Hostname: page-component-8448b6f56d-jr42d Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-04-16T04:45:41.805Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Marine ecological footprint indicates unsustainability of the Pohnpei (Micronesia) coral reef fishery

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 July 2014

KEVIN L. RHODES ,
KIMBERLEY A. WARREN-RHODES ,
SCOTT SWEET ,
MIKE HELGENBERGER ,
EUGENE JOSEPH ,
LINDA NG BOYLE  and
KEVIN D. HOPKINS
KEVIN L. RHODES*
Affiliation:
University of Hawaii at Hilo, College of Forestry, Agriculture and Natural Resource Management, 200 W Kawili Street, Hilo 96720, Hawaii, USA
KIMBERLEY A. WARREN-RHODES
Affiliation:
SETI Institute/NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035, USA
SCOTT SWEET
Affiliation:
TerraUnda, PO Box 229, Dumaguete City, Negros Oriental 6200, Philippines
MIKE HELGENBERGER
Affiliation:
Office of Fisheries and Aquaculture, PO Box B, Kolonia, Pohnpei FM 96941, Micronesia
EUGENE JOSEPH
Affiliation:
Conservation Society of Pohnpei, PO Box 2461, Kolonia, Pohnpei 96941, Micronesia
LINDA NG BOYLE
Affiliation:
University of Washington, Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
KEVIN D. HOPKINS
Affiliation:
University of Hawaii at Hilo, College of Forestry, Agriculture and Natural Resource Management, 200 W Kawili Street, Hilo 96720, Hawaii, USA
*
*Correspondence: Dr Kevin Rhodes Tel: +1 512 638 5997 e-mail: klrhodes_grouper@yahoo.com
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary

Throughout the tropics, developing countries and territories are highly dependent on nearshore marine resources for food and income, however information on the sustainability and proper management of these fisheries is lacking. In Pohnpei, Micronesia, the sustainability of a coral reef finfishery was assessed by comparing coral reef fish demand to coral reef biocapacity using a marine ecological footprint (MEF) analysis. Based on geo-referenced satellite and aerial imagery, Pohnpei and surrounding atolls have 184.2 km2 of coral reef habitat with a sustainable finfish yield of 573–1118 t yr−1, however total harvest was estimated at 4068 t yr−1, exceeding biocapacity by 360–710%. The MEF was supported by observed impacts to coral reef resources, including (1) long-term declines in fish spawning aggregation density, (2) reductions in mean size, age and fecundity of key commercial species, (3) reliance on undersized fish, and (4) decadal declines in mean size and abundance of fishes of iconic value and critical to ecosystem maintenance. The commercial fishery was responsible for 68% of finfish catch volume, while reef fish consumption, at 93 kg person−1 yr−1, was among the highest in the region. To sustainably meet current demand, up to 833 km2 of additional reef area would be required. The study illustrates the MEF, at least rudimentarily, reflects biological reality on local reefs and represents a valuable analytical tool in a marine policymaker's toolbox.

