Presentation of IUCN activities under the Pacific Islands Oceanic Fisheries Management Project
4th Meeting of the PIOFM Project Regional Steering Committee Meeting, 17-18 October 2008,
Apia, Samoa
DRAFT 10 Sept 08
Prepared by Eric Gilman and Kelvin Passfield, IUCN
(eric.gilman@iucn.org; kelvin.passfield@iucn.org)
1
In this presentation we describe the project components being implemented by IUCN
(International Union for the Conservation of Nature) under the Pacific Islands Oceanic Fisheries
Management project.
2
In January of this year, due to indefinite delays in securing a research vessel, MV Alucia, to
conduct a series of research cruises in the region in 2008, IUCN postponed the planned
expedition. IUCN assigned Eric Gilman, based in Honolulu, and Taholo Kami, who heads the
IUCN Oceania Regional Office in Suva, to take over coordination of IUCN's work under the
project. Kelvin Passfield joined IUCN in August and is now part of the IUCN team implementing
the project.
3
IUCN initially proposed three project concepts. The table below describes the three proposed
activities and FFA, SPC and UNDP counterparts' explanations of why they were deemed to not
be good fits under the project.
IUCN Proposed Activity
FFA/SPC/UNDP Rationale for
Rejection
Conduct PIC longline company-based sustainability
Departs from IUCN's originally planned
assessments, in collaboration with EU and US
scientific seamount research and the
retailers and buyers. This was proposed to be a
core ideas expressed in the LOA
component of a larger in-progress IUCN initiative to
between the FFA and IUCN, and as a
develop and manage a single set of global
result, this project would require
standards for the environmental sustainability of
potentially prolonged process to receive
tuna fisheries.
authorization.
Contribute to FFA's provision of legal technical
Duplicates existing extensive activities by
assistance to FFA member countries to develop
FFA.
enabling legislation and implementing regulations to
institute WCPFC management and conservation
measures.
Implement activities in support of the establishment
Several of the OFM project countries are
of the proposed South Pacific Regional Fisheries
not parties to SPRFMO.
Management Organization (SPRFMO), including
technical advice on observer program data
collection protocols, and conservation measures for
avoiding and minimizing bycatch of sensitive
species groups.
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4
Subsequently, by early March we (FFA, SPC and IUCN) reached agreement on a revised
workplan and budget to implement IUCN's fourth proposed set of activities related to pelagic
fishing effects on seamount ecosystems. The state of understanding of effects of pelagic
fisheries on seamount ecosystems is relatively limited, as is the relationship between
seamounts, pelagic species and pelagic fisheries. There have been very few studies of the
association between pelagic longlining and seamounts.
This slide identifies the five main components of the final, agreed OFM project components:
(i) Interview pelagic longline fishermen regarding fishing methods and gear and other strategies
for fishing on seamounts versus in the open ocean. (OFM Project Activity Component 1,
Activity 1.3.2.2)
(ii) Review the state of understanding of conservation issues resulting from pelagic longline
fishing around seamounts; review and critique regional and national legal and policy
frameworks to manage pelagic longline fisheries around seamounts in domestic waters and
on the high seas. (OFM Project Activity Component 2, Activity 2.2.3.1)
(iii) Convene a technical workshop to discuss the state of knowledge of sustainability issues and
alternative methods for managing pelagic longline fisheries around seamounts (tentatively
planned to be held on two days during the 2nd half of October 2009 in Noumea, New
Caledonia);
(iv) Conduct outreach with relevant stakeholders, including national governments and longline
fishing industries of the 15 OFM participating countries, to enhance their understanding of
sustainability issues related to fisheries at seamounts. (OFM Project Activity Component 2,
Activity 2.2.3.2)
(v) Prepare an information paper for the 15 OFM participating countries outlining options for
management of longline vessel fishing around seamounts. (OFM Project Activity
Component 2, Activity 2.2.3.3)
(vi) (Complimentary component) Analyses of observer program data from the Hawaii
longline tuna fishery comparing the catch, bycatch and depredation rates of sets on vs
off seamounts.
