Application of Ecosystem Based Fisheries Management

1
Application of Ecosystem Based Fisheries
Management

• A Pohnpei Case Study Federated States of
  Micronesia

2
History

• Top Down Regulatory Measures
• 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)

3
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

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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

5
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

6
Fishers and Markets Rely on Under-sized, Immature
Fish

• Undersized and immature fish dominate up to 90
  of marketed catch for some species

7
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

8
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 predationand
  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.

9
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
• Sustainable Financing
• Enhancing conservation management practice and
  awareness
• Research and capacity building
• Enforcement and compliance
• Increase population vs. unstable economy

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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)

14
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
15
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

16
Challenges

• Community buy-in
• Translating SCIENCE into MANAGEMENT
• Enforcement Compliance
• Financial resources
• Data management

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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.

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Kalahngan/Thank you