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) – stressed the importance of scientists having access to detailed operational-level data from the fisheries, but despite this, there has been very little movement from those fishing states that hold the data. In early 2014 three scientists from Taiwan came to SPC headquarters in New Caledonia and brought these important data on Taiwanese fishing with them. Some very useful analyses were conducted, but after two weeks the scientists went home and took the data with them. While this was a useful first step, it means that follow-up analyses that might be required as the assessments develop and as other data are received cannot be undertaken. Nevertheless, Dr Harley expressed appreciation to the Taiwan fisheries administration for this useful first step, and encouraged other major fishing countries to support the stock assessments by allowing scientists access to these data.
On a more positive note, Dr Harley noted that the upcoming assessments would be drawing heavily on the results from the Pacific Tuna Tagging Programme (www.spc.int/tagging). Almost 400,000 tunas have been tagged since 2006, with over 70,000 fish recaptured. This programme will be important in better understanding the rate of fishing and the connectivity of tuna across the WCPO.
The completed stock assessments will be presented to the 10th Regular Session of the WCPFC Scientific Committee when it meets in Majuro, Marshall Island in August 2014.
Original article here
Why are we putting so much efforts in managing and supporting tuna developments in the Pacific? /
Tuna processing is the biggest employment provider for woman in the Pacific (i.e. 70% of Soltuna's workforce)
Small and remote island nations in the Pacific are custodians of the last great ocean fishery, but face huge challenges in economic development and managing the impact of climate change.
The Pacific fisheries have been feeding the world’s tuna appetite for many decades and have now reached their maximum yield potential. While some tuna species are in decline, we are focussing management and control efforts on achieving a safe long-term catch limit that will ensure sustainability of the fisheries in the Western and Central Pacific.
Although access fees to DWFN (Distant Water Fishing Nations - i.e. Taiwan, China, Korea, EU, Japan, etc) equate to only a fraction of the catch value, such revenues are of critical economic importance for many Pacific island economies where the scale of marine resources typically outweighs other natural-resource wealth.
This is particularly true for the smaller island and atoll states, most of which have few other opportunities for sustainable economic development.
Hence is a complicated equation where the needs and realities of each country will deliver a different outcome as there is no "one size fits all" solution.
Organisations like SPC, FFA, NZAid, AUSAid, the EU via programmes like DEVFish II, PHAMA and others are supporting this work in the region, and in many cases thanks to your taxes.
Training on non IUU Catch Certification in Noro, Solomon Islands /
Back on my favourite working place in the Pacific, Noro in the western province of the Solomons.
Solomon Islands tuna accounts for around 7 percent of the total Western and Central Pacific Ocean catch – more than 150,000 tonnes – with an estimated value of US$180 million. However, the bulk of the catch is taken by foreign fishing vessels under licensing agreements and processed elsewhere. Access fees paid to Solomon Islands represent only around 5 % of the landed (not retail) value of the catch.
I always believed that the set up here in Noro represents what fishing industry should be in the Pacific. Two operations, NFD (fishing pole&line - small purse seine fleet) and SolTuna loining - canning employing over 1600 people (99% locals), majority owned by the Solomon Islands Retirement Fund, management is positive and really into it people.
Working here under a AusAID-funded initiative training fisheries officers, skippers and processors on the inner workings of Catch Certification Schemes.
Estimates of illegal and unreported fish in seafood imports to the USA /
A new paper in the latest Marine Policy journal by Pramod Ganapathiraju et all, tackles this ambitious task with an interesting methodology.
The paper concludes with some assertions I completely agree:
First, illegal fishing activities remain a major problem for the seafood industry and seafood consumers. Second, the lack of transparency in highly complex and diffuse wild seafood supply chains allows illegal and unreported catches to be easily laundered and mixed into legitimate supplies entering international trade. Third, very few tools currently exist to monitor and interdict illegal catches entering the United States through seafood imports.
Full paper here
The US (finally!) ratifies the FAO Port State Measures Agreement /
The treaty, which the United Nations adopted in 2009, applies to foreign-flagged vessels calling on ports in any country that is a party to the agreement. Under its provisions, port officials who conclude that a vessel has a known or suspected record of illegal fishing would turn away the vessel or subject it to immediate inspection. If there is evidence of illegal catch, port officials would prohibit the landing of the catch. They also would alert other ports to the situation and could deny the vessel permission to refuel or receive repairs.
