11th ICRS Abstract book - Nova Southeastern University

22-33
Are The Coral Reef Finfish Fisheries Of South Florida Sustainable?
Jerald S. AULT* 1 , Steven G. SMITH 1 , James T. TILMANT 2
1 Marine Biology and Fisheries, University of Miami, Rosenstiel School of Marine and
Atmospheric Sciences, Miami, FL, 2 Water Resources Division, National Park Service,
Fort Collins, CO
If healthy reefs are Florida’s future, exploitation of reef fish stocks must be reduced.
Numerous sustainability indicators revealed that most of Florida’s reef fish species are
seriously overfished, assuming they are functioning as a unit stock. Annual growth in
recreational fishing effort compounds this problem. We used fish population abundance
and size structure data from fishery-independent (reef fish visual census) and fisherydependent
(creel surveys) monitoring programs from the Florida Keys and Biscayne
National Park to estimate stock mortality rates and current reproductive potentials of the
seven most commonly harvested reef fish species. We found that the majority of species
in the snapper-grouper complex for which exploitation parameter estimates could be
made are below the 30% Spawning Potential Ratio (SPR) federal standard for stock
sustainability. Once stock exploitation status was determined, alternative fishery
management actions that could possibly reduce fishing mortality and increase
reproduction potential sufficiently to achieve sustainable stock conditions were evaluated.
Results indicated that, when using only traditional management approaches, such as
increased minimum harvest sizes or decreased bag limits, rather radical changes will be
needed to achieve sustainable stock conditions for most species, and any improvements
may be negated by a continued increase in fishing effort in a relatively short period of
time. We conclude that non-traditional fishery management actions, such as limited entry
or permanent removal of a portion of the stock from exploitation will likely be needed to
achieve long-term sustainability of Florida’s coral reef finfish fisheries into the future.
22-34
The Relevance of Traditional Ecological Knowledge for Modern Management of
Coral Reef Fisheries in the South Pacific
Marc LÉOPOLD* 1 , Jean-Brice HERRENSCHMIDT 1 , Randy THAMAN 2
1 IRD (Insitut de recherche pour le developpement), Noumea, New Caledonia, 2 USP
(University of the South Pacific), Suva, Fiji
Traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) has received great attention in coral reef
associated fisheries as a way to adapt modern management strategies to local
environmental conditions. This specialized knowledge refers to group identity,
techniques and skills which have been accumulated through generations, and improved
by individual experiences. We analysed the socio-cultural role of TEK for resource
management in traditional Melanesian communities in New Caledonia. A
multidisciplinary survey of Ouvea customary marine tenure and fishing regulations was
realized in 2006. Main chiefdoms and clans were questioned about past and present
fishing activities, maritime territory rights, taboo areas and toponyms, customary
authorities, socio-cultural practises and belief related to marine resources, and vernacular
knowledge on marine organisms. Aerial photographs helped to collect spatial information
(fishing grounds, chiefdoms boundaries…). Fishing customary rules (marine reserves,
collective fishing of schooling species and access rights to well localized reef and
mangrove areas) were primarily related to cultural events and social organization.
Subsistence and commercial fishing co-occurs in this socio-cultural context. The
relationships between TEK, population needs and uses of the environment were still tight
but have changed since 1850s. Unquantifiable loss of indigenous knowledge has
occurred. Nowadays, to fill the needs, modern users shunt this TEK and behave in
relation to their own perceptions. Our results suggest that Ouvea customary management
system is now socially rather than ecologically driven. Better consideration of sociocultural
aspects in resource conservation issues may therefore indirectly help to increase
awareness on resource depletion and biodiversity loss. This emphasizes the need to
enhance the socio-cultural role of TEK in South Pacific islands to achieve ecosystem
sustainability.
Oral Mini-Symposium 22: Coral Reef Associated Fisheries
22-35
A Method For Assessing The Catch Sustainability Of Ornamental Fish Bycatch, With An
Emphasis On Families Pomacanthidae And Chaetodontidae
Caroline FEITOSA* 1 , Maria Elizabeth ARAÚJO 1 , Beatrice FERREIRA 1
1 Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife, Brazil
The global effects of reef fish captured as bycatch – including ornamental species – are poorly
known. Most fishes captured for the aquarium trade in Brazil belong to the Pomacanthidae and
Chaetodontidae families. This study aimed to record the occurrence of bycatch ornamental
fishes in trap fisheries and to assess the susceptibility and recovery of some fishes from the
aquarium trade’s major families. Each species was assessed according to two groups of criteria:
(1) their relative vulnerability to capture by traps and (2) their population’s relative recovery
capacity related to sustaining mortality due to fishing. Within each group, each species was
ranked (1-3) based on individual criteria representing distribution, catchability, diet,
reproductive biology, removal rate for the aquarium trade, and mortality. These criteria were
then weighted according to their importance and each species’ mean weighted ranks for the two
groups of criteria were plotted. Nineteen ornamental fish species from 14 genera and 10
families were recorded. The order of the species least likely to be sustainable was Holacanthus
tricolor, H. ciliaris, Chaetodon striatus, and Pomacanthus paru. These benthic species that
inhabit coral reefs are highly susceptible to capture by traps. C. striatus and P. paru were the
most likely to be sustainable, although highly susceptible to capture. Although somewhat
subjective, this approach is very promising for data-poor situations and may be the only one
available for researchers and managers of diverse fisheries like the Brazilian trap fisheries,
which occur in areas of high species richness such as coral reefs.
22-36
Ornamental Fisheries As An Option To Commercial Fisheries: Would Fishermen Make
The Switch?
Antares RAMOS-ALVAREZ* 1
1 Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
The aquarium trade in Puerto Rico is an area where many factors remain unstudied. Public
policy has been implemented without taking into consideration the carrying capacity of the
ecosystem or the species and with even less understanding of the users needs. Changes in
fishing quotas and fishing permits were made without proper consultation or warning, making it
hard for fishermen to assimilate. Past studies have found that fish are being extracted safely
below the quota, when the opposite was thought. With increasing vedas (closed seasons) on
key commercial species and SCUBA diving becoming a popular fishing method among young
fishermen, ornamental fisheries might be an obvious option for these fishermen. In this study
we interviewed a total of 51 fishermen, including ornamental and commercial, to further
understand their needs and perceptions on fisheries, using semi-structured interviewing
methods. Commercial fishermen were asked about their knowledge in the aquarium trade and
they were asked if they saw it as a possible income option in the time of the vedas. The results
present mixed views regarding the switch to ornamental fisheries (even a seasonal switch) due
to the high price of the fishing permit for this type of commerce. Commercial fishermen that
fish using SCUBA perceive ornamental fishing as a possible income option. This research
brings light into the management of these resources as well as a possible need to change policy.
Further research is suggested to look into the life histories of the key ornamental species so that
more complete and specific management plans and changes in policy are made.
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