Transcript Bahamas National Report

BAHAMAS NATIONAL REPORT
By Lester Gittens & Michael Braynen
Dept. of Marine Resources,
Govt. of The Bahamas
DESCRIPTION OF THE FISHERY
LITTLE BAHAMA
BANK
NASSAU
GREAT BAHAMA
BANK
Over 100,000 km2 of shallow water
DESCRIPTION OF THE CONCH FISHERY
•Conch
fishery is 2nd-3rd most important fishery
•Employs
•Utilizes
over 9,000 fishers
over 4,000 small vessels
•Conch
caught by free diving and with compressors
•>60%
of landings during April-July
POLICY AND LEGISLATION
•Fishery
Resources (Jurisdiction and Conservation) Act 1977
•Fisheries
1986
•Wildlife
•5yr
Resources (Jurisdiction and Conservation) Regulations
Conservation and Trade Act 2004
(2010-2014) Strategic Plan
•Commercial
fisheries reserved for Bahamian citizens
POLICY AND LEGISLATION
•Dept
of Marine Resources has primary
responsibility for management
•Multiple
agencies conduct enforcement
-Defence Force Officers
-Customs Officers
-Police Officers
-Agriculture Officers
DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES
•Aquaculture
sector targeted for development
•Multiple
aquaculture ventures have received approvals and
duty free concessions
•No
successful long-term ventures
•Past
failures currently under review
FISHERIES MANAGEMENT &
CONSERVATION ACTIVITIES
•Use
of SCUBA for commercial fishing prohibited
•Limitations
•Expanding
in two
•Conch
on the use of compressed air
network of marine protected areas – conch surveyed
export quota system-limits landings
•Dept.
of Marine Resources- CITES Scientific Authority
•Dept.
of Agriculture – CITES Management Authority
CONSUMPTION & TRADE
Queen Conch Landings and Exports
•Most
conch consumed locally- 1.3kg/capita/yr
•Virtually all exports to USA (99% in 2011)
CONSUMPTION & TRADE
Value of Exports
3500000
Value ($US)
3000000
2500000
2000000
1500000
1000000
500000
0
2011
2010
2009
in value to >$3million
2008
•Increase
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
1999
1998
Year
*2009 data unavailable
ANNUAL CATCH STATISTICS
•Collected
by trip interviews
•Supplemented by purchase reports submitted
by processing plants that are located on most
islands with major fishing communities
•Data collected: total weight of conch landed,
the local value of landings, landings by majorisland and fishing effort
• Commercial export amounts and value are
also recorded
RESEARCH & STOCK ASSESSMENTS
•5
density surveys conducted since 2009
•Represents
small portion of conch occurrence and fishing
grounds
•1Berry
Islands:-
decline in juvenile densities compared to a 1987
study
•Conch present in a new MPA- inadequate for
reproduction
•
1Stoner
et al 2009
SURVEY SITES
SW Abaco
Berry
Islands
Andros Lee S. Island
Exuma Cays LSP
RESEARCH & STOCK ASSESSMENTS
•2Andros
–low reproduction taking place
adult densities of 118/ha in small area
•dominated by “samba” conch in higher
density areas
•
• 3Exuma
Cays Land and Sea Park- 10% of adults were
reproducing
•Densities
6% lower in a shelf area
•69% lower in a bank area between 2011
and 1994
2Stoner
and Davis 2010
3 Stoner
et al 2011
RESEARCH & STOCK ASSESSMENTS
•3At
Lee Stocking Island- very low densities
• 91% decline since 1991
•SW
Abaco soon to be released
•Other
research- the relationship between lip thickness,
maturity and the presence of a flared lip
•4Juveniles not adequately protected in most Caribbean
countries
•Multiple
contributors: Community Conch, Bahamas
Government, BNT,TNC
3 Stoner
et al 2011 4Stoner et al 2012
FINAL CONSIDERATIONS
•Recent
•Recent
progress made
surveys and research have provided a
basis for improved management