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and especially Chairman Robert Menendez (D-NJ), ranking member Bob Corker (R-TN), Senator Ed Markey (D-MA), and Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), for moving the PSMA through the Senate.
Next step is to pass the Pirate Fishing Elimination Act—the implementing language for the PSMA—to ensure that the agreement enters into force in a timely manner.
The PSMA will take effect once 25 parties ratify it; the United States is the 11th party to do so, joining nine other countries and the European Union.
E-monitoring trial of tuna longliners in the Solomons /
The Yi Man #3 pulling into Port in Noro
Two CT4-class tuna longliners left the port of Noro in the Western Province of Solomon Islands earlier this month with the latest video technology on board to improve data collection of their catch – albacore, yellowfin and bigeye – in the Western and Central Pacific.
The Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC), for which Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) provides secretariat services, calls for 5% observer coverage on board longliners operating in the region. However, lack of space on board smaller vessels, logistics and costs have limited human observer coverage to around 2%. Third party data are, therefore, lacking on longline target catch, non-target catch and overall operations. These data are necessary to improve our scientific understanding of these fisheries, strengthen management tools, and promote better enforcement of existing national and regional conservation measures. The use of modern technology to supplement the role of human observers offers real opportunities to overcome these challenges in tuna longline fisheries, making this an important and pioneering effort.
This highly collaborative project was developed and launched by Tri Marine, National Fisheries Developments (NFD), Yi Man Fishery Company, Satlink, the Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA), SPC, and Solomon Islands Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources (MFMR). Tri Marine and NFD are contributing to project management, and installation, maintenance and cost of the electronics. FFA, via the EU-funded DevFish 2 project, shares the equipment costs and plays a major role in overall coordination. Satlink provides and partially covers the cost of the electronics, while also designating staff to installation, data monitoring and review. The Yi Man Fishery Company volunteered two vessels, allocating valuable time to facilitate installation, and providing vessel space and resources to accommodate the equipment and human observers. MFMR has provided human observers to overlap with the electronics, while SPC assigned a field coordinator to assist with observer placement, data review, and project evaluation and reporting.
This multi-stakeholder effort will assess whether or not video cameras, electronic storage, and vessel monitoring systems (VMS), combined with at-port inspections, can generate information sufficient to fulfill the requirements of the WCPFC Regional Observer Programme minimum data fields. Imagery collected will be reviewed after each vessel trip by MFMR, with FFA and Satlink involvement, using customised reviewer software. Human observers will also be on board, conducting regular observer duties, with results to be compared against those collected electronically. The project is being done with two vessels for two fishing trips, which may last anywhere from six to ten weeks each, for a total of four trips. Early results will be presented at the WCPFC Scientific Committee meeting in August, 2014, followed by a full report summarising the findings, including cost-benefit analysis and recommendations for further development and implementation.
Although the project is unique and innovative in its application to distant water tuna longliners in this part of the Pacific, it does fall within the broader framework of WCPFC electronic technologies development. E-reporting to digitise and streamline data recording by vessel and fisheries department staff has been tested with NFD purse-seiners and is being expanded to other fleets. E-monitoring, or EM, is already applied under VMS requirements, and is now being broadened to incorporate video systems like the one being tested with this project. This week, WCPFC is advancing these complementary efforts by hosting an E-Monitoring and E-Reporting Workshop at FFA headquarters in Honiara from 31 March to 1 April 2014. The objective is to gain member input into promoting E-technology and developing a related proposal for the next Technical Compliance Committee Meeting. An overview of the design and launch of this project will be presented at the workshop and, it is hoped, result in feedback to be applied to the upcoming second trips of the vessels.
Although tuna resources face growing pressure, collaborative efforts like this one between industry and fisheries managers provide tangible results that can guide improvements. Modern fishing technology is often blamed for negative impacts on the marine environment, but strategic application of new innovations can also contribute to improved science, and the monitoring, control and surveillance needed for a more sustainable future.