A sixth component is separate from but complimentary to the OFM project, and us funded by
the U.S. Western Pacific Fishery Management Council. This component is a study involving
analyses of observer program data for the Hawaii longline tuna fishery, to compare catch
characteristics between sets made on vs. off of seamounts. We will also tap Hawaii longline
fishers' knowledge through interviews, as we are doing in the other Pacific Island countries.
Outputs to result from these project components are listed below, in anticipated chronological
order and tentative completion dates:
(i)
Publication of a technical report, `Effects of Pelagic Longline Fishing on Seamount
Ecosystems.' [This will include results from the interviews with fishermen from select
Pacific Island region longline fisheries to draw upon existing fisher knowledge of
associations between pelagic longlining and seamounts] June 2009
(ii)
Publication of study results from Hawaii longline observer program data analyses on
differences in catch characteristics between sets made on vs. off of seamounts. August
2009
(iii)
Educational pamphlet on effects of pelagic longlining on seamount ecosystems.
October 2009
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(iv)
Proceedings of a technical workshop on the effects of pelagic fisheries on seamount
ecosystems. October 2009
(v)
Information paper for the 15 OFM participating countries. December 2009
Agreement was also reached to reallocate US$160k of IUCN project funds under the OFM
scientific component to SPC to enable SPC to contract a spatial analyst/physical oceanographer
to contribute to SPC's research related to (a) identifying and classifying seamounts, and (b)
analyzing historical fishing patterns by longline and purse seine vessels around seamounts.
5
For the fishermen survey component of the project, we have confirmed that longliners from
Tonga, Fiji, Samoa and Hawaii routinely conduct sets at seamounts. We're continuing to
research which of the other domestic and foreign-licensed longline fleets to include in this study
component.
The table in this slide describes the pelagic longline fisheries of the countries and territories of the
tropical and subtropical Pacific Islands region. The entries highlighted YELLOW are the 15 PICs
participating in the OFM project.
Number of Non-PIC
Longline Vessels
Operating in the WCPFC
Number of Foreign-
Convention Area (Both
licensed Longline Vessels
Licensed and non-
Country or
Number of PIC Domestic Pelagic
in WCPFC Convention
Licensed to fish in PIC
territory
Longline Vessels
Area
EEZs)
American
70 (2002)
0 (2002)
Not applicable
Samoa
(USA)
Chinese
Not applicable
133 (2005)
1,060 (2004, offshore
Taipei
vessels based in PICs)
(Taiwan)
China
Not applicable
Don't know
Don't know
Cook Islands
27 (2005)
9 (2002)
Not applicable
Federated
20 (2005)
138 (2005)
Not applicable
States of
Micronesia
Fiji
119 (2002)
15 (2002)
Not applicable
French
72 (2005)
0 (2005)
Not applicable
Polynesia
(France)
Guam (USA)
1 (2006)
0 (2008)
Not applicable
Hawaii (USA) 123 (2008)
9 (2008)
Not applicable
Indonesia
Not applicable
Don't know
Don't know
Japan
Not applicable
Don't know
1,447 (2004)
Kiribati
9 (2002)
89 (2002)
Not applicable
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Korea
Not applicable
Don't know
190 (2004)
Marshall
0 (2005)
92 (2005)
Not applicable
Islands
Nauru
2 (2005)
0 (2005)
Not applicable
New
27 (2005)
0 (2005)
Not applicable
Caledonia
(France)
Niue
0 (2005)
13 (2005)
Not applicable
Northern
0 (2003)
0 (2003)
Not applicable
Mariana
Islands
(USA)
Palau
0 (2005)
127 (2005)
Not applicable
Papua New
27 (2006)
0 (2006)
Not applicable
Guinea
Philippines
Not applicable
Don't know
39 (2004)
Samoa
80 (2002)
0 (2002)
Not applicable
Solomon
25 (2002)
46 (2002)
Islands
Spain
Not applicable
Don't know
8 (2004)
Tokelau
0 (2002)
0 (2002)
Not applicable
Tonga
15 (2005)
0 (2005)
Not applicable
Tuvalu
0 (2005).
