Seamount Planning Workshop
20-21 March 2006
Oceanic Fisheries Programme
Secretariat of the Pacific Community
Nouméa, New Caledonia



Introduction
In the context of the 5-year Pacific Islands Oceanic Fisheries Management Project
(OFMP) funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), SPC in collaboration with the
World Conservation Union IUCN, will conduct studies on the ecology of seamounts in
relation to pelagic fisheries in the Western Tropical Pacific (see summary description of
OFMP in annex). The project officially started in November 2005 and we are holding a
workshop to plan the seamount activities for the duration of this project.

The OFMP study on the ecology of seamounts in
relation to pelagic fisheries

Context of the study
There are a large number of seamounts in the western tropical Pacific (WTP) and the
possible impact of fishing around seamounts is a major global environmental concern.

Seamount ecosystems are characterized by a high degree of endemism, they support
vulnerable benthic communities (corals, sponges), including long-lived, slow-growing fish
species and they are thought to aggregate pelagic species and to support a mix of
pelagic species that differs from the open ocean.

Deep sea bottom trawling can have destructive effects on seamount habitats and
ecosystems; there is currently no known deep sea bottom trawling in the WTP but the
potential risks from future fishing are now subject to pre-emptive management..
Concerns about the impact of pelagic fishing around seamounts include:
1- the possibility of higher proportions of juvenile fish in catches
2- likely higher levels of catches of some bycatch species (species of special
interest such as sharks, marlins, or species locally important for food security
such as wahoo)
3- possibly a higher rate of interaction with fishing gear and then possible higher
mortality of turtles, seabirds and marine mammals
4- possible sharing of prey between pelagic and demersal species due to vertical
migration of some prey species.

Despite their importance, the relationships between seamounts, pelagic fishing and
pelagic species are not well understood. Considerable historical data exist and their
analysis may provide important leads regarding appropriate management strategies for

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seamounts. However, additional data are required from interdisciplinary studies, targeted
fishing experiments and tagging in order to investigate ecological interactions and to
quantify population parameters that can be used in predictive models to assess
management options in a rigorous way.


Objectives of the OFM project
Acquire enhanced understanding of the ecology of seamounts in relation to pelagic
fisheries in order to assess the need for, and utility of, seamount-specific management
measures. It requires the assessment of:
1- the impacts of seamounts on aggregation and movement of pelagic species
2- the pelagic fisheries impacts on the seamount (biodiversity and habitat)


Activities within the OFM project
1- review of historical fisheries data to determine historical patterns of fishing in
relation to seamounts
2- extensive data collection programme by observers and dedicated research
cruises to determine the ecological characteristics of seamount, including the
determination of benthic biodiversity and the study of trophic relationships
3- tagging of tunas and other pelagic species in the vicinity of seamounts to
determine the impact on aggregation, movements and residence
characteristics

Objectives of the Seamount Planning Workshop
This workshop will gather experts involved in the study of Pacific seamounts and/or
fisheries both from the benthic and pelagic perspective.

The objective of the workshop is to plan the research activities associated with the study
of the ecology of seamounts in relation to pelagic fisheries in the western tropical Pacific.
The main subject of discussion should be the design of a sampling programme to collect
benthic and pelagic samples to characterize the seamounts and the pelagic ecosystem
around seamounts and to try and determine:
-
seamount impacts on pelagic ecosystems and fisheries as well as
-
pelagic fisheries impacts on seamount ecosystems.

We will have to discuss very technical questions such as: which seamounts need to be
sampled, which data / samples should be collected, what equipment is necessary (boat,
sampling gear), and who will conduct the sampling-analysis of the data/samples.

This workshop will be a unique opportunity to establish strong collaboration between the
different scientific institutions of the region and partners in the OFMP.

The outcomes of this workshop will be presented at the 5th SPC Heads of Fisheries
meeting on the 31st of March 2006, giving the opportunity to the countries involved in the
GEF project to comment on the plan.

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Annex
THE GEF PACIFIC ISLANDS OCEANIC FISHERIES MANAGEMENT PROJECT (OFM)
GOAL
to achieve global environmental benefits by enhanced conservation and management
of transboundary oceanic fishery resources in the Pacific Islands region and the
protection of the biodiversity of the Western Tropical Pacific Warm Pool Large Marine
Ecosystem.
Countries involved
Cook Islands
Federated States of Micronesia
Kiribati
Marshall Islands
Fiji
Nauru
Niue
Palau
Samoa
Tonga

Papua New Guinea
Tuvalu
Tokelau

Solomon Islands
Vanuatu
Objective 2: Governance
Objective 1: Information and Knowledge
to create new regional institutional
to improve understanding of the transboundary oceanic fish resources and
arrangements and reform, realign
related features
and strengthen national
arrangements for conservation and
management of transboundary
oceanic fisheries resources
Component 1: Scientific assessment and monitoring enhancement
Component 2: Law, policy and
to provide improved scientific information and knowledge on oceanic transboundary
institutional reform, realignment
fish stocks and their ecosystem, with a particular focus on the ecology of seamounts
and strengthening
in relation to pelagic fisheries
To assist Pacific Island States as
1.1. Fishery monitoring, coordination and enhancement
they participate in the work of the
1.2. Stock assessment
new Western & Central Pacific
1.3. Ecosystem analysis
Fisheries Commission

1.3.1. Dynamics of the pelagic ecosystem with focus on trophic relationships

1.3.2. Ecology of seamount, their impact on aggregation and movement of

pelagic species and fisheries impacts thereon

1.3.3. Ecosystem-based scientific advice

1.3.4. Estimates of the levels of by-catch in oceanic fisheries

1.3.5. Results of ecosystem analysis and proposals for long-term ecosystem

monitoring

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