Kalo Pakoa, Frank Magron, Ian Bertram, Kim Friedman

1. The need for standardization of underwater resources assessment in the Pacific sea cucumber fisheries Andre Seale Kalo Pakoa, Frank Magron, Ian Bertram, Kim Friedman Coastal Fisheries Science and Management Section, DEC Western Australia

2. Sea cucumber fisheries - PICTs

3. Challenges and constraints Limited understanding of sea cucumber fisheries, appreciation of its importance– concern for better management Lack of or inconsistent information Surveys design to answer specific scientific question Inadequate geographical survey coverage Limited capacities in surveys that inform management Methodologies are inconsistent, lack of continuity Incomparability of results Confusion on methodologies and design Limited facility to process and store information Fisheries statistics can be complicated, daunting

4. Lessons from regional comparative studies SPC PROCFish/COFish 2002-2009 Baseline resources information 17 PICTs now available Varying complexities of reef systems -island types in the PICTs 80% of species found at high densities upper 10m Assessment this shallow provide good information Species composition vary-assess all species Manta tow and belt transects

5. Focused capacity building assistance (SCICOFish) On job training in-country and at SPC Collect resource information for advice Assessing all species and improve identification Collect count, lengths, and weight information, fishing data, community views Advice from fishers on aggregations Same methodologies, people and time across Encourage exchange trainings Include line agencies and NGO partners in training Use database system to store information Organize results into management advice

6. SC resource survey design Survey designs are based on sites Complexity of reef system Timing of surveys and purpose Funding available Capacity to use information Several methodologies to choose from Cost-effectively - manta tow and reef transects

7. SC resource survey design-example Example: Aitutaki Is , Cook islands Objective: Training and assessment Species : lollyfish, greenfish, surfredfish Status: un-fished Habitat: reef flat, reef crest, back reef Needs: 4 sectors Method: reef transect Personnel: 7 people -5 days Coverage: 12st/sector or 288 transects Information: species ID, size, weight Costs: sharing between CIMF and SPC

8. Reef transect surveys • 40m x 1m x 6 transects per station • 10-20 minutes per station • 0-2 meters depth • safe to use anywhere • Species ID, size, count, habitat • Simple, widely used

9. Manta tow surveys • 300m x 2m transect takes • 3-10 meters with goo visibility • 10 minutes/transect • Transects group into stations • Easy to usw- need trained eyes • Cover large area of reef in short time • Broader understanding of distribution • Less expensive and safe • Used by countries

10. Standard record sheet for all methods Main record Habitat record

11. Data entry, verification, analysis, storage • Reef fisheries integrated database (RFID) • RFID in distribution to fisheries and NGO • Trainings provided on database • SPC maintain backup of data in Noumea • Provided when needed

12. Species identification

13. Species presence by site and or country • Provide information on resources available in a fishery • Species that deserve management intervention • Recovery of lost species -management measure is working

14. Count of species observed all survey types, 5-10 people and 5-7 days of assessments

15. Species density by sites ind/ha Number likely present per hectare of reef Red – 41%; Yellow - 24%, Green - 35% 70+% above reference - good indication

16. Species density by depths across PICTS • 80% present at high densities in the upper 10m depth • 94% present at maximum densities in the upper 10m depth • Deeper stocks need to be preserved as breeding reservoir

17. Population size structure (Sandfish) • population change -fishing and management measure • no take preserve breeding stocks

18. Stock estimation Step 1: Assess resources status indicators Step 2: Stocks not fully recovered - further resting proposed, more surveys Step 3: Stocks show signs of maturity –stock estimation Stock estimation is extrapolating densities by reef habitat area to produce stock estimate in number and weight and certain proportion as harvestable quantity (wet and dry weights)

19. Progress made in PICTs • Over 30 new assessments • Information managed at SPC • Used to advices to countries • Invertebrate manual, creel and market survey manual

20. Opportunity • While we do acknowledge there are several useful ways of assessing sea cucumbers resources • Our experience have shown that standardizing assessments is good for the region therefore SPC welcomes the opportunity to come together to continue this progress - share lessens, exchange ideas and experiences towards better informed management of sea cucumber fisheries. • Countries are encouraged to take lead role in this effort

21. Questions or talk to us or emailKalop@spc.int Frankm@spc.intIanb@spc.intorFriedman et al 2008. Sea cucumber fisheries: A managers tool BoxFriedman et al 2010. Management of sea cucumber stocksEriksson et al 2010. Resources status in Zanzibar, TanzaniaEriksson et al 2013. Population metrics for Curryfish, One Tree Reef, GBR Thankyou