Yvonne Sadovy University of Hong Kong

Transcription

1 Challenges linked to spawning aggregations of reef fishes Yvonne Sadovy University of Hong Kong

2 Reef fisheries >10% of global fishery landings Support and nourish millions Pressures to exploit them growing Many valuable species aggregate to spawn and are easily overfished Little management, conservation or monitoring

3 Reef fisheries >10% of global fishery landings Support and nourish millions Pressures to exploit them growing Many valuable species aggregate to spawn and are easily overfished Little management, conservation or monitoring

4 Reef fisheries >10% of global fishery landings Support and nourish millions Pressures to exploit them growing Many valuable species aggregate to spawn and are easily overfished Little management, conservation or monitoring

5 Reef fisheries >10% of global fishery landings Support and nourish millions Pressures to exploit them growing Many valuable species aggregate to spawn and are easily overfished Little management, conservation or monitoring

6 Aggregating fishes make up circa 70% of Fiji coastal catches; most of the 22 reported aggregations undergoing decline

7 Reef fisheries >10% of global fishery landings Support and nourish millions Pressures to exploit them growing Many valuable species aggregate to spawn and are easily overfished Little management, conservation or monitoring

8 What are spawning aggregations and why are they so important?

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10 Spawning aggregations Global and local trends Threatened fisheries and species Challenges to management Possible solutions

11 Spawning aggregations Global and local trends Threatened fisheries and species Challenges to management Possible solutions

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15 Sadovy et al., 2008 Conservation Biology

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18 Groupers, Palau aggregation catches (PCS/SCRFA, 2003) 1500 Catch in kg per trip Decade

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21 Spawning aggregations Global and local trends Threatened fisheries and species Challenges to management Possible solutions

22 Sadovy et al., in prep 162 groupers globally 25% threatened or near-threatened (IUCN Red List) partly due to aggregation fishing

23 Live Reef Food-Fish Fish Trade

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26 Spawning aggregations Global and local trends Threatened fisheries and species Challenges to management Possible solutions

27 Myths about the sea The sea has endless fish: we will never run out There are not enough data for management Aquaculture will solve overfishing and all our seafood needs Fish still here but they moved somewhere else Fish declines not due to fishing instead pollution, boats, global climate change. MPAs alone can manage reef fisheries

28 Myths about the sea The sea has endless fish: we will never run out There are not enough data for management Aquaculture will solve overfishing and all our seafood needs Fish still here but they moved somewhere else Fish declines not due to fishing instead pollution, boats, global climate change. MPAs alone can manage reef fisheries

29 Myths about the sea The sea has endless fish: we will never run out There are not enough data for management Aquaculture will solve overfishing and all our seafood needs Fish still here but they moved somewhere else Fish declines not due to fishing instead pollution, boats, global climate change. MPAs alone can manage reef fisheries

30 Myths about the sea The sea has endless fish: we will never run out There are not enough data for management Aquaculture will solve overfishing and all our seafood needs Fish still here but they moved somewhere else Fish declines not due to fishing instead pollution, boats, global climate change. MPAs alone can manage reef fisheries

31 Myths about the sea The sea has endless fish: we will never run out There are not enough data for management Aquaculture will solve overfishing and all our seafood needs Fish still here but they moved somewhere else Fish declines not due to fishing instead pollution, boats, global climate change. MPAs alone can manage reef fisheries

32 Myths about the sea The sea has endless fish: we will never run out There are not enough data for management Aquaculture will solve overfishing and all our seafood needs Fish still here but they moved somewhere else Fish declines not due to fishing instead pollution, boats, global climate change. MPAs alone can manage reef fisheries

33 Lack of awarenes of exploited aggregations and their status

34 Illusions of plenty

35 Vulnerable seabird colonies and turtle nesting beaches often receive protection..

36 and many regulations protect berried (with eggs) lobsters

37 Non-extractive benefits Ripe adults are the capital and spawning aggregations produce interest (eggs)

38 $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ $ Non-extractive benefits Ripe adults are the capital and spawning aggregations produce interest (eggs $$$)

39 Spawning aggregations Global and local trends Threatened fisheries and species Challenges to management Possible solutions

40 Preserving spawning aggregations and the fisheries they support Recognize general need for management Map exploited aggregations/seasonality Consider spatial/seasonal protection etc. Spawning aggregations as indicators? Instruments, accords, guidelines, resolutions : IUCN; ICRI; X Challenges; FAO; EBM

41 Preserving spawning aggregations and the fisheries they support Recognize general need for management Map exploited aggregations/seasonality Consider spatial/seasonal protection etc. Spawning aggregations as indicators? Instruments, accords, guidelines, resolutions : IUCN; ICRI; X Challenges; FAO; EBM

42 Preserving spawning aggregations and the fisheries they support Recognize general need for management Map exploited aggregations/seasonality Consider spatial/seasonal protection etc. Spawning aggregations as indicators? Instruments, accords, guidelines, resolutions : IUCN; ICRI; X Challenges; FAO; EBM

43 Example of aggregation information available on SCRFA database:

44 Example of aggregation information available on SCRFA database:

45 Spatial protection Outer reef areas often not included in MPAs or otherwise managed

46 Preserving spawning aggregations and the fisheries they support Recognize general need for management Map exploited aggregations/seasonality Consider spatial/seasonal protection etc. Spawning aggregations as indicators? Instruments, accords, guidelines, resolutions : IUCN; ICRI; X Challenges; FAO; EBM

47 Aggregations as indicators? Candidates as indicators of general reef fishery condition can signal: (a) pressures on fishery resources caused by human activities (fishing); (b) environmental state (aggregation condition relevant to some baseline); (c) societal response by the degree to which they are managed effectively. SCRFA Newsletter No. 12:

48 Preserving spawning aggregations and the fisheries they support Recognize general need for management Map exploited aggregations/seasonality Consider spatial/seasonal protection etc. Spawning aggregations as indicators? Instruments, accords, guidelines, resolutions : IUCN; ICRI; X Challenges; FAO; EBM

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