Resource degradation of the sea cucumber fishery in Zanzibar, Tanzania: a need for management reform

Abstract

-This study assessed the Zanzibar sea cucumber fishery using a multidisciplinary approach. Data was collected by (i) interviewing various groups of actors in the fishery and reviewing management documentation and legislation, (ii) by monitoring catches and (iii) through a visual census of coastal sea cucumber populations in areas open and closed to fishing. The fishery showed clear signs of being unsustainable with high fishing effort, and weak formal and informal management institutions. The fishery operation was characterised by an intricate cross-scale structure with both fishers and sea cucumber products being transported across national borders. The visual census of commercial sea cucumber stocks at three sites open to fishing around Zanzibar showed low densities across the range of sea cucumber value groups including low value species. Furthermore, the diversity of commercial sea cucumber species was lower in fished reefs than on a protected reef. The poor status of the sea cucumber populations was confirmed by the perception of an overfished resource by the interviewed actors active in the fishery. This was also depicted by the paucity of high value species, and high representation of low value and newly commercialised species in fishers catch. We conclude that the current state of Zanzibar's sea cucumber populations is compromising the fisheries self-replenishment and existence and that the fishery is in urgent need of a complete management reform.

Communities and change in the anthropocene: understanding social-ecological vulnerability and planning adaptations to multiple interacting exposures

“…Unregulated harvest of green sea urchin, driven by demand from Japanese sushi markets, led to rapid stock depletion in Maine (Steneck et al 2002). However, increasing international demand for sea cucumber has driven overexploitation of stocks in the Western Indian Ocean (Eriksson et al 2010). Changes in the compositions of people's diets, driven by rising per capita income and globalization of our food systems, have been characterized by less consumption of starchy staples (rice, wheat and potatoes) and more of fat, meat, fish, fruits and vegetables (Nelson et al 2005).…”

Small-scale innovations in coastal communities: shell-handicraft as a way to empower women and decrease poverty

“…However, traditional coastal livelihoods are becoming threatened. For example, studies have shown that fish and invertebrate resources are declining (Jiddawi and Öhman 2002, Eriksson et al 2010, Nordlund et al 2010, and the more recently introduced seaweed mariculture of Euchemoids may negatively affect surrounding seagrass ecosystems and associated fauna (e.g., Eklöf et al 2006) and women farmers' health because of poor working conditions (Fröcklin et al 2012). The coastal tourism industry has grown enormously during the last decades, but research is scarce and it is questionable if the local population really benefits from the industry (Lange 2015).…”

Sandfish (Holuthuria scabra) Fisheries in Saleh Bay: Stock Status Based on Fishermen’s Perception and Catches <br><i>[Perikanan Teripang Pesisir (Holuthuria scabra) Teluk Saleh: Status Stok berdasarkan Persepsi Nelayan dan Hasil Tangkapan]<i><br>

“…The time needed to do the sandfish fishing in a day in Saleh Bay was generally the same as other tropical fishing locations in Indo-Pacific (Eriksson et al, 2010;Kaly et al, 2005 ;Ochiewo et al, 2010). However, fishing activity in Saleh Bay tends to get lower than the fishing in Tonga (average: 5.9 hours per day) (Purcell et al, 2016).…”

“…Purcell et al, (2013) and Toral-Granda et al, (2008) stated that the sandfish fishing method had been used in some world waters generally by hands. Some researches in other places also showed that sandfish were collected by hands (Choo 2008 ;Eriksson et al, 2010 ;Raboanaijoana 2013) .…”

“…It became an indicator of overfishing (Friedman et al, 2008). Stock declining has been shown through fishermen and traders' perceptions in Zanzibar (Eriksson et al, 2010).…”