Coastal Fisheries & Climate Change

By Monte Depaune

Coastal fisheries is the main source of seafood for people on Nauru with an estimated annual catch of 420t of finfish and 231t of invertebrates.

Nauruan fresh fish consumption per capita is 56kg.

Nearly half the population (4513 people, 2947 males and 1566 females) are engaged in fishing activities.

Introduction

Status of Coastal Fisheries Management

Recommendations Action Taken

Govt closely monitor the level of fishing effort for both finfish and invertebrates and implements management measures affecting catch and fishing practices.

•Data collection of catch by canoe & motorized fishers is being conducted.•None for in-shore, multi-species, multi-fishing method.•No in-water and socio-economic assessment has been conducted since 2006.•No mgt measures implemented yet.

Status of Coastal Fisheries Management

Recommendation •Action Taken

Govt considers establishing 1 or 2 MPAs that cover appropriate habitat.

•A request to FAO under South to South cooperation was submitted for an expert on reef ecology to assess and make recommendations on ideal sites.

Status of Coastal Fisheries Management

Recommendation •Action Taken

Govt looks to restrain SCUBA spear-fishing, as the efficiency of this gear outweighs all the more traditional means of fishing and if it is not properly controlled it will have a drastic effect on targeted fish stocks.

•This will be considered after consultations through CEAFM with communities are concluded and a national plan developed.•Create alternative livelihood i.e. diving for aquarium fish.

The abundant herbivores Acanthuridae is sustainably targeted by local fishing activities instead of parrotfish, groupers, snappers and emperors which are probably being impacted by fishing activities at present

•No action being taken so far.

Status of Coastal Fisheries Management

Govt continues to foster development of off-shore resources, more specifically tuna and other pelagics, to reduce fishing pressure on in-shore resources.

•This is being promoted.

Govt looks at ways to assist local fishers to fish for pelagics:•Encourage Nauruans to use more motorized boats by improving access to fuel, etc…•Put out shallow-water FADs that can be reached by fishers paddling non-motorized canoes

•Access to fuel has improved dramatically.•AOMF Assistance Project is active.•Both in-shore and off-shore FADs are being deployed, maintained and re-deployed where and when necessary provided materials are available.

Status of Coastal Fisheries Management

Recommendation •Action Taken

Govt has an assessment undertaken to look at stocks of aquarium fish, with the harvesting of these encouraged through private sector and appropriate mgt measures put in place if the stocks can be sustainably harvested and viably exported.

•Resource assessment has been conducted and results are positive.•Economic feasibility study is being done.•Mgt plan being developed.

Status of Coastal Fisheries Management

Recommendation •Action Taken

Any additional survey work by SPC on invertebrates focuses on the species that are of most concern for Nauruan people and that are the main focus of current harvest activity, including an assessment of the status and population dynamics of Turbo spp. And nocturnal crustacean species (esp. lobsters & crabs).

•Not yet done.

Govt considers the introduction of Tridacna maxima, and possibly trochus adults, within an area protected from fishing and gleaning, possibly as part of an MPA as recommended above.

•Not yet considered.

Feature

Coastal fisheries categoryTotal value

(USD m)*

Reef fish Nearshore pelagic

fishb

Inter/subtidal Invertebrates

Total

Catch (tonnes)*

310 310 30 6501.5

Contribution (%)a 48 48 4 100

* Estimated total catch and value in 2007 (Gillet 2009)1; a = method for calculating disaggregated catch data for each category is outlined in Chapter 9 (Appendix 9.2, Supplementary Table 9.1); b = catch dominated by tuna species.

Nature of Our Coastal Fisheries

Recent Catch and Value

Reef fisheries

Nearshore pelagic (tuna) fisheries

Inter/subtidal shellfish fisheries

Projected Changes to Coastal Fish Habitat (coral reefs)

Projected changes to coastal fish habitat

2035 2050 2100

Coral bleaching due to increased temperature

Ocean acidification - reef erosion

Projected degradation of coral reefs

Projected Changes to Coastal Fisheries

Projected changes to coastal fisheries production

2035 2050 2100

Reef fish

2035 (-2 to -5%)

2050 (-20%) 2100 (-20 to -50%)

Today

Effects of climate change on reef fish

Coral reef fisheries will be ‘losers’ under climate change.

Mainly due to changes in their habitat

There are severe implications!Adaptations are possible.

Summary