Transcript 4. Coastal Fisheries and Climate Change

Coastal Fisheries & Climate
Change
By Monte Depaune
Introduction
 Coastal fisheries is the main source of seafood for
people on Nauru with an estimated annual catch
of 420t of finfish and 231t of invertebrates.
 Nauruan fresh fish consumption per capita is
56kg.
 Nearly half the population (4513 people, 2947
males and 1566 females) are engaged in fishing
activities.
Status of Coastal Fisheries
Management
Recommendations
Action Taken
Govt closely monitor the level of
fishing effort for both finfish and
invertebrates and implements
management measures affecting
catch and fishing practices.
•Data collection of catch by canoe &
motorized fishers is being
conducted.
•None for in-shore, multi-species,
multi-fishing method.
•No in-water and socio-economic
assessment has been conducted
since 2006.
•No mgt measures implemented yet.
Status of Coastal Fisheries
Management
Recommendation
•Action Taken
Govt considers establishing 1 or 2
MPAs that cover appropriate
habitat.
•A request to FAO under South to
South cooperation was submitted
for an expert on reef ecology to
assess and make recommendations
on ideal sites.
Status of Coastal Fisheries
Management
Recommendation
•Action Taken
Govt looks to restrain SCUBA spearfishing, as the efficiency of this gear
outweighs all the more traditional
means of fishing and if it is not properly
controlled it will have a drastic effect on
targeted fish stocks.
•This will be considered after
consultations through CEAFM with
communities are concluded and a
national plan developed.
•Create alternative livelihood i.e. diving
for aquarium fish.
The abundant herbivores Acanthuridae is •No action being taken so far.
sustainably targeted by local fishing
activities instead of parrotfish, groupers,
snappers and emperors which are
probably being impacted by fishing
activities at present
Status of Coastal Fisheries
Management
Govt continues to foster development
•This is being promoted.
of off-shore resources, more specifically
tuna and other pelagics, to reduce
fishing pressure on in-shore resources.
Govt looks at ways to assist local fishers
to fish for pelagics:
•Encourage Nauruans to use more
motorized boats by improving access to
fuel, etc…
•Put out shallow-water FADs that can be
reached by fishers paddling nonmotorized canoes
•Access to fuel has improved
dramatically.
•AOMF Assistance Project is active.
•Both in-shore and off-shore FADs are
being deployed, maintained and redeployed where and when necessary
provided materials are available.
Status of Coastal Fisheries
Management
Recommendation
•Action Taken
Govt has an assessment undertaken to
look at stocks of aquarium fish, with the
harvesting of these encouraged through
private sector and appropriate mgt
measures put in place if the stocks can
be sustainably harvested and viably
exported.
•Resource assessment has been
conducted and results are positive.
•Economic feasibility study is being
done.
•Mgt plan being developed.
Status of Coastal Fisheries
Management
Recommendation
•Action Taken
Any additional survey work by SPC on
•Not yet done.
invertebrates focuses on the species
that are of most concern for Nauruan
people and that are the main focus of
current harvest activity, including an
assessment of the status and population
dynamics of Turbo spp. And nocturnal
crustacean species (esp. lobsters &
crabs).
Govt considers the introduction of
Tridacna maxima, and possibly trochus
adults, within an area protected from
fishing and gleaning, possibly as part of
an MPA as recommended above.
•Not yet considered.
Nature of Our Coastal Fisheries
Recent Catch and Value
Coastal fisheries category
Feature
Catch (tonnes)*
Reef fish
Nearshore
pelagic fishb
Inter/subtidal
Invertebrates
Total
310
310
30
650
Total value
(USD m)*
1.5
Contribution (%)a
48
48
4
100
* Estimated total catch and value in 2007 (Gillet 2009)1; a = method for calculating
disaggregated catch data for each category is outlined in Chapter 9 (Appendix 9.2,
Supplementary Table 9.1); b = catch dominated by tuna species.
Reef fisheries
Nearshore
pelagic (tuna)
fisheries
Inter/subtidal
shellfish fisheries
Projected Changes to Coastal Fish
Habitat (coral reefs)
Projected changes to coastal fish habitat
2035
2050
2100
Coral bleaching
due to
increased
temperature
Ocean
acidification reef erosion
Projected degradation of coral reefs
Projected Changes to Coastal
Fisheries
Projected changes to coastal fisheries production
2035
Reef fish
2050
2100
Effects of climate change on reef fish
Today
2035 (-2 to -5%)
2050 (-20%)
2100 (-20 to -50%)
Summary
Coral reef fisheries will be ‘losers’
under climate change.
Mainly due to changes in their
habitat
There are severe implications!
Adaptations are possible.