Keywords

biocapacityconsumptionecological overshootmarine ecological footprintMicronesiaoverfishing
Type
Papers
Information
Environmental Conservation , Volume 42 , Issue 2 , June 2015 , pp. 182 - 190
Copyright
Copyright © Foundation for Environmental Conservation 2014 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Analytical Laboratories of Hawaii (2002) Image interpretation and development of coral reef habitat maps for the Main Hawaiian Islands. Project Completion Report 40-AA-NC-005254, National Ocean Service and National Geodetic Survey [www document]. URL http://ccma.nos.noaa.gov/ecosystems/coralreef/main8hi_mapping/ALH_Final_Report.pdf Google Scholar
Bejarano, S., Golbuu, Y., Sapolu, T. & Mumby, P.J. (2013) Ecological risk and the exploitation of herbivorous reef fish across Micronesia. Marine Ecology Progress Series 482: 197–215.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bell, J.D. & Galzin, R. (1984) Influence of live coral cover on coral-reef fish communities. Marine Ecology Progress Series 15: 265–274.Google Scholar
Bell, J.D., Kronen, M., Vunisea, A., Nash, W.J., Keeble, G., Demmke, A., Pontifex, S. & Andréfouet, S. (2009) Planning the use of fish for food security in the Pacific. Marine Policy 33: 64–76.Google Scholar
Bellwood, D.R., Hoey, A.S. & Choat, J.H. (2003) Limited functional redundancy in high diversity systems: resilience and ecosystem function on coral reefs. Ecology Letters 6 (4): 281–285.Google Scholar
Bellwood, D.R., Hughes, T.P., Folke, C. & Nyström, M. (2004) Confronting the coral reef crisis. Nature 429: 827–833.Google Scholar
Bruno, J.F. & Selig, E.R. (2007) Regional decline of coral cover in the Indo-Pacific: timing, extent, and subregional comparisons. PLoS ONE 2 (8): e711. doi 10.1371 /journal.pone.0000711 Google Scholar
Catton, W.R. Jr. (1982) Overshoot: the Ecological Basis of Revolutionary Change. Urbana, Illinois, USA: University of Illinois Press: 298 pp.Google Scholar
Cesar, H. (1996) Economic analysis of Indonesian coral reefs. The World Bank, Washington DC, USA: 103 pp. [www document]. URL http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTEEI/214574-1153316226850/20486385/EconomicAnalysisofIndonesianCoralReefs1996.pdf Google Scholar
Chan, T., Sadovy, Y. & Donaldson, T.J. (2007) Bolbometopon muricatum. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.1 [www document]. URL http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/63571/0 Google Scholar
Conservation Society of Pohnpei (2006) A rapid ecological assessment of the coral, fish and seagrasses of Pohnpei, Ahnd and Pakin, Federated States of Micronesia. Findings and recommendations [www document]. URL ftp://ftp.nodc.noaa.gov/pub/data.nodc/coris/library/NOAA/CRCP/project/1395/rea_coral_micronesia.pdf Google Scholar
Costanza, R., d’Arge, R., de Groot, R., Faber, S., Grass, M., Hannon, B., Limburg, K., Naeem, S., O’Neill, R., Raruelo, J., Raskin, R., Sutton, P. & van den Belt, M. (1997) The value of the world's ecosystems services and natural capital. Nature 387: 253–260.Google Scholar
Dalzell, P. (1996) Catch rates, selectivity and yields of reef fishing. In: Reef Fisheries, ed. Polunin, N.V.C. & Roberts, C.M., pp. 161–192. London, UK: Chapman and Hall.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dalzell, P., Adams, T.J.H. & Polunin, N.V.C. (1996) Coastal fisheries in the Pacific islands. Oceanography and Marine Biology 34: 395–531.Google Scholar
Devantier, L.M., De’Ath, G., Done, T.J. & Turak, E. (1998) Ecological assessment of a complex natural system: a case study from the Great Barrier Reef. Ecological Applications 8: 480–496.Google Scholar
Federated States of Micronesia (2013) FSM preliminary census results [www document]. URL http://www.sboc.fm/index.php?id1=Vm0xMFlWWXhWWGhTYmxKV1YwZFNUMVpzV21GVk1WbDNXa2M1VmxKdGVGbGFWVnBoVlVaV1ZVMUVhejA9 Google Scholar
