Sandfish (Holothuria scabra) fisheries in the Pacific region: present status, management overview and outlook for rehabilitation

A regional comparative assessment of reef resources and socioeconomic activities of fisheries in 17 Pacific island countries and territories (PICTs) conducted by the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) over an 8-year period (2002–09) reveals useful resource status information. Here we review the status of sandfish (Holothuria scabra) stocks from a range of PICTs, some of which have had a moratorium on commercial exports for many years. Holothuria scabra was present in 41% of countries and 23% of sites assessed, although sites with sandfish were mostly at low density, with 81% below the mean density of 1,200 individuals/ha, and the majority of sandfish were small (<23 cm body length).

Progress in community-based marine resources management in the past decade has done little to reverse the declining trend in sea cucumber fisheries for the production of the export commodity, beche-de-mer. Both customary marine tenure and fisheries regulations are used to manage sandfish resources across the Pacific region, but have limitations. Community-based management controls were often outside the traditional boundaries of subsistence fishing when trying to control commercial harvests, while fisheries agencies were limited in the resources available to devise and implement regulations. While there are some well-managed fisheries as well as prospects for recovery in fisheries that are under pressure, difficulties in enforcing commercial fishing and export controls, and unlimited exemptions on subsistence and domestic sales, are challenging the sustainability of this fragile resource.

Continued extraction of sandfish for export and subsistence use is causing local extinctions and depletion of broodstock, threatening the potential development of sandfish aquaculture. PICTs therefore face a big challenge to reverse current trends to ensure continued use and commercial return from sandfish resources. At present, aquaculture offers both a hope and, in some cases, further pressure on a stressed legal, social and ecological system. While aquaculture is being trialled in the region with some success, the introduction of relatively new technology is also resulting in direct (broodstock losses) and indirect (trial harvests and clearing to prepare ground for seed) depletion of wild stocks. Many fishers and managers in PICTs lack basic knowledge of sea cucumber biology and aquaculture technology. In the face of big promises from aquaculture investors in the region, SPC has provided advice to assist decision-makers in making the best choices for sea cucumber aquaculture development in their countries.