Training on groupers and napoleon wrasse spawning aggregation sites monitoring in Komodo National Park February 2003

Transcription

1 Training on groupers and napoleon wrasse spawning aggregation sites monitoring in Komodo National Park February 2003 By Andreas H Muljadi Seha Rizqon, S.Pt.

2 Content 1. Introduction... 3 Background... 3 Concern... 4 Objective Method of training... 7 Participant... 7 Facilitator... 7 Agenda... 7 Method and material... 8 Fish length estimation Monitoring datasheet form Other materials Description of location, depth and transect Result of training Fish length estimation Species identification Spawning behaviour Identification of spawning agregation site Data input and analysis Conclusion and Recommendation Conclusion Recommendation Acknowledgements References

3 INTRODUCTION Background Cendrawasih Bay National Park is located from Kwatisore peninsula to north of Rumberpoon island, which cover 500 km length of northern Papua. This area is in Pacific ocean and located in the middle of Pacific and Australia continent with the area of ha consist of 18 islands of Auri archipelago. The Park is in south latitude and East longitude, adminitratively is in Kabupaten Manokwari and Nabire. Mean rainfall in a year between mm mm with the temperature of 21,2 C 33,1 C. On the west monsoon (september March) the wind blow from west or north west with hard rain and big waves which can reach between 2-4 meters. Whilst on the east monsoon (April-July) the wind relatively calm. On August is the transision season marked with the weather relatively change rapidly. Covering an large area, the biodiversity of the Park is also quite high. The reef form consist of fringing reefs, barrier reefs, patch reefs, atoll and shallow water reefs with 200 reef species. The beach topography generally reef flat and reef slope with the slope of 90 to the depth of 40 meters. There are 355 fish species including reef fish, mangrove fish and pelagic fish. 3

4 Figure 1. Location of Cendrawasih Bay National Park Concern Many reef fish are known to gather in a large number on the certain time and place to reproduce. This spawning aggregation sites is usually located in outer edge of reef or in the reef. Some location can be used by many other species simultaneously or on the differnet day, month or year. When the sites and times are known and can be predicted, the location become vulnerable to overfishing. Overfishing already reduced fish population in spawning aggregation sites in Caribbean. Although there is lack of information on spawning aggregation sites in South East Asia, but some evidences occurred that spawning aggregation of groupers (Serranidae) depleted mostly due to live reef fish trade, especially in Indonesia and Western Pacific. 4

5 Hence, the pressure on reef and its biodiversity in the Park become harder. Physical degradation caused by overfishing on marine resources using destructive method, will affect in reducing the fish population. Cyanide and blasting fishing are destructive method that often used to get marine resources. Destruction on habitat will give impact on aggregation sites of important fish population, including groupers. Objective Implementation of marine protected areas around spawning sites aggregation is an effective intervention management to avoid fish population collapse. The implementation of marine protected areas can protect the life in bottom and demersal, the ecosystem and its habitat and maintain natural population and community structure of life form. Identification and monitoring of spawning aggregation sites is an important component of effective marine protected area management. It is common that the harvest are not sold alive, but already frozen or their product. This impact the selling rates, which still dominated by tuna. In term of increasing quality of life of traditional fishermen, the government of Kabupaten Manokwari has open grouper mariculture in fish cages and to reduce the pressure on the spawning aggregration sites. The objectives of spawning sites aggregation monitoring are : 1. to identify spawning aggregation sites in the target area and the species that spawn there 2. to determine the seasonality of spawning activity 3. to determine the numbers and sizes of fishes in spawning aggregations at identified sites 5

6 4. to build database on size, species, and times of spawning aggregation to plan monitoring activity effectively and to compare the fluctuation in aggregation in term of population structure 5. to produce recommendation for management of Cendrawasih bay national park to protect spawning aggregation sites and to the maintain the target area as a place for supplying fish stocking to adjacent waters 6

