SPC Pacific Asia Marine Finfish Aquaculture Workshop SPC, Noumea, New Caledonia. 5 7 December 2007 The Wild Caught Live Reef Food Fish Trade in the Pacific Being Yeeting Senior Fisheries Scientist The SPC Regional LRFT Initiative, Reef Fisheries Observatory, Coastal Fisheries Program, Noumea, New Caledonia Presentation Overview Some background Status of LRFFT in the Pacific The Early Years More Recent Years to Now What the future holds 1
Targeted Species: Background - 2 main fish families,few species Serranids (mostly): Labridae: Plectropomus areolatus Plectropomus leopardus Cromileptes altivelis Epinephelus fuscoguttatus Epinephelus polyphekadion Epinephelus lanceolatus Epinephelus coioides Cheilinus undulatus Background Three most popular fish species and 2002 mean values Cromileptis altivelis Wholesale = US$57.6/kg Retail = US$99.80/kg Plectropomus leopardus Wholesale = US$29.9/kg Retail = US$62.2/kg Cheilinus undulatus Wholesale = US$54.9/kg Retail = US$120.6/kg 2
Background The LRFFT main market is in Hong Kong and Southern China Background Fish are kept live in holding cages in the islands before transport vessels pick them up and take them to Hong Kong 3
Background The Hong Kong market. Retail value at US$315million for 15,000 tonnes (2001) The Spread of LRFFT into the Pacific 1998 1984 1991 1991 1994 1996 1999 1993 1999 4
Why the Pacific? Background High demand Depletion of supply sources in Asia Attractive income opportunity for rural local fishers Fishers have new market for fish Instant cash payments to fishers High value = Added value for resources = perceived higher return for local fishers LRFF Export from the Pacific 1997-2002 Country 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 02 - June Total (mt) Taiwan 2,607 1,721 1,081 1,019 474 69 6,970 US Oceania 6 3 0 0 12 19 40 Kiribati 0 8 15 0 0 0 23 Palau 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 Nauru 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Australia 460 476 429 751 1,151 609 3,877 Solomon Isl. 37 7 0 0 0 48 93 Fiji 0 0 0 14 9 0 23 New Zealand 0 0 0 0 2 0 2 PNG 15 0 5 0 0 0 20 Total (kg) 3,125 2,216 1,531 1,785 1,648 745 11,049 Pacific only 10% of Global volume and value = US$10m Source of Data: IMA Hong Kong 2002 5
The Early Years: Issues and Problems Poor understanding and knowledge Lack of management framework Increased conflicts among resource owners (SI, Fiji, Vanuatu, PNG and Palau) Destructive fishing practices traps and fishing spawning aggregations Seafreight based operations minimum 15mt fish Resource wastage through high fish mortality (SI) Boom and Bust Low prices for fishers Value-Adding expectations not realized Efforts to address issues The SPC Regional LRFT Initiative Resource assessments Awareness and Stakeholder consultations Assistance in development of management plans Capacity building (resource assessment and monitoring) Development of regional database to support monitoring Looking at socio-economic implications (ACIAR/ANU) Economics and Market Analysis (ACIAR/ANU/WF) Conservation of spawning aggregations (SCRFA/TNC) 6
Recent Status of LRFFT in the Pacific LRFFT (Start & Status) 1991 PNG (on-going 3 to go down to 2 operators), 1998 Fiji (on-going 1 to 6 to 3 to 1 operator but no export since Aug 05) 1996 Kiribati (on and off due to ciguatera problems 3 to 2 to 1 operator but no exports since Dec 04) 1984 Palau (banned) 1991 FSM (Yap 2005 negotiations stopped) 1994 RMI (on hold) 1996 Solomon Is (on hold) 2001 Vanuatu (ban) Current Status of LRFFT in the Pacific Only 3 countries involved PNG, Fiji and Kiribati Currently only PNG and Fiji exporting PNG sea freight operation to HK - min. volume now (20-30 mt) Air freight operation to US by Fiji per fortnight 175kg General increase in understanding and awareness Improved local capacity for assessment and monitoring through SPC attachment training Fiji, Kiribati, Marshall Is., Vanuatu, Tonga, Nauru, Tuvalu and FSM Operators all joint ventures 7
Country Status of LRFFT in Pacific PNG: 3 operators, 1 getting suspended due to cyanide use, Species: coral trout and grouper 2005 export estimate = 300 tons to HK Management plan and monitoring being implemented Species quota, allocated fishing area FIJI: 1 operator Species: coral trout 2005 export = 2 tons by air to US market Now fortnight shipment of up to 200kg Management plan and monitoring being implemented, Species quota, allocated fishing area, air freighting only KIRIBATI: 1 operator, operation stopped end 2004, re-opened end 2005 and closed in 2006 ciguatera, Species: mainly groupers 2004 export 70 tonnes-3 shipments to HK Management plan and monitoring still in draft (not yet implemented) Current Problems and Issues Lack of Funds to implement and support management and monitoring Need to strengthen local ownership and local management in management framework High fisheries staff turnover = continuous capacity building required What is a fair value for the resource? (US$2.50 US$5.00 per kg) Poor air freight connections for most pacific countries 8
The Future Demand for wild caught LRFF will continue to increase (Based on consumer taste preference study) Live fish prices will increase (e.g Plectropomus leopardus wholesale: 2001 US$30/kg cf 2007 US$52/kg) Better management of resources due to better monitoring and understanding Total ban of sea transport operations in all Pacific countries Limited but higher valued wild caught LRFF exports 9