Transcript 01. Fisheries and Aquaculture in Vanuatu

Fisheries and Aquaculture in
Vanuatu
Christopher K. Arthur
Outline
• Vision
• Objectives
• Main fisheries and aquaculture activities
• Fisheries programs and management
• Future plans to maintain benefits
Key Features of Vanuatu
• EEZ – 668,220 km2
• Reef area – 1,244 km2
• Land area – 11,880 km2
• Population – 252,000
• Population growth rate – 2.6%
Vision
The people of Vanuatu will enjoy the highest
levels of social and economic benefits through
sustainable development and management of
Vanuatu’s fisheries resources.
Objectives of fisheries sector
1. Ensure that exploitation of fisheries resources
within Vanuatu waters is sustainable
2. Harvest resources in a way that maximizes the
long term economic and social benefits
3. Contribute to the food security of ni Vanuatu
4. Meet sub-regional, regional and international
responsibilities and requirements
Main fisheries and aquaculture activities
Oceanic Fisheries
Purse seiner
Longliner
Locally based foreign longliner
transhipment
Oceanic fisheries - recent catch & value
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Total tuna catch from EEZ in 2012 = 8,279 t
Number of Vanuatu flagged vessels in 2012 = 135
Catch of flagged vessels outside EEZ > 40,000 t
Revenue for Vanuatu > VT100 million
Target tuna species:
A
Albacore
Yellowfin
Bigeye
Skipjack
Coastal Fisheries
Bottom-dwelling fish Near-shore pelagic fish
Invertebrates
Coastal fisheries catch
540 tonnes/yr
540 t/yr
1
2
2830 tonnes/yr
2830 t/yr
Commercial
Subsistence
Source: Gillett 2009
Examples of commercial catch & value
Type of fishery
Deep-bottom
Snapper
Aquarium
trade
Trochus
Catch (t)
8
3 + pieces
28
Value (USD)
50,000
190,000
335,000
Freshwater and estuarine fisheries
• No reliable catch information available
• Estimate is 80 tonnes per year
• Contributes to food security
Source: Gillett 2009
Freshwater aquaculture
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Cage culture of tilapia 65-70 tonnes p.a.
Catfish and barramundi > 40 tonnes p.a.
Household tilapia ponds
Freshwater prawns ~500 kg
Source; Vate Oceans Garden
Coastal aquaculture
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Marine shrimp
Giant clams and other ornamental products
Green Snail and Trochus
Sea cucumber?
Teouma Prawns
Fisheries programs and management
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Development and Capture Division
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Research and Aquaculture Division
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Seafood Verification Division
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Compliance Division
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Management and Policy Division
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Administration Division
Future plans to maintain benefits
• We must address many ‘drivers’ of the sector,
especially population growth
Increased
habitat
degradation
Increased
fishing
pressure
Increased
global demand
for fish
• Vanuatu National Fisheries Policy (draft)
• National Integrated Coastal Zone
Management Plan (draft)
Thank you