7 METHODS OF TRAINING Participants 3 staff of Cendrawasih Bay National Park Seha Rizqon, S.Pt. A1-POSSI Calvin Wiay A2-POSSI Willem Obeth Buiney A2-POSSI 1 staff of Komodo National Park Suprayitno Facilitator M. Saleh, staff of Komodo National Park Andreas H Muljadi, staff of The Nature Conservancy Komodo Field Office Purwanto, staff of The Nature Conservancy Komodo Field Office Agenda Monday, 10 February :00 To Komodo Field Office, introduction to staffs 09:00 Komodo National Park office 10:00 Presentation of Grouper spawning aggregation in Komodo National Park by Andreas Muljadi and discussion 12:00 Lunch 13:00 Video film of Perils of Plectropomus 15:30 Visit Mariculture project at Loh Mbongi and look some of target species (C. altivelis and E. fuscoguttatus) 17:00 Back to hotel Tuesday, 11 February :00 Length estimation training with plastic fish models in the land 09:30 Length estimation training with wooden fish models in the land 10:30 Length estimation training with wooden fish models in the water 12:00 Lunch 13:00 Length estimation training with wooden fish models in the water 16:00 Video Komodo underwater, Arnaz Mehta 17:00 back to hotel Wednesday, 12 February :00 Length estimation training with plastic fish models in the land 10:00 Video Cubera snapper at Gladden Spit at KFO 11:00 Species identification by field guide books 12:00 Lunch 13:00 Length estimation training with plastic fish models in the land 17:00 back to hotel 7

8 Thursday, 13 February :00 Gililawa Darat, Length estimation training with wooden fish models in the water 10:30 Gililawa Darat, Length estimation training and species identification 12:00 Lunch 13:00 Gililawa Laut, Length estimation training, species identification and spawning behavior 14:00 Visit Karang Makasar, Manta ray aggregation site 15:30 back to Labuan Bajo 19:00 Dinner and video Komodo Marine Diversity Friday, 14 February :00 Gililawa Darat, actual fish monitoring 12:00 Makan siang 13:00 Gililawa Laut, actual fish monitoring 15:00 back to Labuan Bajo Saturday, 15 February :00 Loh Namu 25 meters, actual fish monitoring 12:00 Lunch 13:00 Loh Sera, actual fish monitoring 15:00 Visit Kampung Komodo, see the dragon craft and women sewing groups 16:00 Loh Liang, visit center in Komodo island stay overnight Sunday, 16 February :00 Indihiang, actual fish monitoring 10:00 Manta alley, manta ray aggregation site 12:00 Lunch 13:00 Loh Namu 12 meters, actual fish monitoring 15:00 back to Labuan Bajo Monday, 17 February :00 Batu Tiga, actual fish monitoring 12:00 Lunch 13:00 Tatawa Kecil, actual fish monitoring 15:00 back to Labuan Bajo Tuesday, 18 February :00 Database and data analyze 12:00 Lunch 13:00 Database and data analyze Wednesday, 19 February :00 Visit FAD in the northern Seraya with Community Development team 10:30 Pantai Merah, diving and mooring buoy program 12:00 Lunch 8

9 13:00 Meet with Floating Ranger Station 14:00 Visit Loh Buaya, tourist center in Rinca island 15:30 Kukusan, seaweed culture 16:00 back to Labuan Bajo Thursday, 20 February :00 Departure for Denpasar Material and method Fish monitoring program in Komodo National Park focus on 12 target species e.g. Serranidae (groupers) and Labridae (wrasse). These species are chosen since they are commonly found in Komodo waters and are important commercial fishing especially for reef fish live trade. The target species are : 1) Epinephelus tukula, 2) Epinephelus polyphekadion, 3) Epinephelus fuscoguttatus, 3) Epinephelus malabaricus, 4) Epinephelus chlorostigma, 6) Plectropomus leopardus, 7) Plectropomus areolatus, 8) Plectropomus laevis, 9) Plectropomus oligocanthus, 10) Variola louti, 11) Cromileptes altivelis, 12) Cheilinus undulatus. Potential sites will be listed if there are many species in large amount, whether they are target species or not, if there are spawning signs may occurred and if there are any evidence that there were spawning aggregation on next visit. Other sign including the movement of current from the sites to outer waters, many cliffs and the sites on the edge of reef. Seven spawning behaviour and other sign are recorded to occur before aggregation. Frequency of occurrence are recorded (the more number of frequency the closer spawning aggregation may occurred). Seven spawning behaviour are as follows : 1. Large number of fish gather more densely than normal condition on certain time or location. 2. More agresive fish, male chasing other male or fighting each other. 3. Colored changing that did not occur on other times or location. 9

10 4. Any fresh bite wound (scars on Plectropomus dan Epinephelus spp.). Luka gigitan yang masih segar (goresan di Plectropomus dan Epinephelus spp.). 5. Swollen belly on female. 6. Mating : begin with the rapid movement by male, fin and tail seemed to sharpen as showed by C.undulatus. 7. Spawning. The members of monitoring team are trained untill the individu can correct on his own. Training are including : 1) fish length estimation and species identification using colored plastic fish, 2) under water fish length estimation using wooden fish, 3) under water fish identification, 4) fish behaviour identification and spawning sites aggregation. Fish length estimation and species identification training was done on regular basis. The candidate was expected to have higher accuracy. More than 54 colored plastic fishes of 12 species were used for the training on the beach. The team used 64 wooden fish with 64% accuracy with the maximum error permitted was 3 cm under water. Species of 12 target fish were identified under water with 100% accuracy. The candidate was also expected to recognize any spawning signs and behaviour, either target or non target species. A field guide book was used to know spawning behaviour of non target species. 10

