Effect of Diel Activity Patterns and Harvesting Pressure on the Diversity and Biomass of Sea Cucumbers in Marovo Lagoon, Solomon Islands |
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Authors: | Christine Buckius Simon Albert Ian Tibbetts James Udy |
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Institution: | (1) Centre for Water Studies, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia;(2) School of Engineering, Hawken Building University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia;(3) Centre for Marine Studies, University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia |
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Abstract: | A marked decline in the contribution by Marovo Lagoon to the annual total bêche-de-mer production of the Solomon Islands from
58% in 1989 to 17% in 2003 prompted investigation of their current biomass and diversity. We also assessed changes to critical
ecological services and the prospects for population recovery following a fisheries closure. Day time and nocturnal transects
revealed a mean abundance of 32.4 (SD = 5.3) low value species per ha (e.g. Holothuria atra, H. edulis, H. coluber and Thelenota anax) and 15.2 (SD = 2.7) high value species per ha (e.g. H. fuscogilva, Actinopyga lecanora, Stichopus hermanni and Thelenota ananas). Following a 17 month closure of the fishery (2005–2007), the abundance of bêche-de-mer was reported by local fisherman
to have increased; however, no scientific studies were conducted that can substantiate this community held belief. The current
study aimed to document the impact of re-opening the fishery in 2007 and documented a decline in high value species of 9%
over a 5 month period following the opening of the fishery, while low value species continued to increase in abundance by
11%, over the same period based on nocturnal surveys. Continued observation of the recovery, post closure, and any subsequent
harvest in Marovo will be required to properly understand population dynamics and provide a sustainable harvest plan for bêche-de-mer
in the future. |
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