Federated States of Micronesia (2002) Pohnpei State Census Report: 2000 FSM Census of Population and Housing. Pohnpei Branch Statistics Office, Division of Statistics and FSM Department of Economic Affairs, Kolonia, Pohnpei: 204 pp.Google Scholar
Folke, C., Kautsky, N., Berg, H., Jansson, A. & Troell, M. (1998) The ecological footprint concept for sustainable seafood production: a review. Ecological Applications 8 (Suppl.): 63–71.Google Scholar
Folke, C., Jansson, A., Larsson, A. & Costanza, R. (1997) Ecosystem appropriation by cities. Ambio 26: 167–172.Google Scholar
Folke, C., Hammer, M. & Jansson, A.M. (1991) Life-support value of ecosystems: a case study of the Baltic Sea region. Ecological Economics 3: 123–137.Google Scholar
FAO (1989) Yield and nutritional value of the commercially more important fish species. FAO Fisheries Technical Paper No. 309, FAO, Rome, Italy: 187 pp. [www document]. URL http://www.fao.org/docrep/003/T0219E/T0219E00.HTM Google Scholar
Frank, K.T., Petrie, B., Choi, J.S. & Leggett, W. (2005) Trophic cascades in a formerly cod-dominated ecosystem. Science 308: 1621–1623.Google Scholar
Gabrié, C. (2011) Conservation, management, and development of coral reefs in the Pacific: building on the results of six years of research, collaboration and education. Secretariat of the Pacific Community, Noumea: 168 pp. [www document]. URL http://www.spc.int/images/publications/en/Divisions/Fisheries/en-crisp-conservation-management-development-coral-reefs-pacific.pdf Google Scholar
Gillet, R. (2009) Fisheries in the economies of the Pacific island countries and territories. Pacific Studies Series, Mandaluyong City, Philippines, Asian Development Bank: 521 pp. [www document]. URL http://www.adb.org/publications/fisheries-economies-pacific-island-countries-and-territories Google Scholar
Gillett, R. & Cartwright, I. (2010) The future of Pacific Island fisheries. Secretariat of the Pacific Community, Noumea and the Forum Fisheries Agency, Honiara: 110 pp. [www document]. URL http://www.spc.int/fame/doc/corporate_docs/Future_of_PI_fisheries_Report.pdf Google Scholar
Gillett, R. & Lightfoot, C. (2002) The contribution of fisheries to the economies of Pacific Island countries. A report prepared for the Asian Development Bank, the Forum Fisheries Agency and the World Bank. ADB, Manila, Philippines: 127 pp. [www document]. URL http://www.adb.org/documents/reports/contribution_fisheries_pacific_economies/default.asp Google Scholar
Gomez, E.D., Aliño, P.M., Yap, H.T. & Licuanan, W.Y. (1994) A review of the status of Philippine reefs. Marine Pollution Bulletin 29: 62–68.Google Scholar
Graham, N.A.J., Wilson, S.K., Jennings, S., Polunin, N.V.C., Bijoux, J.P. & Robinson, J. (2006) Dynamic fragility of oceanic coral reef ecosystems. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA 103: 8425–8429.Google Scholar
Halls, A., Welcomme, R. & Burn, R. (2006) The relationship between multi-species catch and effort: among fishery comparisons. Fisheries Research 77: 78–83.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Houk, P., Rhodes, K., Cuetos-Bueno, J., Lindfield, S., Fread, V. & McIlwain, J. (2012) Commercial coral-reef fisheries across Micronesia: a need for improving management. Coral Reefs 31: 13–26.Google Scholar
ISRS (2004) Sustainable fisheries management in coral reef ecosystems. ISRS Briefing Paper 4 [www document]. URL http://www.coralreefs.org/documents/ISRS%20Briefing%20Paper%204%20-%20Fisheries.pdf Google Scholar
Jennings, S. & Polunin, N.V.C. (1996) Effects of fishing effort and catch rate upon the structure and biomass of Fijian reef fish communities. Journal of Applied Ecology 33: 400–412.Google Scholar
Jennings, S., Boullé, D.P. & Polunin, N.V.C. (1996) Habitat correlates of the distribution and biomass of Seychelles’ reef fishes. Environmental Biology of Fishes 46: 15–25.Google Scholar