Original article here
What do you know about tuna tagging? Not much? Come on board! /
This is a short video by SPC (filmed in October 2011) about a tagging campaign in the area between Tonga and Wallis and Futuna.
Tuna tagging involves the capture, tag and release of large numbers of tuna with numbered plastic dart tags, and the documentation (time, location, fishing method, fish size) of subsequent recaptures of these fish by the various types of fisheries across the region. Tagging is carried out mainly using the pole-and-line fishing method, in which fish are caught, tagged and released in a matter of seconds. Information is recorded on the fish’s species and size, along with the date and location of the tagging.
More on SPC Tunna tagging programme here
Bad report from the EU's Food and Veterinary Office (FVO) on Spain /
When the FVO visits a country to evaluate how its Competent Authority controls the EU Market Access Requirements, everyone shakes... A bad report implies that that country could loose its access to the EU market (the biggest buyers of fish in the world), this normally bring the ruin to a big sector of the industry with lots of job losses, etc...
Interestingly the FVO also evaluates the EU member countries, however if they don't perform and get a bad report... not much happens as they are part of the EU and there is no "borders" inside it to detain the products.
It took 3 years of solid efforts to get Fiji back in a few years ago, the budget for EU markets access exceeds many health initiatives their people needs. Ecuador almost lost access and had to work really hard at massive cost for a relatively poor country.
So.. when we read the reports (to their credit are public) to member states, like this one below to Spain' we find it almost too cynic... any non EU country would loose market access, while they, they just keep on.
Not fair... even if I have really lovely and dedicated friends working there... Judge for your self:
The Food and Veterinary Office of DG SANCO of the European Commission reported on a mission to Spain conducted in May 2013, to evaluate the national food safety controls on fishery products, and to follow up on a previous mission in 2008. The mission found that the organisation of the competent authorities visited, the standards set and their operational procedures, could in principle provide an acceptable system of official controls of fishery products. However, the mission found that there were deficiencies in relation to the supervision and audit of official controls by regional authorities, shortcomings in the implementation of approvals of establishments and freezer vessels (7 vessels were found to be operating without approval for at least two years). In addition sanitary controls on fishing vessels and landings were not always effective, there were deficiencies in the evaluation of HACCP plans (which in some establishments were non-existent). Fish was imported via a third country without a health certificate. Monitoring arrangements for dioxins, PCBs and PAH were not implemented in all regions. The two Ministries who share Competent Authority functions (the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment and the Ministry of Health, Social Services and Equality) were required to submit a plan of corrective actions subsequently accepted by the Commission.
Is there a lesson for fisheries in regards the ICJ ruling on whaling by japan in the southern oceans? /
I think so; vigilantes ram boats, antagonise people and at the end achieve little, but the sometimes imperfect, always boring and slow due course of justice do reach results when provided with knowledge and evidence. There is were we should keep focussing our efforts.
South Korea to (finally!!) begin real-time vessel tracking /
Funny for a such a "techie" nation not to have VMS and such crappy vessels
South Korea is set to begin monitoring all its fishing boats operating in international or foreign waters to prevent illegal fishing or any other unwarranted activities, the government said Thursday.
The country's first-ever Fisheries Monitoring Center will open in the southern port city of Busan on Friday, enabling real-time monitoring of all South Korean vessels engaged in deep-sea fishing for the first time in the country's history, according to the Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries.
Information on the real-time location of a vessel may allow the government to issue a warning when the vessel appears to be engaged in illegal, unreported or unregulated (IUU) fishing in foreign waters.
"The opening of the Fisheries Monitoring Center, along with the requirement for all deep-sea fishing vessels to be equipped with a vessel monitoring system, is at the heart of the government's efforts to curb IUU fishing," the ministry said in a press release.
The monitoring center was earlier scheduled to open in July under a revised law on deep-sea fishing that also raised the limit for maximum fines to 200 million won (US$185,000) from 30 million won for illegal fishing.
European Commission identify Belize, Cambodia and Guinea as non-cooperating third countries /
Despite the Commission working closely with the countries' authorities to set up fisheries management and effective control measures, these three countries have still not addressed structural problems and have failed to show real commitment to tackling the problem of illegal fishing. The Commission now proposes to the Council of Ministers to adopt trade measures against the three countries in order to tackle the commercial benefits stemming from these illegal activities. Ultimately, fisheries products caught by vessels from these countries will be banned from being imported into the EU.