11 Figure species target. 11

12 Fish length estimation training If you want to join the monitoring team for fish spawning aggregations, you will have to be very good at estimating fish length! Only estimation with score 75% correct consistently can follow next step which is estimating and objecting fish in the water. We will do try-out with 16 wooden fish of known (fork-)length. Test Swim Fill in your length estimation in first column (est.). Then check the actual lengths and fill in the second column (act.). Write the differences in the third column (diff.), less than 4 cm (0, 1, 2, or 3) write down check ( ) on sixth column (ok), otherwise check on fourth column (+) or fifth column (-) if the difference is under or over estimating. Take totals of (+), (-) and (ok) and write below respective columns. Finally, calculate the percentage "ok" (e.g. 12 * ok = 75%). Swim A Swim B No Est Act diff + - ok No Est Act diff + - ok TOTAL TOTAL Percentage ok : Percentage ok : 12

13 Monitoring datasheet form Date: Time: Location: Visibility (m): E. polyphekadion 2 E. fuscoguttatus 3 P. areolatus 4 P. oligocanthus 5 V. louti 6 C. undulatus 1. grouping / kumpul 2. fighting / tarung 3. coloring / warna 4. bite wound / luka 5. gravid / bunting 6. courtship / miring2 7. spawning / semprot Other species showing spawning signs: 13

14 Other materials Plastic fish with latin names and fish length written on the back Wooden fish with the actual size covered were 6 sets. Each set consist of 16 models with the size ranging from 10 cm to 60 cm tied up in plastic rope with the interval 1 m each model Weight to put the wooden fish under water Length fish estimation form was printed on A4 paper and on water proof paper sticked on PVC with the diameter of 15 cm and 30 cm length. Standard monitoring form was printed on A4 paper and od water proof paper sticked on PVC with the diameter of 15 cm and 30 cm length. Blank water proof paper sticked on PVC with the diameter of 15 cm and 30 cm length for species identification and length fish estimation exercise. Writing tools ; pencil, eraser, black ban, cutter. Field guide book and colored paper fish model Fresh fish for species identification on land Picture files in CD/computer Film on training SPAGS on vcd/ video ; SPAGS Phonpei, Belize and underwater File with standard data input Reference on SPAGS and other reports 14

15 Figure 3. Plastic fish for species identification and length estimation exercise. Picture 4. The making of wooden fish for length estimation under water 15

16 Figure 5. Spawning aggregation sites for groupers and napoleon wrasse in Komodo National Park 16

17 Description of location, depth and transect 1. Tatawa Kecil: dive from the middle of the West side of the island and go down to some 28 meters. Move North and around the northern corner, following the bottom end of the dropoff. Ascend at the middle of the North Western side. This site has small numbers of P. oligocanthus and P. laevis that might be spawning here. 2. Batu Tiga : Dive when falling tide close to slack, entry point at Northwest at 3 meters depth, swim into reef until drop and go down until 25 meters. Turn right until big boulders when depth reach 30 meters. C. undulatus, P. laevis, C. altivelis and P. areolatus can be seen in small number. Ascend with swim back to South sometime against the start of rising tide. 3. Tanjung Loh Namu dalam 25 m : dive from South to North with rising tide, close to slack-tide at a depth of 25 meters. Start at the Southern corner and finish the entire fringing reef on the East side of this cape. Dijumpai E. fuscoguttatus, P. oligocanthus, P. leopardus, P. laevis dan C. undulatus yang akan memijah di lokasi ini. 4. Tanjung Loh Namu 12 m : dive from South to North with rising tide, close to slack tide at a depth of 12 m. Start well before the southern corner. Finish the entire fringing reef on the east side of this cape. This site has small numbers of P. areolatus which may spawn here and also P.leopardus and V. louti. 5. Pulau Indihiang : dive from North to South at a depth of 24 m around the eastern fringing reef. Start at the north eastern corner and finish halfway the southern slope. Dive with falling tide, close to slack tide. This dive is not possible during full current. Small numbers of P. leopardus, V. louti, E. fuscoguttatus and C. undulatus may be spawning on this site. 6. Tanjung Loh Sera: dive from South to North, with rising tide but as close to slack tide as possible. Start 100 m before the corner of the cape at a depth of around 25 m. Swim around the corner, another 50 m along the north coast of the cape and ascend to a depth of around 8 m. Swim back 17