Jones, G.P., McCormick, M.I., Srinivasan, M. & Eagle, J.V. (2004) Coral decline threatens fish biodiversity in marine reserves. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA 101: 8251–8253.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kronen, M., Stacey, N., Holland, P., Magron, F. & Power, M. (2007) Socioeconomic fisheries surveys in Pacific Islands: a manual for the collection of a minimum dataset. Report. Secretariat of the Pacific Community, Noumea, New Caledonia: 143 pp.Google Scholar
Marshall, N. (1980) Fishery yields of coral reefs and adjacent shallow-water environments. In: Stock Assessment for Tropical Small Scale Fisheries, ed. Saila, S.B. & Roedel, P.M., pp. 103–109. International Center for Marine Resource Development, University of Rhodes Island [www document]. URL http://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PNAAJ627.pdf#page=111 Google Scholar
Marten, G.G. & Polovina, J.J. (1982) A comparative study of fish yields from various tropical ecosystems. In: Theory and Management of Tropical Fisheries, ed. D. Pauly & G.I. Murphy, pp. 255–289. ICLARM Conference Proceedings 9, Manila, Philippines.Google Scholar
Maypa, A.P., Russ, G.R., Alcala, A.C. & Calumpong, H.P. (2002) Long-term trends in yield and catch rates of the coral reef fishery at Apo Island, central Philippines. Marine and Freshwater Research 53: 207–213.Google Scholar
McAllister, D. (1988) Environmental, economic and social costs of coral reef destruction in the Philippines. Galaxea 7: 161–178.Google Scholar
McClanahan, T. (1995) A coral reef ecosystem-fisheries model: impacts of fishing intensity and catch selection on reef structure and processes. Ecological Modeling 80: 1–19.Google Scholar
Moberg, F. & Folke, C. (1999) Ecological goods and services of coral reef ecosystems. Ecological Economics 29: 215–233.Google Scholar
Mumby, P.J. (2006) The impact of exploiting grazers (Scaridae) on the dynamics of Caribbean coral reefs. Ecological Applications 16: 747–769.Google Scholar
Newton, K., Côte, I.M., Pilling, G.M., Jennings, S. & Dulvy, N.K. (2007) Current and future sustainability of island coral reef fisheries. Current Biology 17: 655–658.Google Scholar
NOAA (2004) GIS map of Mosaiced LandSat 7 ETM +satellite imagery of the Federated States of Micronesia, Edition 1. Department of Commerce, NOAA/National Ocean Service (MOS) Special Projects, Silver Springs, MD, USA.Google Scholar
OECD (1998) Review of fisheries in OECD Countries 1997: policies and summary statistics. OECD Publishing, doi: 10.1787/rev_fish_pol-1997-en [www document]. URL http://www.oecd-ilibrary.org/agriculture-and-food/review-of-fisheries-in-oecd-countries-1997_rev_fish_pol-1997-en Google Scholar
Polunin, N.V.C. & Roberts, C.M., eds (1996) Reef Fisheries. San Diego, CA, USA: Academic Press.Google Scholar
Rhodes, K.L. & Tupper, M.H. (2007) A preliminary market-based analysis of the Pohnpei, Micronesia, grouper (Serranidae: Epinephelinae) fishery reveals unsustainable fishing practices. Coral Reefs 26: 335–344.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rhodes, K.L. & Tupper, M.H (2008) The vulnerability of reproductively active squaretail coralgrouper (Plectropomus areolatus) to fishing. Fishery Bulletin 106: 194–203.Google Scholar
Rhodes, K.L., Nemeth, R.S. & Kadison, E. (2014) Spatial, temporal, and environmental dynamics of a multi-species epinephelid spawning aggregation in Pohnpei, Micronesia. Coral Reefs (in press) DOI 10.1007/s00338-014-1172-z. Google Scholar
Rhodes, K.L., Taylor, B.M. & McIlwain, J. (2011 b) Demographic profile of a spawning aggregation of camouflage grouper, Epinephelus polyphekadion . Marine Ecology Progress Series 421: 183–198.Google Scholar
Rhodes, K.L., Tupper, M.H. & Wichilmel, C.B. (2008) Characterization and management of the commercial sector of the Pohnpei coral reef fishery, Micronesia. Coral Reefs 27: 443–454.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rhodes, K.L., Warren-Rhodes, K., Houk, P., Cuetos-Bueno, J. & Fong, Q. (2011 a) An interdisciplinary study of market forces and nearshore fisheries management in Micronesia. Report of the Marine Program of the Asia Pacific Conservation Region, The Nature Conservancy, Report No. 6/11: 120 pp. [www document]. URL http://www.walker-foundation.org/net/org/project.aspx?projectid=87174&p=85331 Google Scholar
