Community Centred Conservation C3 – Traditional humphead wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus) fisheries in the Pacific Islands – are they sustainable? A case study from Fiji. Akosita Rokomate-Nakoro,

7/29/2019 Community Centred Conservation C3 Traditional humphead wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus) fisheries in the Pacific Islands are they sustainable? A case study from Fiji. Akosita

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Management options for atraditional humphead wrasse

fishery in Fiji

Akosita Rokomate, Chris Poonian and Maleli Qera

Community Centred Conservation (C3)


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Humphead Wrasse(Cheilinus undulatus)

Largest reef-dwelling teleost (2m)

Vulnerable to fishing pressure

Live reef fish trade

Spawning aggregations

Red List: Endangered; CITES: Appendix II


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Humphead Wrasse global distribution (Sadovy et al. 2004)


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Fiji - Eastern edge of the species range

Decline in national reported catch

-1998:12 tonnes-2002: 3 tonnes

Trade prohibited under Fijian Law (since2002) - FJ$5,000 or imprisonment

Draudrau


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Anonymous

Remote island community in northern Fiji

50 households / 3 villages

Dependent on fishing- Primary income for 82%- Secondary income for 8%

Study site


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Data collection

Expert fisher interviews (n=21)

Humphead Wrasse landings-aim to record every fish

Community members involved


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Grow to 3m, 400kg - Can live up to 70 + years

May not reproduce until 17 years old

Only 1 calf every 3 5 years

Gestation period 13 months

Calf suckled by its mother and stays for 18 months

Cultural significance in legends and myths

Gears

Spearfishing - at night (Tukidodo, Kiliveti)

Line (for LRFT)

Speargun 84%

Line 16%

Landing site data:(n=121)


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In the past Nowadays

How many caught annually?

300

200 or 300

100 or 200

100

40 or 50

20 or 30

10

4

60 to 80


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26 Mar -Funeral

Jan mid-FebMPA open to generatefunds for school fees

30 May -

Turaga-ni-Korobans capture ofHumpheadWrasse

Monthly catch


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Size distribution


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Cultural significance

Feasts, funerals, other community events

Mototeivovo (hump area) is reserved forhigh-ranking chiefs

Grade B / C FJ$4-6 / kg but BIG

Jewelry - upper jaw made into necklaces


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Spawning aggregations

Reports of aggregations of 10-20+ fish

Generally not targeted no clearknowledge of sites or timing

Reasons given for aggregations included

feeding and playing


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Management

Widespread awareness of laws

BUT

Lack of enforcement

Ready market Chinese fish traders

Government fish wardens not trusted


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Management

Low community awareness of humpheadwrasse life history

Adaptive management and self-enforcement by community-remoteness of site

-luxury fish not critical source of livelihood

Improved understanding of population

status in situsurveys


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Thanks!

Donors and partners

Fijian fishers and their families

For further information:

www.c-3.org.uk

Community Centred Conservation C3 – Traditional humphead wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus) fisheries in the Pacific Islands – are they sustainable? A case study from Fiji. Akosita Rokomate-Nakoro,

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