Shark Depredation and Unwanted Bycatch in Pelagic Longline
Shark Depredation and Unwanted Bycatch in Pelagic Longline
Shark Depredation and Unwanted Bycatch in Pelagic Longline
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Appendix 3<br />
Fiji <strong>Pelagic</strong> Longl<strong>in</strong>e Tuna Fishery:<br />
Industry Practices <strong>and</strong> Attitudes towards <strong>Shark</strong> <strong>Depredation</strong><br />
<strong>and</strong> <strong>Unwanted</strong> <strong>Bycatch</strong><br />
Nicola Thomson, Environment Consultants Fiji, watl<strong>in</strong>g@connect.com.fj<br />
A3.1. Introduction<br />
In this study we <strong>in</strong>vestigate: (i) The extent of wanted <strong>and</strong> unwanted<br />
shark by-catch <strong>and</strong> depredation <strong>in</strong> pelagic longl<strong>in</strong>e fisheries <strong>in</strong> Fiji<br />
Waters; (ii) exist<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>dustry (capta<strong>in</strong>s, crew, company directors)<br />
practices to respond to shark <strong>in</strong>teractions <strong>and</strong> <strong>in</strong>terest <strong>in</strong> reduc<strong>in</strong>g<br />
shark <strong>in</strong>teractions; <strong>and</strong> (iii) <strong>in</strong>dustry op<strong>in</strong>ion on the practicality,<br />
viability <strong>and</strong> acceptability to fishermen of different methods that could<br />
be used to reduce shark <strong>in</strong>teractions with pelagic longl<strong>in</strong>e gear.<br />
A3.2. Methods<br />
We collected <strong>in</strong>formationfor this study through: (i) Interviews of six<br />
fishermen, fleet owners <strong>and</strong> operators of the Fijian pelagic longl<strong>in</strong>e<br />
tuna fishery conducted between 19 <strong>and</strong> 31 August 2006; (ii) Fiji<br />
longl<strong>in</strong>e observer databases (held with the Fijian Department of<br />
Fishe-ries <strong>and</strong> the Secretariat of the Pacific Community); (iii) Fiji<br />
Bureau of Statistics trade data; <strong>and</strong> (iv) a literature review.<br />
It was not possible to access Fiji logbook data from the Department of<br />
Fisheries as, accord<strong>in</strong>g to the department, the data are not currently<br />
complied <strong>in</strong> a form that can be summarised. However, logbook data<br />
that are <strong>in</strong>cluded <strong>in</strong> the Department’s annual report were used to<br />
develop conduct this study.<br />
Of the 6 <strong>in</strong>terviewees, 2 were owner-operators, 3 were capta<strong>in</strong>s but<br />
not vessel owners <strong>and</strong> 1 was a crew member. The 6 fishermen have<br />
been pelagic longl<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g between 8 <strong>and</strong> 20 years with a mean of 15<br />
years (SD of 4.5) <strong>and</strong> have been longl<strong>in</strong><strong>in</strong>g based from Fiji between 8<br />
<strong>and</strong> 20 years with a mean of 13 years (SD of 4.9).<br />
In addition, a number of experts were consulted for advice <strong>and</strong><br />
<strong>in</strong>formation, these people were:<br />
• Tim Lawson, Pr<strong>in</strong>cipal Fisheries Scientist, Oceanic Fisheries<br />
Programme, Secretariat of the Pacific Community;<br />
• Deidre Brogan, Fishery Monitor<strong>in</strong>g Supervisor, Oceanic Fisheries<br />
Programme, Secretariat of the Pacific Community;<br />
• William Sokimi, Fisheries Development Officer, Oceanic Fisheries<br />
Programme, Secretariat of the Pacific Community;<br />
• Apolosi Turaganivalu, Pr<strong>in</strong>cipal Adm<strong>in</strong>istration Officer, Fiji<br />
Department of Fisheries;<br />
• Neomai Turaganivalu-Ravitu, Fiji Department of Fisheries;<br />
• Anare Raiwalui, Licens<strong>in</strong>g Officer, Tuna Offshore Regulatory<br />
Unit;<br />
• Grahame Southwick, Director, Fiji Fish Limited;<br />
• Robert Stone, Fisheries Consultant, StoneFish (Fiji) Limited;<br />
• Pio Manoa, Lecturer <strong>in</strong> Mar<strong>in</strong>e Policy, University of the South<br />
Pacific; <strong>and</strong><br />
• Nilesh Goundar, Oceans Campaigner, Greenpeace South Pacific<br />
Programme.<br />
A3.3. Fiji Fleet Characteristics<br />
In 2006, 66 longl<strong>in</strong>e vessels were licensed to operate <strong>in</strong> Fiji’s EEZ.<br />
Table A3.1 provides a summary of the number of tuna longl<strong>in</strong>e<br />
vessels licensed to fish <strong>in</strong> Fiji Waters over the last few years all of<br />
which come from the domestic fleet. Furthermore, foreign fish<strong>in</strong>g<br />
vessels (ma<strong>in</strong>ly Taiwanese <strong>and</strong> Korean) operat<strong>in</strong>g outside Fiji’s EEZ<br />
come to Fiji for transhipment <strong>and</strong> provision<strong>in</strong>g, some of these vessels<br />
also off-load their catch at Fiji seaports.<br />
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