The decision is consistent with the EU's international commitment to ensuring the sustainable exploitation of fisheries resources at home and abroad. The EU's approach towards combatting illegal fishing reflects the fact that IUU fishing is a global criminal activity which is harmful not only to EU fishermen and markets but also to local communities in developing countries.
Fiji, Panama, Sri Lanka, Togo and Vanuatu also received formal warnings last year, but they have all made credible progress in close cooperation with the Commission. They have set in motion new legislation and improved their monitoring, control and inspection systems and, as a result, dialogue with these countries has been extended until the end of February 2014 with progress to be evaluated next spring.
New formal warnings
The European Commission has today also handed out formal warnings – 'yellow cards' - to Korea, Ghana and Curaçao, as they fail to keep up with international obligations to fight illegal fishing. The Commission has identified concrete shortcomings, such as a lack of actions to address deficiencies in monitoring, controlling and surveillance of fisheries, and suggests corrective actions to resolve them.
These yellow cards will not, at this stage, entail any measures affecting trade. Instead the EU will, as was the case for the previously listed countries, work closely with the countries, through formalised dialogue and intensified cooperation, to resolve the identified issues and implement the necessary action plans.
Background
The decision on Belize, Cambodia and Guinea, gives Member States an additional tool to verify and, if necessary, to refuse imports of fishery products. The Commission promotes a coordinated approach in this respect. Once the Commission's proposal for a trade ban has been adopted by the Council, fisheries products caught by vessels flying these countries' flags will be banned from being imported into the EU. EU vessels will have to stop fishing in these waters. Other forms of cooperation, such as joint fishing operations or fisheries agreements with these countries will not be possible anymore.
With these actions, the EU is not merely enforcing EU rules but rather ensuring the respect of IUU rules adopted by the United Nations and FAO, in line with its international commitments. All of the identified countries have failed to fulfil their duties as flag, coastal, port or market states typically by disrespecting United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) or the United Nations Fish Stocks Agreement.
en castellano aqui
Countries unite to identify illegal fishing vessel via INTERPOL /
'Thunder' as Wuhan N 4 in Singapore, October 2012
A joint effort by New Zealand, Australia and Norway to find a vessel suspected of illegal fishing has led to the publication of an INTERPOL Purple Notice to assist in identifying its location.
Circulated to all 190 INTERPOL member countries the Notice, requested by New Zealand supported by the Australian Fisheries Management Authority (AFMA) and the Norwegian Directorate of Fisheries, also seeks information about the individuals and networks which own, operate and profit from the suspected illegal activities of the vessel, currently believed to be called ‘Thunder’.
During the past two years, the vessel has operated under at least three different names and under several flags, in order to avoid detection of illegal fishing activities.
In July 2012, Mongolian registration papers for a vessel called ‘Wuhan 4’ were issued; however in August 2012 the vessel was sighted in the North Indian Ocean under the name ‘Kuko’. In October 2012, the vessel was spotted at a Singapore shipyard under the name ‘Wuhan N 4’ and under a Mongolian flag.
In April 2013, the same vessel requested access to a port in Malaysia under the name ‘Wuhan 4’ but when inspected a few days later in Indonesia, it was using the name ‘Thunder’ and with the Nigerian flag.
“Thunder has been operating under a number of names and flags over several years and we believe this is being done to avoid been caught violating international laws and conventions,” said Gary Orr, Manager, Operational Coordination with New Zealand’s Ministry for Primary Industries.
“Fisheries crime is not constrained by borders and is commonly carried out by transnational organized networks. Norway is deeply concerned about its global effects. We need an international, coordinated response to effectively tackle these networks, and I welcome the good cooperation we have established with Australia and New Zealand via INTERPOL,” said Norway’s Minister of Fisheries, Elisabeth Aspaker.
AFMA’s Fisheries Operations General Manager Peter Venslovas said illegal fishing activities seriously undermine the sustainability of fisheries: “Ongoing cooperation between countries across the globe to combat illegal fishing is having a real impact and making it harder for these operators to make a profit.”
