Kalo Pakoa, Frank Magron, Ian Bertram, Kim Friedman The need for standardization of underwater resources assessment in the Pacific sea cucumber fisheries Andre Seale Kalo Pakoa, Frank Magron, Ian Bertram, Kim Friedman Coastal Fisheries Science and Management Section, DEC Western Australia

Sea cucumber fisheries - PICTs

Challenges and constraints Limited understanding of sea cucumber fisheries, appreciation of its importance– concern for better management Lack of or inconsistent information Surveys design to answer specific scientific question Inadequate geographical survey coverage Limited capacities in surveys that inform management Methodologies are inconsistent, lack of continuity Incomparability of results Confusion on methodologies and design Limited facility to process and store information Fisheries statistics can be complicated, daunting

Lessons from regional comparative studies SPC PROCFish/COFish 2002-2009 Baseline resources information 17 PICTs now available Varying complexities of reef systems -island types in the PICTs 80% of species found at high densities upper 10m Assessment this shallow provide good information Species composition vary-assess all species Manta tow and belt transects

Focused capacity building assistance (SCICOFish) On job training in-country and at SPC Collect resource information for advice Assessing all species and improve identification Collect count, lengths, and weight information, fishing data, community views Advice from fishers on aggregations Same methodologies, people and time across Encourage exchange trainings Include line agencies and NGO partners in training Use database system to store information Organize results into management advice

SC resource survey design Survey designs are based on sites Complexity of reef system Timing of surveys and purpose Funding available Capacity to use information Several methodologies to choose from Cost-effectively - manta tow and reef transects

SC resource survey design-example Example: Aitutaki Is , Cook islands Objective: Training and assessment Species : lollyfish, greenfish, surfredfish Status: un-fished Habitat: reef flat, reef crest, back reef Needs: 4 sectors Method: reef transect Personnel: 7 people -5 days Coverage: 12st/sector or 288 transects Information: species ID, size, weight Costs: sharing between CIMF and SPC

Reef transect surveys 40m x 1m x 6 transects per station 10-20 minutes per station 0-2 meters depth safe to use anywhere Species ID, size, count, habitat Simple, widely used

Manta tow surveys 300m x 2m transect takes 3-10 meters with goo visibility 10 minutes/transect Transects group into stations Easy to usw- need trained eyes Cover large area of reef in short time Broader understanding of distribution Less expensive and safe Used by countries

Standard record sheet for all methods Main record Habitat record

Data entry, verification, analysis, storage Reef fisheries integrated database (RFID) RFID in distribution to fisheries and NGO Trainings provided on database SPC maintain backup of data in Noumea Provided when needed

Species identification CODE Trade names Species Fijian name BTF Black teatfish Holothuria whitmaei Loloa BF Blackfish Actinopyga miliaris Dri , Driloa CF Curryfish Stichopus herrmanni Laulevu, Kari, Lakolako ni qio BCF Brown curryfish Stichopus vastus Laulevu GF Greenfish Stichopus chloronotus Greenfish , Barasi DWBF Deepwater blackfish Actinopyga palauensis Dri ni cakau PNF Peanutfish Stichopus horrens Katapila PRF Prickly redfish Thelenota ananas Sucudrau SF Sandfish Holothuria scabra Dairo STF Stonefish Actinopyga lecanora Dritabua, Drivatu SRF Surf redfish Actinopyga mauritiana Tarasea GSF Golden sandfish Holothuria lessoni Dairo kula WTF White teatfish, Holothuria fuscogilva Sucuwalu AF Amberfish Thelenota anax Basi, 4 corner BSF Brown sandfish Bohadschia vitiensis Vula CHF Chalk fish Bohadschia similis Mudra ETF Elephant trunkfish Holothuria fuscopunctata Tinani dairo, Dairo ni toba SNF Snakefish Holothuria coluber Yarabale, Samu ni uti TF Tigerfish Bohadschia argus Tiger, Vula ni cakau, Vula wadrawadra DWRF Deepwater red fish Actinopyga echinites FF Flowerfish Pearsonothuria graeffei  Senikau LF Lolly fish Holothuria atra Loliloli RLF Reef Lollyfish Loli ni cakau PF Pinkfish Holothuria edulis Loli piqi LM Loli’s mother Holothuria coronopertusa Tinani loli WSF White snakefish Holothuria leucospilota ?

