Coastal fisheries in the tropical South Pacific: a question of sustainability

Veitayaki J., . and South G.R., . (1997) Coastal fisheries in the tropical South Pacific: a question of sustainability. [Proceedings Paper]

The coastal reef and lagoon fisheries have traditionally provided the major protein resource to Pacific islanders who obtain their catch from a combination of small-scale commercial artisanal and subsistence fishing. For the majority the fishery has been managed through a complex social system of customary tenure which has until recent times provided an acceptable level of sustainability combined with responsible protection of the inshore environment. As the island peoples have moved rapidly into the cash economy and as urbanization and industrialization of Pacific nations have become their goal the possibility of continued sustainability of the coastal fishery has become highly questionable. Individually and collectively the Pacific Island nations are responding to their rapidly changing world through the development of appropriate mechanisms and legislation focussing on protection of the environment and biodiversity which are in turn linked to sustainable resource management. There are however inherent and systemic difficulties which cannot fail to mitigate against the goal of the sustainability of the coastal fishery. These include: uncontrolled human population growth with subsequently greater pressures on limited resources a lack of adequate statistics on which to assess fishing effort a poor understanding of the basic biology of the most sought-after reef and lagoon fishes combined with a generally poor understanding of their population dynamics and the biodiversity of the communities in which they live which in turn lead to a large degree of guesswork in the regulation of the fishery greater pressures to commercialize the coastal fishery thus diverting valuable protein resources from the family to the marketplace the introduction of improved fishing technology and despite the existence of legislation and regulations an inability to properly regulate the fishery because of a lack of funds and trained staff. Given this scenario it is agreed that the inshore in the South Pacific is now overfished and that existing catches are unsustainable. In urban centres the customary marine tenure systems are under great strain or close to collapse. The effort required to correct the declining trend is enormous and beyond the capabilities of most Pacific Island countries: ideally a management system combining a sound scientific base with the strengths of customary marine tenure CMT combined with a major research training and public education campaign is required. In addition alternate sources of protein such as obtainable through subsistence-style aquaculture and a region-wide population control programme will be needed if sufficient food is to be provided and the increasing strain on fragile island economies is to be reduced.

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Abstract

The coastal reef and lagoon fisheries have traditionally provided the major protein resource to Pacific islanders who obtain their catch from a combination of small-scale commercial artisanal and subsistence fishing. For the majority the fishery has been managed through a complex social system of customary tenure which has until recent times provided an acceptable level of sustainability combined with responsible protection of the inshore environment. As the island peoples have moved rapidly into the cash economy and as urbanization and industrialization of Pacific nations have become their goal the possibility of continued sustainability of the coastal fishery has become highly questionable. Individually and collectively the Pacific Island nations are responding to their rapidly changing world through the development of appropriate mechanisms and legislation focussing on protection of the environment and biodiversity which are in turn linked to sustainable resource management. There are however inherent and systemic difficulties which cannot fail to mitigate against the goal of the sustainability of the coastal fishery. These include: uncontrolled human population growth with subsequently greater pressures on limited resources a lack of adequate statistics on which to assess fishing effort a poor understanding of the basic biology of the most sought-after reef and lagoon fishes combined with a generally poor understanding of their population dynamics and the biodiversity of the communities in which they live which in turn lead to a large degree of guesswork in the regulation of the fishery greater pressures to commercialize the coastal fishery thus diverting valuable protein resources from the family to the marketplace the introduction of improved fishing technology and despite the existence of legislation and regulations an inability to properly regulate the fishery because of a lack of funds and trained staff. Given this scenario it is agreed that the inshore in the South Pacific is now overfished and that existing catches are unsustainable. In urban centres the customary marine tenure systems are under great strain or close to collapse. The effort required to correct the declining trend is enormous and beyond the capabilities of most Pacific Island countries: ideally a management system combining a sound scientific base with the strengths of customary marine tenure CMT combined with a major research training and public education campaign is required. In addition alternate sources of protein such as obtainable through subsistence-style aquaculture and a region-wide population control programme will be needed if sufficient food is to be provided and the increasing strain on fragile island economies is to be reduced.

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Item Type:	Proceedings Paper
AGROVOC Term:	FISHERIES
AGROVOC Term:	COASTAL FISHERIES
AGROVOC Term:	BIODIVERSITY
AGROVOC Term:	ENVIRONMENT
AGROVOC Term:	SUSTAINABILITY
AGROVOC Term:	ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
AGROVOC Term:	RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
AGROVOC Term:	SOUTH PACIFIC
Geographical Term:	MALAYSIA
Depositing User:	Ms. Norfaezah Khomsan
Last Modified:	24 Apr 2025 05:27
URI:	http://webagris.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/16092

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