18 around the corner at 8 meters. This site is used as a spawning site for large numbers of species, including P. leopardus, C. undulatus and P. areolatus at 12 m depth. 7. Gililawa Laut : entry at navigation lamp and dive around the North West corner, with falling tide. Start 100 m before the corner and descend to 30 m at the main rock. Swim around the corner, up to the base of the main rock and swim a full circle around it. This is an important spawning aggregation site with good numbers of E. fuscoguttatus and small numbers of P. laevis and P. areolatus. 8. Gililawa Darat : dive South to North at the western reef in the bay. Start at sandy reef outcrop halfway the reef and finish on the west side of the cape. Dive at rising tide, close to slack tide at a depth of 25 m - 18 m. Follow the bottom line of the fringing reef slope. This is an important spawning aggregation site with good numbers of P. areolatus. 18

19 TRAINING RESULT Fish Length Estimation Training on fish length estimation firstly applied on dried estimation of wooden and plastic fish models. The optimum lenght estimation results of 75% are attainable after 4 days training hold. This result should be keep in constant figure and need the continuous of training to keep fresh with this favorable level. The different between water-medium and air-medium will serve the impact to the participants to determine the suitable and real lenght that the size sometimes bigger than the real size on the water. To minimize the negative impact of this dried training, the additional underwater training are required. Underwater training on fish length estimation also be deviced by the comparison of lenght estimation between the participants to the trainers while they dive, or even do the comparison between the target fish on the water with the dried wooden and plastic fish after the participants leave the waters. Figure 6. Underwater lenght estimation training with wooden fish models Species Identification Species identification on target fish using 11 plastic fish groupers models and napoleon wrasse. The participants are conducted by the trainers on the waters to 19

20 identify the target fish. Fresh fish collected from the market consists of C. altivelis dan E. polyphekadion species. The fish species are identified by participants by the cephalo spots and signs, body shape, fin, body colours and others special given spots of the fish (dorsal spots appeared on caudal fin, and models given by the fin such as sharp, etc). Other identification training given through re-identification of real fish observed on underwater training to their pictures on guidance book and video display. Species of target fishes are also identified after several times of diving such as P. leopardus, P. areolatus, P. oligocanthus, P. laevis, C. undulatus, dan C. altivelis. Identify the species of target fish are interfered for rarely met those such fish on observation during the training. For an instance while diving some species unobserved such as E. tukula and E. malabaricus. Identification training is done in visiting mariculture broodstock facilities in Loh Mbongi, that some species like E. fuscoguttatus and C. altivelis are available there. Figure 7. Identify the species using guidance book of fish species identification Spawning behavior During the training there is no groupers spawning observed by the participants. The spawning behaviour sucsessfully observed during diving which show spawning activity of several species. The spawning behaviour are observed by 20

21 the signs given by the species such as gathering around, male to male aggregation, changes of colours, swollen belly on female that usualy bigger than normal, and shimmering style while swimming. Identification of Spawning Aggregation sites The participants visit the wellknown and very unique charateristic of spwaning sites, such as at the top of capes, on the straits and the cross section of currents. The spawning agregation sites are also identified by the holes area where this is the suit spawning agregation site for demersal fish and their favorite protection place under the tabulate corals. Data input and analysis Data analysis worksheets and processing have been designed for grouper and napoleon wrasse in excel files (microsoft office program). Participants also have been trained in data processing and analysis. Data entry is done in the file LFD DATA TRAINING.XLS for length frequency data and in the file SIGN DATA TRAINING.XLS for spawning sign frequency of occurance. Data analysis takes place in the files LFD ANALYZE.XLS and SIGN ANALYZE.XLS. Below is the LFD data for February 2003 full moon monitoring at Gililawa Laut (site no. 7). file name: lunar 1=Ttw kcl 1=E.tukula LFD date 2=Bt tiga 2=E.poly DATA 3=LNamu.D 3=E.fusco TRAINING 4=LNamu.S 4=E.malabar 5=Indihiang 5=E.chloro 6=LSera 6=P.leopard 7=Glawa Laut 7=P.laevis 8=Glawa Darat 8=P.areol 9=P.oligo 10=V.louti 11=C.alti 12=C.undul date month moon time site visibility species Length 02/14/ : /14/ : /14/ : /14/ : /14/ :