Species presence by site and or country Provide information on resources available in a fishery Species that deserve management intervention Recovery of lost species -management measure is working

Count of species observed Trade name Effective closure Ineffective closure fishery open Chalkfish 1662 17 3 Lollyfish 1546 75 186 336 Curryfish 441 20 45 Sandfish 369 49 166 Greenfish 185 4 22 Pinkfish 181 6 46 31 Tigerfish 180 34 14 Snakefish 172 10 13 1 Brown sandfish 130 18 41 Peanutfish 80 Hairy blackfish 65 2 5 Black teatfish 43 Red snakefish Prickly redfish 40 Flowerfish 30 11 23 138 Golden sandfish 28 White teatfish Elephant trunkfish 9 Surf redfish Amberfish Brown curryfish Deepwater blackfish Stonefish all survey types, 5-10 people and 5-7 days of assessments

Species density by sites ind/ha Number likely present per hectare of reef Trade name Species Reference densities -ind/ha Site density -ind/ha Stonefish Actinopyga lecanora 10 20 Surf-redfish Actinopyga mauritiana 200 150 Blackfish Actinopyga miliaris 300 Tigerfish Bohadschia argus 120 121 Flowerfish Bohadschia graeffei 100 93 Chalkfish Bohadschia similis 1400 2000 Brownsandfish Bohadschia vitiensis Lollifish Holothuria atra 5600 10000 snakefish Holothuria coluber 1100 Pinkfish Holothuria edulis 260 White teatfish Holothuria fuscogilva 2 Elephant trunkfish Holothuria fuscopunctata 4 Black teatfish Holothuria nobilis 50 37 Sandfish Holothuria scabra 700 400 Greenfish Stichopus chloronotus 3500 3000 Curryfish Stichopus herrmanni 67 Prickly redfish Thelenota ananas 30 40 Red – 41%; Yellow - 24%, Green - 35% 70+% above reference - good indication

Species density by depths across PICTS 80% present at high densities in the upper 10m depth 94% present at maximum densities in the upper 10m depth Deeper stocks need to be preserved as breeding reservoir

Population size structure (Sandfish) population change -fishing and management measure no take preserve breeding stocks

Stock estimation Step 1: Assess resources status indicators Step 2: Stocks not fully recovered - further resting proposed, more surveys Step 3: Stocks show signs of maturity –stock estimation Stock estimation is extrapolating densities by reef habitat area to produce stock estimate in number and weight and certain proportion as harvestable quantity (wet and dry weights)

Progress made in PICTs Information managed at SPC Over 30 new assessments Information managed at SPC Used to advices to countries Invertebrate manual, creel and market survey manual

Opportunity While we do acknowledge there are several useful ways of assessing sea cucumbers resources Our experience have shown that standardizing assessments is good for the region therefore SPC welcomes the opportunity to come together to continue this progress - share lessens, exchange ideas and experiences towards better informed management of sea cucumber fisheries. Countries are encouraged to take lead role in this effort

Questions or talk to us or email Kalop@spc. int Frankm@spc Questions or talk to us or email Kalop@spc.int Frankm@spc.int Ianb@spc.int or Friedman et al 2008. Sea cucumber fisheries: A managers tool Box Friedman et al 2010. Management of sea cucumber stocks Eriksson et al 2010. Resources status in Zanzibar, Tanzania Eriksson et al 2013. Population metrics for Curryfish, One Tree Reef, GBR Thankyou