1. The Live Reef Food Fish Trade: Overview and Synthesis Geoffrey Muldoon Strategy Leader, WWF Coral Program

2. Outline Historical perspectives on LRFT initiatives Synthesis of LRFT Priority Actions Overview of recent activities across workshops, forums, and CTSP partner program

3. Concerns with LRFT Resource over-exploitation and fishery collapse Food security and livelihoods for local communities Impacts of destructive fishing practices including: Targeting and extirpation of spawning aggregations Capture and retention of juveniles for grow-out Limited enforcement and monitoring of: International trans-shipment (i.e. CITES listed) Trans-boundary trade and IUU (i.e. LTVs) Expected growth in market demand (e.g. PRC)

4. Hong Kong Imports of Live Reef Fish

5. Hong Kong Imports of Live Coral Trout

6. Historical Perspective Concerted effort over past decades to reduce social, economic and biological impacts of LRFT Earlier programs often focused on discrete aspects of the LRFT and these were often localised: –Destructive (e.g. Cyanide) fishing; –High conservation value species (HHW and CITES); –Protection of fish spawning aggregation sites; –Developing best-practice “Standards” incl. for mariculture –Pre-emptive fishery development management plans; –Documenting trade flows, trade issues; and –Full-cycle mariculture production of target LRFF species;

7. Historical Perspective Limited successes in reducing LRFT impacts!

8. Lessons Learnt Indonesia LRFT Source: WWF Indonesia

9. Palawan Fishing effort and catch: –65% caught fewer fish now then 3 or 5 yrs ago –~ 70% of fish caught are undersize –~ 30% of fish caught are regarded as “market size” Trends in Philippines LRFT

10. Historical Perspective Limited success in reducing LRFT impacts –Gaps in biological data needed to improve management; –Unknown “exploitation” rates due poor source country records and unrecorded LRFF entering Hong Kong by sea –Different business models affect attitudes toward industry stewardship (e.g. Fish brokers v/s independent trader) –Current management of LRFF fisheries in recipient and source countries doesn’t guarantee resource sustainability; Source: Adapted from Pitcher et al., 2009

11. Operating Assumptions – (Present) Demand and price for LRFF will increase with China’s growing population and affluence There is already over-fishing There’s a lack of data AND data is needed for management Management and enforcement policies weak or absent There is disconnect between key players along supply chain There is tension between legal and un-reported fisheries Mariculture is ONE way forward to meet future demand

12. Common Aspirational Goals Harvest does not exceeds reproduction Habitats not declining from over-exploitation / climate change Management and enforcement is strengthened −The trade in CITES listed species is being effectively enforced FCA is alleviating pressure on wild stocks and aiding livelihoods Communities benefiting from management – stable livelihoods There suitable mechanisms in place for collective actions −Multi-country coordination on trans-boundary issues within the CT −An effective operational trader group has been formed Demand economies participating in sustainability initiatives

13. Regional Perspective The LRFT is trans-boundary in nature and requires regional actions Why the need for regional? –Governments of the CT committed to action –Fishers / Traders operating across national boundaries –Industry, Government and Civil Society engaged in a regional economy –Regionalisation / globalisation of consumer attitudes –International interest in sustainable behaviour

14. ASIA–PACIFIC REGIONAL TRADE IN LIVE REEF FOOD FISH

15. The LRFT is trans-boundary in nature and requires regional actionsThe LRFT is trans-boundary in nature and requires regional actions More recently efforts have focussed on ‘collaborative’ approaches such asMore recently efforts have focussed on ‘collaborative’ approaches such as –CT6 Inter-governmental collaboration and cooperation; –Whole of supply chain initiatives (e.g. B2B relations) –Supply-side and demand-side linkages –Public-private sector partnerships; Regional ‘collective’ actions in geographically based priority areas, some with a more regional reachRegional ‘collective’ actions in geographically based priority areas, some with a more regional reach Regional Perspective

16. Synthesis CTI LRFT Priority Actions Priority ActionsMalaysiaPhilippinesIndonesia Papua New Guinea Solomon Islands Timor Leste Certification Standards Best practice Forums AND Private Public Partnerships Full-cycle mariculture expansions Management plans (incorporating EAF) Collect baseline data on target species Protection target species / Spatial closures Export / Catch Controls (including CITES/IUU) Enforcement and Capacity Building (including provincial)