Rohmann, S. & Monaco, M. (2005) Mapping the shallow-water coral ecosystems of the Freely Associated States: an implementation plan [www document]. URL http://ccmaserver.nos.noaa.gov/publications/biogeography/Final_FAS_MIP_web.pdf Google Scholar
Russ, G.R. (1991) Coral reef fisheries: effects and yield. In: The Ecology of Coral Reef Fishes in Coral Reefs, ed. Sale, P.F., pp. 601–636, San Diego, CA, USA: Academic Press.Google Scholar
Russell, B. (2004) Cheilinus undulatus. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.1 [www document]. URL http://www.iucnredlist.org/details/4592/0 Google Scholar
Sadovy, Y. (2005) Trouble on the reef: the imperative for managing vulnerable and valuable fisheries. Fish and Fisheries 6: 167–185.Google Scholar
Sæther, B.E. (1999). Top dogs maintain biodiversity. Nature 400: 510–511.Google Scholar
SPC (2011) Climate change may halve Pacific Islands’ coastal fish catches. ƒ4 March [www document]. URL http://www.spc.int/en/component/content/article/216-about-spc-news/683-climate-change-may-halve-paci Google Scholar
USGS (2002) Topographic map of the Island of Pohnpei. NIMA 5842 I NE-Series W856; NIMA 5843 II SE-Series W856; NIMA 5842 I NW-Series W856; NIMA 5843 II SW-Series W856. USGS/National Imagery and Mapping Agency, Reston, VA, USA.Google Scholar
US National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (2008 a) North Pacific Ocean Caroline Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Senyavin Islands-Pohnpei. No. 81453. 4th Edition, Defense Mapping Agency, Hydrographic/Topographic Centre, Bethesda, MD, USA.Google Scholar
US National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (2008 b) North Pacific Ocean, Federated States of Micronesia, Caroline Islands, Pohnpei-North Coast, Pohnpei Harbor. No. 81453, 7th Edition, Defense Mapping Agency, Hydrographic/Topographic Centre, Bethesda, MD, USA.Google Scholar
Venetoulis, J. & Talberth, J. (2008) Refining the ecological footprint. Environment, Development and Sustainability 10: 441–469.Google Scholar
Victor, S., Neth, L., Golbuu, Y., Wolanski, E. & Richmond, R.H. (2006) Sedimentation in mangroves and coral reefs in a wet tropical island, Pohnpei, Micronesia. Estuarine Coast and Shelf Science 66: 409–416.Google Scholar
Wackernagel, M. & Rees, W. (1998) Our Ecological Footprint. Reducing Human Impact on the Earth. Gabriola Island, BC, Canada: New Society Publishers.Google Scholar
Wackernagel, M., Schulz, N.B., Deumling, D., Dinares, A.C., Jenkins, M., Kapos, V., Monfreda, C., Loh, J., Myers, N., Norgaard, R. & Randers, J. (2002) Tracking the ecological overshoot of the human economy. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA 99: 9266–9271.Google Scholar
Warren-Rhodes, K., Sadovy, Y. & Cesar, H. (2003) Marine ecosystem appropriation in the Indo-Pacific: a case study of the live reef fish trade. Ambio 32: 481–488.Google Scholar
White, A.T., Vogt, H.P. & Arin, T. (2000) Philippine coral reefs under threat: the economic losses caused by reef destruction. Marine Pollution Bulletin 40: 598–605.Google Scholar
Wilkinson, C., ed. (2008) Status of coral reefs of the world. Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network and Reef and Rainforest Research Center, Townsville, Australia: 296 pp. [www document]. URL http://www.reefbase.org/resource_center/publication/main.aspx?refid=27173&referrer=GCRMN Google Scholar
Zeller, D., Booth, S. & Davis, G. (2007) Re-estimation of small-scale fishery catches for US flag-associated island areas in the western Pacific: the last 50 years. Fishery Bulletin 105: 266–277.Google Scholar
Zeller, D., Booth, S., Craig, P. & Pauly, D. (2006) Reconstruction of coral reef fisheries catches in American Samoa, 1950–2002. Coral Reefs 25: 144–152.Google Scholar