It is possible that the owners of ‘Thunder’ have earned more than USD 60 million from its illegal fishing activities since it was blacklisted by the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) in February 2006.
The vessel is currently believed to be operating in the Southern Ocean around Antarctica where it may be fishing illegally for Patagonian toothfish, also known as Chilean Sea Bass, a highly sought after protected species.
This is the third INTERPOL Purple Notice issued in connection with illegal fishing activities, with the first published in September this year at the request of Norwegian authorities for a vessel named ‘Snake’.
Sea Cucumbers - A Response to the Poor Status of Stocks in the Pacific /
SPC is issuing a series of country reports for the Cook Islands, Fiji, Federated States of Micronesia, Palau, Solomon Islands, Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu covering the status of sea cucumber resources and related management recommendations. While these coastal invertebrates are generally in decline, the situation in each country calls for specific recommendations.
A high-added-value and sensitive resource
For the past four years, the European Union-funded SciCOFish project has allowed SPC scientists to support Pacific countries with enhancing capacity in coastal resource assessments to inform management. And one of the priorities for most countries is sustainable sea cucumber fishery management. In fact, these “sea slugs” are a traditional food item in certain Pacific island and are popular in Asian countries, which has led to overfishing in the Pacific region.
Fisheries officials are concerned about maintaining this resource as it is a significant source of income for fishers, processors and exporters due to its high added value and it plays a role in communities’ food security.
Certain countries began to take action a few years ago, since they wanted this valuable resource to continue to contribute to the lives of future generations, by implementing measures which are now paying off. But whatever the exact situation may be, sustainable sea cucumber conservation requires complex management. All of SPC’s member countries made this a priority expressing concern of declining state of sea cucumber fisheries and would like to improve the current knowledge and management of this fishery. They requested SPC technical support in resource assessment and management advice.
Informative and educational surveys
SciCOFish has made it possible to train fisheries-department and NGO staff in coastal invertebrate stock assessment techniques. These training sessions have also provided an opportunity to carry out sea cucumber stock assessments at 40 sites in eight countries. So the outcomes have been two-fold, i.e. countries now have a number of trained professionals who can regularly carry out surveys plus the data collected, its analysis and interpretation.
Kalo Pakoa, SPC’s marine invertebrate specialist, noted, “Our colleagues now have the technical skills they need to carry out assessment surveys over the long-term and to interpret the data. It is important to do regular stock assessments in order to evaluate the real impact of sea cucumber management measures.”
The data collected most recently give a glimpse into the current status of stocks and can be compared to previous assessments carried out from 2002 to 2009. Of the 30 sea cucumber species found in the Pacific, certain species are high value of the beche-de-mer trade and are harvested more heavily than others. For that reason some species may be relatively abundant whereas others (high value species) have disappeared. These surveys also show that those zones where fishing has been prohibited for at least 10 years have experienced real gains in terms of the size of their sea cucumber populations.
A series of technical reports for practical management
The SPC reports provide recommendations to countries by proposing measures to be incorporated into their national sea cucumber management plans (documents can be downloaded from: www.spc.int/fame/en/projects/scicofish/activities/202-the-status-of-sea-cucumber-resources-in-cook-islands-fiji-and-samoa). Each country’s situation is quite different: some already have management plans that include strong fisheries management measures such as sea cucumber species selection, minimum harvest sizes, well defined fishing zones or bans on fishing with scuba gear.
In some cases, the marketing system is also very well controlled and makes a distinction between fishing for subsistence, for local sales or for export. A permit system for processors and exporters can be set up, which allows oversight and data collection on species, quantities and the quality of marketed products.
In certain zones, work to reintroduce sea cucumber species is also planned. Kalo Pakoa says, “We can move specimens from one part of a zone where they are abundant so as to reintroduce them in another part where they have been wiped out. For example, from one zone to another within one country but also from one country to another as has already been successfully done for trochus.”
Another opportunity could be to reintroduce sea cucumbers from aquaculture farms. Sea cucumber farming is in the trial stage in various Pacific island countries at the current and further work is needed to collect proper data on survival rates in order to be able to determine the effectiveness of ranching and its applications.
Original article here