17. Regional Stakeholder Engagement LRFT workshop – November 2009 –Provide snapshot of current status and trends for LRFT –Define roadmap and strategies to address unsustainable trade in LRFT with Industry /stakeholder emphasis

18. HK Workshop outcomes Priority (Ranked in order of Importance) Match harvesting to reproductive capacity Promote full cycle responsible mariculture Enforce the law against IUU fishing (including CITES species) Data collection on ecology, production, marketing and socio economics Protect spawning area through spatial and temporal measures Built and manage multi-stakeholder alliances Organize and manage government to government collaboration Set minimum size for capture Facilitate PPPs between NGOs, private sector and research institutions Develop market linkages Integrate and consolidate best management practices into supply chain Mitigate consequences of displacement

19. Regional Stakeholder Engagement Regional Exchange workshop – October 2010 –Common understanding and support for applying EAFM –Science needs for improving management of LRFT –Models for establishing multi-country stakeholder forums or roundtables –Coordinated CT6 position on LRFFT issues

20. Where is Bottleneck/Driver of Change FisherBuyerExporter Importer / Wholesale Restaurant

21. IMPACTS > 100,000 CT-based < 300 CT-based < 100 Non-CT based Millions non-CT based Fisher/ Carriers Cage-owners Buyers and Exporters Distributors & Retails outlets LRFFT patrons Fishery Buyers & Exporter Importer, Wholesale & Retail Consumers Supply Chain Stake holders Stake- holder Number LRFT Market Pull Approach LRFFT INTERVENTION

22. Role for NGOs as a “Partner” The role of NGOs to assist countries in better meeting CORF responsibility through: –Fostering and motivating the seafood sector. –Facilitating private sector engagement –Leading in the establishment of inter-governmental regional platforms (e.g. CTI, APEC) Other national and international institutions will have to be involved to deal with key issues

23. WWF CTP LRFT Strategy Objectives As one of five transformational strategies within the CTNI, the LRFT initiative has the following objective. –“Use collaborative approaches to accelerate transformation of the trade in live reef food fish into a sustainable enterprise”.

24. Key Objectives – CTNI 1.Support development of trade partnerships to promote more responsible/sustainable LRFFT 2.Promote adoption and increased production of “sustainable” full-cycle grouper aquaculture through Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) 3.Create demand for sustainable LRF consumption and production in key markets (e.g. Hong Kong, Singapore)

25. Consumer choiceSustainable Mariculture Enabling Work Indonesia Enabling Work Malaysia Enabling Work Singapore Enabling Work Philippines Enabling Work Hong Kong LRFT Priority Targets Sustainable Live Reef Food Fish Trade Industry Best Practice PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIPS

26. CT6 Coordination through CTSP: NPOAs = National LRFT Actions Trader engagement EAFM applied Regional Exchange Outcomes: EAFM in context of LRFT Science needs Roundtables and Forums Activities in priority Geographies: Supply chain links Best practice National trader groups APEC LRFFT Workshop Outcomes: Footprint country collaboration Supply chain focus on EAFM Platforms to strengthen Standards Market-based policy initiatives Common CT6 position : EAFM position Consensus on roundtable/forums Preparatory APEC activities Sustainable LRFT Roadmap Workshop: Status and Trends (Biology, Industry) Sustainability versus functionality Priority Actions to Improve LRFT APEC / Regional Exchange Sequence

27. APEC FWG Regional Workshop Collaboration and participation from non-CT “footprint” countries Identify appropriate mechanisms or frameworks whereby the joint issues of trade and sustainability can be better addressed: – build agreement on mechanisms/frameworks to provide platform for dialogue and exchange and cooperative multi- country engagement to build capacity and opportunities among these stakeholders to better manage the trade –refining measurable standards of best-practice such as the International LRFFT Standard with participation and support of all stakeholders to facilitate implementation of and strengthening of such Standards and

28. Concluding Thoughts 1.What SHOULD the LRFT look like in 10 years? 2.What ACTIONS needed in next 5 years to achieve this? 3.Who will be CHANGE AGENTS that make this happen? 4.How can we MOBILIZE these change agents to work together?

29. 29 © WWF / Catherine HOLLOWAY