51 (2005)
Not applicable
Vanuatu
13 (2002)
72 (2002)
Not applicable
Wallis and
0 (2002)
0 (2002)
Not applicable
Futuna
(France)
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The Hawaii longline tuna observer program data analyses will include observations of
differences between sets on vs. off seamounts between the following variables, using a Poisson
generalized additive regression modeling approach with informative covariates of temporal and
geo-referenced spatial effects of fishing effort:
(i) Timing of initiating setting;
(ii) Bait type;
(iii) Number of hooks per set, and hooks per basket;
(iv) Length of sea surface covered per set;
(v) Temporal distribution of fishing effort (month, season);
(vi) Geo-referenced spatial effects of fishing effort;
(vii) Catch rates and length of tuna species
(viii) Shark
catch
rate
(ix) Seabird catch rate
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(x) Sea turtle catch rate
(xi) Marine mammal catch rate
(xii) Shark and cetacean depredation (removal of hooked fish and bait) rates.
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The aims of the technical workshop are:
· Review the state of understanding of the effects of seamounts on large pelagic fish and
pelagic sensitive species groups (seabirds, sea turtles, sharks, marine mammals);
· Review the state of understanding of seamount pelagic and benthic functional links;
· Review available information on the amount and temporal and spatial distribution of pelagic
fishing at seamounts in the Pacific Islands region;
· Review the state of understanding of the effects of pelagic longlining on seamount
ecosystems, including relatively high rates of bycatch of sensitive species groups, high
depredation (removal of hooked fish and bait primarily by cetaceans and sharks), high catch
of juvenile tunas and non-target species, high catch of fish species that are important target
species for artisanal coastal fisheries, altered trophic functioning due to the sharing of prey
species by pelagic and demersal species, and reduced availability of baitfish at the sea
surface due to declines in populations of persistent pelagic predatory fish; and
· Identify key information gaps and research priorities.
8
This is the tentative contents of the in-progress technical report, which we'll use as a
background document for the technical workshop, and basis for production of the educational
pamphlet.
1. Problem identification, study aims and report structure
2. Seamounts definition
3. Seamount pelagic and benthic functional links
4. Seamount oceanography
5. Effects of seamounts on large pelagic fish and pelagic sensitive species groups
6. Pelagic longline tuna fisheries
6.1. General gear and methods
6.2. Status of target stocks, trends in reported landings, allocation
6.3. Bycatch
6.4. Depredation
6.5. WCPO pelagic longlining status and trends
7. Effects of pelagic longlining on seamount ecosystems
8. State of Management of Pelagic Longlining at Seamounts
8.1. Eastern Australia longline swordfish fishery
8.2. Pacific Island Countries national management frameworks and intergovernmental
measures
9. Pelagic Longline Fishing on Seamounts: Fishers' Perspective
9.1. Survey methods, fisheries assessed
9.1.1. Tonga
9.1.2. Fiji
9.1.3. Samoa
9.1.4_ Hawaii, U.S.A.
9.1.___. Additional longline fisheries active in the WCPO with effort at seamounts??
9.2. Proportion of effort by fishery reported to target seamounts
9.3. Incentives for targeting/not targeting seamounts
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9.4. Fishing gear and methods at seamounts
9.5. Depredation at seamounts
9.6. Ecosystem effects, including catch rates of target, incidental and discard species
9.7. Implications for effects of pelagic longlining on seamounts
9.8. Limitations of social surveys
10. Information gaps and research priorities
Acknowledgements
11. References
Appendix 1: Survey Form. Pelagic Longline Fishing on Seamounts: Gear, Methods, Effort and
Ecosystem Effects
9
The June 2008 midterm evaluation of the OFM project included a few constructive
recommendations related to IUCN's project components:
(i) Improve IUCN's knowledge of the overall OFM Project;
(ii) Improve coordination within IUCN and with other OFM Project partners; and
(iii) Ensure the IUCN activities are "...integrated with the wider OFM Project objectivities and
be collaborative with other regional research" [sic].
We aim to improve communication with relevant regional organizations, and will discuss with
SPC and FFA how to optimize integration of the IUCN components into the greater project.
10
That concludes my review of the IUCN activities under the OFM project after about 7 months
since we agreed on the new focus. Are there any questions?
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