PROGRESS REPORT : LUWUK BANGGAI MIXED BOTTOMFISH FISHERY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT (FIP)

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1 PROGRESS REPORT : LUWUK BANGGAI MIXED BOTTOMFISH FISHERY IMPROVEMENT PROJECT (FIP) Feb. 1, Current Status A WWF Indonesia Seafood Savers and Sea Delight FIP In the course of meeting the goals of the FIP Sea Delight's processor in the area has stopped any purchase of illegally caught or endangered species and strongly supported local government action to curtail such activities. Meeting another goal of the FIP, commercial catch records for all fish of the species being tracked have been collected for the last 3 years. This data is now being qualified and adjusting factors calculated. It will be submitted to the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) fishery management experts for analysis in April this year. The 3 primary fishery areas (see Map A below) were visited by WWF Indonesia Seafood Savers (WWF ISS) representatives in December 2012 and specific sub-fishery community areas have been identified (see Map B below). Sea Delight and WWF ISS are now cooperating to create 3 pilot projects where ecosystem and community-based fishery management will be implemented. Map A, Luwuk Banggai Mixed Bottom Fish Fishing Areas

2 Map B. Sub fisheries within the 3 Fishing Areas 2. Launch of Pilot Ecosystem and Community Based Management Project in Fishery Area 1 WWF ISS and Sea Delight representatives spent Jan. 20 through 25, 2013, in the Luwuk Banggai area. The visit opened with a stakeholder meeting. Attendees at the meeting included some of the area fish suppliers (middlemen) for the processor, management and staff of the processor and local government representatives. The meeting was held at the processors facility. WWF ISS and Sea Delight representatives address the stakeholders

3 In this meeting the general outline of the plan for the Pilot Projects was explained to the participants; improved data collection at each area's ports using the improved EDF Port Data Collection and Biological Data Collection models, establishment of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in the fishery areas and initiation of community-based antiillegal fishing Monitoring Control and Surveillance (MCS) capability using hand-held global satellite communication devices (SCDs). All participants were supportive of the new pilot projects and it was decided to launch the first of 3 in Fishery Area 1 based in the port of Pagimana, Central Sulawesi. It was decided that a second stakeholder meeting should be held in Pagimana. The processer Manager and Sustainability Project Coordinator, WWF ISS representative and the Sea Delight representative then traveled to nearby Pagimana. At the Pagimana Stakeholder meeting participants included local government fisheries authorities, fish dealers and fishermen. All were very supportive of the proposed Ecosystem-based Community Fishery Management Project. The local fisheries authorities agreed to begin the improved catch data implementation immediately supported by biological data collection at the processors factory in Luwuk. The fish dealers and fishermen were very happy to participate in the MCS satellite communication trial. Pagimana Stakeholder Meeting participants The local Marine Police also agreed to support the effort and invited the team to use their patrol boat to explore possible sites for community-protected MPAs. The following day the hand held Satellite Communication Devices (SCDs) were brought along as the team boarded the local Marine Police patrol boat. The day cruise would serve to both visit possible MPA sites and to also test the SCD's.

4 The SCDs use simple GPS technology to record their location on a Google Earth Map when activated. Whenever a signal is sent an is also sent to selected address and for the emergency signal a SMS message can be sent as well. They send 3 types of signals, one is used for tracking the location of the SCD, one is used to notify that the SCD observer has witnessed IUU fishing (and shows the location on a Google map) and one is an emergency SOS signal. See actual information card issued with the SCD's below. SPOT GPS TRACKER INSTRUKSI Push this button only if you have a serious emergency SOS situation at sea Push this button if you see illegal fishing Push this button to turn the unit on or off Push this button at start of trip, at sunset, at sunrise and at each location you fish, Push it again when you arrive back in port (push and hold 2 seconds) English language version of the instruction card accompanying each SCD The police boat captain brought the team to two very interesting potential MPA sites, Yapara Island and Tangoladi Shoal (see map below). Yapara Island has a large community of fisher families on one side and lovely beaches and coral reefs on the other. This is an excellent location both for one MPA and for training the community on Sustainable Fishing Awareness. Tangoladi Shaol is a tiny island of perfect white sand surrounded by a surprisingly intact and beautiful coral reef. As an MPA this is a jewel and the community supports the

5 concept. Tangoladi also has the advantage of being within visual range of the Marine Police patrol base with binoculars. Marine chart of fishery area 1 showing locations of proposed MPAs In the tests the SCDs worked perfectly and the tests allowed the team to set protocols for their actual deployment with local fishermen, which is ongoing. Pagimana Marine Police Patrol Boat in Port

6 Activating the SCD onboard Fishers families on the dock at Yapara Island

7 Crystal clear waters of Tangoladi Shoal On the last day, before leaving Pagimana, we met at the buying station of the main fish dealer and reviewed the techniques of measuring the length and determining the state of sexual maturity of bottom fish. This is now being applied in practice at the supplier's factory on random samples of each of the targeted fish species coming from Area 1. The data is being recorded in records based on the IDF form provided in the IDF manual "Developing a Fisheries Data Collection Strategy to Support Stock Assessments in Indonesia."

8 Training on measuring length and assessing state of sexual maturity in bottom fish The Sea Delight representative will return to Luwuk/Banggai later this month to continue the Pilot Project implementation. ENDSRF130201SD