Transcript 4 Regional approach sea cucumber fisheries

Mini-HoF meeting
Noumea, 4 June 2012
Proposed Regional Approach to
Improved Management of Sea
Cucumber Fisheries
Outline:
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Background to proposal
Recent meetings on sea cucumber (BDM)
Proposed process
Recommendations
Background:
• Sea Cucumber (Beche-de-mer) have been
commercially exploited from PICTs for over a century
• In the last decade exports of BDM for the region
were valued at over USD50 million per year
• BDM are simple to process, and trade injects
significant cash into rural coastal communities
• Some of these communities have few alternative
sources of income
• Many thousands of people derive incomes & food
from SC
Background cont:
• BDM fisheries are the second most valuable, behind
tuna fisheries
• Many PICTs BDM fisheries are seriously overfished
• If managed sustainably, the fishery would yield much
greater income
• The BDM fishery needs more attention similar to that
paid to the regions tuna fisheries
• There are unique aspects of this fishery that a more
regional approach to its management could be
considered
• With some cooperation and attention it’s possible to
turn this fishery into models of sustainability
SC Fishery Management Workshop
[Nov 2011: Nadi]: Key Needs
• Develop sound national management
frameworks for SC fisheries
• Develop monitoring and enforcement capacity
• Update/better information on markets and
prices
• Network to regularly exchange
experience/information
Technical Agencies, RO & Donors meeting:
[Wollongong: April 2012]
• Discussed broader SC fishery issues and
looked for possible solution to improving
management
• Attendance were: researchers, technical
agencies, regional organization (SPC), NGO,
donors
• Meeting identified 2 technical studies
required as first step
Wollongong: cont.
1. Examine historical levels of BDM production in
region, and estimate the benefits currently lost
as a result of inadequate management
arrangements
2. Investigate the degree to which fees and taxes
or other economic tools could improve BDM
management: and how these measures could be
enhance through regional cooperation
Wollongong: cont.
• Some donors indicate interest to assist this
process
• ACIAR to contribute financially to support
both studies
• TRAFFIC offered to assist in a regional study
into trade patterns of BDM
• Strong possibility that the World Bank could
assist in near-future
MSG Fisheries Technical Advisory Committee
[May 2012]
• MSG countries historically have been
significant market suppliers of BDM
• Control largest part of the resource/SC habitat
• Chronically overfished with BDM fisheries
closed in 3 of the 5 MSG countries
• MSG countries face similar problems in
controlling harvest across remote areas
• MSG countries have expressed interest with
cooperating on coastal fisheries management
MSG FTAC cont.
• SPC consulted fisheries officials of the MSG
countries and attended the May 2012 MSG
FTAC meeting
• Presented the proposals on sea cucumber
(BDM) studies for future management
purposes
• MSG FTAC supported the proposed studies
Proposed process
• SPC would coordinate an informal working
group for BDM regional management with
reps from MSG members, technical agencies
and invited experts
• SPC will develop ToRs for the working group,
which will oversee the development of the
two technical studies and a “visioning” paper
for BDM management and development
Proposed process cont.
• SPC work with MSG to transform the informal
working group into a more formal task force –
sub-regional approach including MCS, capacity
development, possible cost recovery
• WG/task force to liaise with World Bank –
Pacific Fisheries Engagement Strategy
• SPC to present results of studies to HoF in
February 2013
Recommendation to HoF
i. Discuss/provide comment on the concept of
the two proposed studies and the proposed
activities to move this process forward; and
ii. Endorse and support the process presented
including the participation of MSG members
in the proposed informal working group and
its development into a more structured task
force.
2 Studies:
1. Examine historical levels of BDM production in
region, and estimate the benefits currently lost
as a result of inadequate management
arrangements.
2. Investigate the degree to which fees and taxes
or other economic tools could improve BDM
management: and how these measures could be
enhance through regional cooperation