Afrigather Some sea cucumber species look like resilient to heavy fishing strain whereas others present clear indicators of over-exploitation in response to a just lately printed 2021/2022 survey by the Seychelles Fishing Authority (SFA).
Based on a press launch from the SFA on Tuesday, the survey was accomplished in October 2022 and about 200 of the unique websites surveyed in 2004 had been revisited to estimate the developments in density and inhabitants measurement since that point.
The pinnacle of the SFA fisheries analysis division, Rodney Govinden, stated, “The analysis had for the primary time seen the participation of business divers within the implementation of the surveys. This is a vital step in direction of co-management and the continual enchancment sooner or later administration of the fishery.”
The information collected on the white teat fish species factors to a closely depleted inhabitants of roughly 10 % of its 2004 stage.
Final yr, when SFA introduced the brand new season, which began on October 15 and can finish on June 14, 2023. The authority stated there will probably be an entire closure on the fishing of the white-teat fish.
This is likely one of the suggestions made within the printed survey led by advisor Timothy Skewes that quick cessation of fishing of the species is required to permit rebuilding and monitoring each three years to detect any restoration.
One other species being overfished is the flower teat fish and SFA within the new season has the fishing quota lowered by 5 % – from 11,250 items per vessel to 9,619 – as a discount within the inventory has been noticed.
There may be excellent news for the prickly redfish in 2021-2022, which confirmed a rise of 52 % on the 2004 estimate.
In his suggestion, Hewes stated that the Seychelles sea cucumber fishery can present vital financial advantages to present and future generations of Seychellois.
He added that the ocean cucumber fishery is at an essential crossroads and that “it has fished laborious for a number of years and lots of species at the moment are displaying indicators of being over-fished, together with the prized pentard [flower teat fish]. Trade, administration, and scientists must work collectively to make sure the long-term survival of the fishery.”
Hewes stated that “if the Seychelles’ sea cucumber fishery can act and implement sustainable fishing practices, then entry to international markets will stay open, and presumably at a premium, given the Seychelles rising popularity for environmental stewardship.”
In Seychelles, sea cucumbers are principally exported, particularly to Asian markets. Based on the Nationwide Bureau of Statistics (NBS), the annual export of dried sea cucumbers from 2019-2021 was a complete of 41.52 tonnes at a market worth of $4.7 million.
