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PICs: Unsustainable exploitation of marine resources

Many of the PIC's have vast exclusive economic zones (EEZ). The largest of which is Kiribati with an EEZs of 3.55 million sq. km. The principle offshore resource is tunas (albacore, yellowfin, bigeye, and in northern areas skipjack). There is also a deep-water bottom fish resource on the outslopes of the reefs and on seamounts. It is difficult to estimate what the overall maximum sustainable yield (MSY) of the migratory tuna resource is. For Vanuatu (a 710,000 sq. km EEZ) recent MSY estimates are yellowfin (2,500 tonnes), bigeye (2,000 tonnes), and albacore (3,000 tonnes). The overall consensus for the region with respect to tuna stocks is (Kingston et. al. 1996):

• Current exploitation rate of the stock is relatively low;
• No evidence that the current effort is adversely effecting the stocks;
• Current level of fishing effort can be maintained.

However there are indications that the technique used and level of effort of tuna long lining is having an adverse impact on other pelagic fish species for some countries. The Fiji case study referred to such a situation where non-pelagic fish resources are under unsustainable pressure from the level of effort, and methods adopted, by tuna longliners. A proliferation in the number of licences several years ago accentuated the problem.

Reef and inshore pelagic fish are the main subsistence fisheries resource and source of rural protein in most PICs. Close to urban markets this resource is coming under increasing pressure from over fishing, and in some cases such as the City of Suva production is being adversely effected by urban pollution. It is difficult to determine what the level of over exploitation might be

Over exploitation and pollution of the lagoons of heavily populated atolls (Tarawa Lagoon (Kiribati), the Funafuti Lagoon (Tuvalu), and Majuro (Marshall Islands) pose a major problem. Both the Fiji and Tonga case studies point to the over exploitation of beche de mer (sea cucumber) stocks due to the use of compressors and scuba diving equipment.

In all the PICs, certain species of sea turtle are now endangered from over exploitation for commercial purposes. The plight is faced by the coconut crab (Birgus latro) which inhabit remote islands in Vanuatu and the Solomons. They are also found in Niue. These unique creatures are regarded as culinary delicacy by restaurants and hotels. However they are very vulnerable to over exploitation given their slow growth rate and that they live most of their adult life on land. As with certain sea turtle species these crabs are threatened with extinction unless appropriate management practices can be enforced.

Overall there is inadequate management and control systems in place for the regions marine resources, particularly inshore marine resources. This is part due to vague ownership subject to varying interpretations. In most cases clear fisheries policy statements are required, accompanied by implementable resource management plans. An encouraging development reported in the Vanuatu case study is the use of traditional management arrangements, including customary harvest closures by villages (the resource owners).