Marine ecological footprint indicates unsustainability of the Pohnpei (Micronesia) coral reef fishery

Abstract

SUMMARYThroughout the tropics, developing countries and territories are highly dependent on nearshore marine resources for food and income, however information on the sustainability and proper management of these fisheries is lacking. In Pohnpei, Micronesia, the sustainability of a coral reef finfishery was assessed by comparing coral reef fish demand to coral reef biocapacity using a marine ecological footprint (MEF) analysis. Based on geo-referenced satellite and aerial imagery, Pohnpei and surrounding atolls have 184.2 km2 of coral reef habitat with a sustainable finfish yield of 573–1118 t yr−1, however total harvest was estimated at 4068 t yr−1, exceeding biocapacity by 360–710%. The MEF was supported by observed impacts to coral reef resources, including (1) long-term declines in fish spawning aggregation density, (2) reductions in mean size, age and fecundity of key commercial species, (3) reliance on undersized fish, and (4) decadal declines in mean size and abundance of fishes of iconic value and critical to ecosystem maintenance. The commercial fishery was responsible for 68% of finfish catch volume, while reef fish consumption, at 93 kg person−1 yr−1, was among the highest in the region. To sustainably meet current demand, up to 833 km2 of additional reef area would be required. The study illustrates the MEF, at least rudimentarily, reflects biological reality on local reefs and represents a valuable analytical tool in a marine policymaker's toolbox.

Microbial ecology of coral-dominated reefs in the Federated States of Micronesia

“…We found that the densities of herbivorous fish were generally low, consistent with previous observations on Micronesian reefs (Mumby et al 2013). The Micronesian reef fisheries are not sustainably managed (Houk et al 2012, Rhodes et al 2015, and fish densities could be related to the presence of human settlements on the islands as well as foreign fishing interests. Herbivorous fish abundances were highest on the most populated islands of Pohnpei and Yap (Table 1), suggesting that local management practices that protect herbivorous fish are having a measurable impact.…”

Aligning fisheries management with life history in two commercially important groupers in Chuuk, Federated States of Micronesia

“…In Pohnpei, marine resources are managed under an open access system that allows fishers access to any reef area. This arrangement, together with night‐time spearfishing, has contributed to widespread declines in coastal marine resources (Rhodes et al, 2015). In spite of overall declines, a few private landowners and communities have made some progress towards conserving resources in localized areas.…”

Marine Ecological Footprint of Italian Mediterranean Fisheries

“…Limitations on catches have become necessary to allow marine ecosystems to rebuild their productive potential and biodiversity, protecting juveniles and reproductively active fishes. If we continue altering marine food networks, we will not be able to fish as we did in the past [15,40].…”

“…Although the Marine Ecological Footprint is not able to express all the problems related to the marine ecosystem, such as pollution levels of the fish, it appears anyway to be a tool that allows people to understand and communicate in an immediate way the environmental impact concerning the consumption of fish and other marine-based products and services by humans and, thanks to these characteristics, it appears to be an easily understood metric for policymakers to gauge demand and associated impacts but also the behavior of individual consumers [15].…”