Project Description/Framework (for total duration of the project)

Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center

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Sub-activity 1.2: Stock enhancement of Napoleon wrasse, Cheilinus undulatus

Wild stock of Napoleon wrasse is facing near extinction due to illegal fishing. The seed production technology for the releasing program has not been developed successfully in Southeast Asia. In order to prevent further declines in natural populations, this sub-activity tackles with the establishment of effective resource management with the collaboration with LGUs having a potential habitat within the jurisdictions.

Networking to share the information on wild stock population will be established. Campaign to disseminate significance of resource protection to local forks will be done. In addition, the eco-tourism targeting Napoleon wrasse as a key species will be promoted as sustainable measure to protect the wild stock.

Furthermore, this activity tries to get broodstock and develop breeding and seed production techniques for culture as well as for restocking its natural population.

Activity 2: Stock enhancement of regionally over-exploited species

The intense, unregulated and high reliance of the fishery on natural stocks continue to challenge the sustainability of the fishery and conservation of sandfish, donkey’s ear abalone and mud crab in Southeast Asian region, all of which have lucrative prices in the export market. The present activity will aim to establish resource enhancement technology of the said species, and also to solve socioeconomically dynamic interactions between the biological characteristics of the resource, the technical intervention of stock enhancement and the people who use and manage it towards community-based stock management.

Sub-activity 2.1: Community managed sandfish Holothuria scabra sea ranching and stock release Sea cucumbers are high-value marine products but its fishery is over-exploited on a global-scale. They are detritivorous feeders and could help clean and improve sediment quality. Sea ranching and stock release of sandfish is expected to complement the promotion of environment-friendly resource enhancement. The present sub-activity will package, pilot and verify the effectiveness of community-managed sea-ranching and stock enhancement initiatives for managing a depleted sea cucumber fishery.

Sub-activity 2.2: Stock enhancement of donkey’s ear abalone, Haliotis asinina

Although SEAFDEC/AQD had successfully developed hatchery techniques for producing the present species, the technology to rebuild collapsed populations is yet to be developed. The present study will establish release strategies through development of tagging methodology, clarification of genetic structure of wild stock, and assessment of the impacts of released abalone on the wild population.

Sub-activity 2.3: Stock enhancement of mud crab, Scylla spp.

The declining mud crab landing from capture fisheries is being supplemented by increasing production from aquaculture. However, mud crab aquaculture is usually in ponds constructed in former mangrove areas which are natural habitat of wild mud crabs. To resolve the contradicting situation, stock enhancement is needed to address the problem of declining populations.

Sub-activity 2.4: Socioeconomic analysis and identification of strategies for managing released stocks of abalone and sea cucumber in the Philippines

High-value fishery species such as abalone and sea cucumber are sourced from rural fishing areas where low-income fishers are driven towards unsustainable harvest practices. This sub-activity aims to assess some socioeconomic strategies acceptable to stakeholders and suitable for the resources being enhanced and identify policies at the local and national level that would support stock enhancement activities.

Activity 3: Establishment of adaptive measures supporting resource enhancement for a changing environment

The efficacy of resource enhancement largely depends on environmental capacity. Nowadays however, natural habitats for tropical aquatic life rapidly deteriorate due to a changing environment, through not only anthropological repercussion but also due to climate change. To maximize the effectiveness of resource enhancement, this project will seek adaptive measures to maintain a healthy environment.

Sub-activity 3.1: Adaptive measures for coral replenishment

To develop the robust seed production technology of corals and refinement of artificial planting technology, baseline data on community structure of coral reefs and temperature profile as a basic environmental factor will be monitored. Species specific resilience to environmental change is determined through analyses of zooxanthellae as well as the above data. Coral reef healthiness is also diagnosed as a

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whole coral community. In addition, the tolerance of corals against ocean warming and acidification are grasped under the experimental condition.

Activity 4: Publication

Manuals, posters, pamphlets and flyer describing sustainable strategies for stock enhancement will be published and distributed.

Activity 5: Annual progress meeting and international workshop

Annual progress meeting and International Workshop will be organized to review the progress and check the appropriateness of the project, and to disseminate new information to each member country.

Sub-activity 5.1: Annual progress meeting

Annual progress meeting will be held to review the project achievement. Evaluators will be invited to join the meeting to review/evaluate the project achievements.

Sub-activity 5.2: International workshop

New information on resource enhancement of aquatic species will be presented and discussed by participants from ASEAN Member Countries, resource persons as well as study leaders in this project.

Emerging problems that require urgent solutions will also be discussed to pave the way to promote and to assure the resource enhancement practices in the Southeast Asian region.

Activity 6: Coordination by the project leader

The project leader will coordinate and assist the research, training and dissemination, and also facilitate information exchange not only domestically but also among Member Countries so that resource enhancement will be effectively promoted in Southeast Asia. Semi-annual meeting will be held on July or August to confirm the progress of respective activities and sub-activities. Project achievements will be summarized at the end of year. Annual progress report will be prepared.

3. PROGRESS/ACHIEVEMENTS OF ACTIVITIES IN THE YEAR 2013 3.1 Activities Achievements in the Year 2013

Achievements based on Activities Duration Remarks 1. Stock enhancement of internationally threatened species

1.1 Stock enhancement of seahorses, Hippocampus comes and H. barbouri

 Site assessment for release of seahorses

 Collects seahorse tissue samples for genetic analysis 1.2 Stock enhancement of Napoleon wrasse, Cheilinus undulatus

 Collects fin clip samples for genetic analysis

 Establishment of collaborative relationship with LGUs facing the Danajon Bank as well as some satellite study sites which is potential site for resource enhancement program

 Procurement of broodstock to Igang Marine Station, SEAFDEC/AQD 2. Stock enhancement of regionally over-exploited species

2.1 Community managed sandfish Holothuria scabra sea ranching and stock release

 Seed production - broodstock collection

 Transferred juveniles to ocean nursery

 Monitor growth and survival of sandfish in nursery and pen cultured in the sea pen

 Monitor wild sandfish density in Sitio Daku, Molocaboc Island

 Monitor Sandfish fishery

 Information dissemination and advocacy campaign for sea cucumber biology, culture and conservation

 Seed production -- Spawning trial

 Release for grow out sea cucumber juvenile from nursery

 Wild sandfish population monitoring

Jan - Aug Jan – Aug Jan – Jun September Scheduled in

Oct

Jan - Apr Jan - Apr Jan - Apr Jan - Apr Jan - Apr Jan – Apr Jan – Apr May – Aug May – Aug May – Aug

Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center

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Achievements based on Activities Duration Remarks

 Sea cucumber fishery profiling

 Sandfish fishery management

2.2 Stock enhancement of donkey’s ear abalone, Haliotis asinina (This sub-activity was finished in December 2012)

2.3 Stock enhancement of mud crab, Scylla spp.

 Collect broodstock of the most dominant mud crab species in the study site

2.4 Socioeconomic analysis and identification of strategies for managing released stocks of abalone and sea cucumber in the Philippines

 Monitor the participation of stakeholders in the community-based resource enhancement demo-site

 Monitor the overall performance of the released stocks

 Conduct ocular survey of Sitio Punta Romain and a meeting with SMR, BFARMC, and local peoples’ organization

 Conduct periodic release of hatchery-bred juveniles originating from local stock to sustain harvest and maintain stocks

 Conduct training and policy advise to support livelihoods

3. Establishment of adaptive measures supporting resource enhancement