22 02/14/ : /14/ : /14/ : /14/ : /14/ : /14/ : /14/ : /14/ : /14/ : /14/ : Below is the SIGN data for February 2003 full moon monitoring at Tatawa Kecil (site no. 1). file name: lunar 1=tatawa 1=E.tukula 1=grouping SIGN date 2=batutiga 2=E.poly 2=fighting DATA 3=Lohnamu 3=E.fusco 3=color TRAINING 4=Lohnamu 4=E.malabar 4=bitewound 5=indihiang 5=E.chloro 5=gravid 6=Lohsera 6=P.leopard 6=courtship 7=g.lawa l 7=P.laevis 7=spawning 8=g.lawa d 8=P.areol 9=P.oligo 10=V.louti 11=C.alti 12=C.undul date month moon time site visibility species behaviour 02/17/ : /17/ : /17/ : The sequence for processing and analyzing length frequency distribution data is: 1. Entry data to the file LFD DATA TRAINING 2. Copy data from the file LFD DATA TRAINING to the LFD ANALYZE and let spreadsheet calculate the total number. 3. The file LFD ANALYSIS is also used to produce graphs which are automatically updated when new data are entered. The sequence for processing and analyzing sign data is: 1. Entry data to the file SIGN DATA TRAINING 22

23 2. Copy data from the file SIGN DATA TRAINING to the SIGN ANALYZE and let spreadsheet calculate the total number. 3. The file SIGN ANALYSIS is also used to produce graphs which are automatically updated when new data are entered. Figure 8. Temporal Pattern of abundance at various sites by P. areolatus in Komodo National Park Figure 9. Temporal Pattern of abundance at various sites by E. fuscoguttatus in Komodo National Park 23

24 Loh Namu spawning aggregation site Visiting at fish floating net cage Length estimation training with plastic fish Length estimation training with plastic fish Species identification at spawning site Species identification at spawning site 24

25 Data collection at spawning site Data collection at spawning site C. undulatus at spawning site Data collection at spawning site Species identification by guidance book Data entry and data analyzing 25

26 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION Conclusion Actual spawning of groupers and napoleon wrasse in spawning aggregation sites in Komodo National Park was not found during the training since the spawning usually occurred in the evening, like it was shown by groupers cultured in net cages in Loh Mbongi. Spawning behaviour indicated that there was spawning aggregation in the spawning aggregation sites. The spawning aggregation sites located in the collision of strong current and at the outer edge of peninsular and channels. The depths ranging between 12 to 30 meters with the hollowed bottom and table formed coral which was suitable for hiding. Identification of reef fish spawning aggregation sites is important as tool of marine protected area management. Closing and monitoring of groupers and napoleon wrasse spawning aggregation sites will give feed back to park management. Fish length estimation and species identification training was not quite satistified due to limited time in the field, some of groupers were not encountered at this training, especially rare groupers. Recommendation The ability and skill to do fish length estimation and species identification can be exercised on regular basis in Cendrawasih bay national park with the local material availabel. Exercises using videos, fish identification book are expected to accelerate the ability of monitoring team of Cendrawasih bay national park. Diving skill need to get improved by training for higher level. Identification of groupers and napoleon wrasse spawning aggregation sites need to be done immediately for preliminary database in Cendrawasih bay national 26

27 park and to avoid more damage to vulnerable sites of spawning aggregation in Cendrawasih bay park. Field observation between the monitoring team of Komodo national park and Cendrawasih bay national park is usefull for learning and sharing the staff ability. 27

28 Acknowledgements Funding for this training was provided by The Nature Conservancy. The Training was implemented by The Nature Conservancy Komodo Field Office in cooperation with Komodo National Park. The author from Cendrawasih Bay National Park wish to thank Instructors for the training which they conducted in the field and which lead to the initiation of the groupers monitoring program in Cendrawasih Bay National Park. The field work was carried out by the Komodo Field Office of The Nature Conservancy in cooperation with the Komodo National Park. 28

29 REFERENCES Pet, J. S. and Andreas H Muljadi Spawning and aggregations of groupers (Serranidae) and Napoleon wrasse (Labridae) in the Komodo National Park, Monitoring Report March 1998 March The Nature Conservancy Indonesia Coastal and Marine Program. Pet, J, Andreas H Muljadi and Kevin Rhodes TNC Pohnpei Training Workshop Grouper Spawning Aggregation Site (SPAGS) Conservation and Monitoring. 40 halaman. Squire, L The Development of a Fish Monitoring Program for Komodo National Park in Indonesia, A report prepared for The Nature Conservancy. PHKA Cendrawasih Bay National Park. Brochure published by: The Cendrawasih Bay National Park Development Project For the 1999/2000 Financial Year. 29