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Sea cucumber - Seychelles (Mahe and Admirantes stocks)
Fact Sheet Title  Fact Sheet
Status of stocks and resources 2019
Sea cucumber - Seychelles (Mahe and Admirantes stocks)
Fact Sheet Citation  
Bèches-de-mer
Owned byFood and Agriculture Organization (FAO) – ownership
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Species List:
ident Block Sea cucumber - Seychelles (Mahe and Admirantes stocks)
Aq Res
Biological Stock: No         Value: Local
Management unit: Yes        Reference year: 2016
 
 
Aq Res State Trend
Aq Res State Trend
Aq Res State Trend Aq Res State Trend
Aq Res State TrendOverexploitedNot applicable
Aq Res State TrendOverexploitedNot applicable
Aq Res State Trend
Aq Res State TrendOverexploited
Habitat Bio
Climatic Zone: Tropical.   Vertical Dist: Demersal/Benthic.  


• Abnormal phenomena: 1) Elevated sea water temperature. 2) Harmful algal bloom.
• Main climatological event associated: 1) El Nino. 2) Climate change.
• Main impact on fisheries: 1) Coral bleaching. Habitat damaged. 2) Widespread mortality of coral reef fishes.
Geo Dist
Geo Dist: National

Water Area Overview
Spatial Scale: Local

Water Area Overview
Aq Res Struct
Biological Stock: No

Exploit
 

Estimated Catch (Tons / year). Catch trend: Declining. CPUE Trend: Stable. Effort Trend: Declining.
Fishery Indicators
TypeMeasureValueUnitTime period
ProductionCatch 292,188individuals2016
Bio Assess
Uncertainty: Low

Assess Empirical Approach
Type:  Expert Knowledge
Assessment of fisheries dependent data and stock assessment.

The stock status for the sea cucumber fishery was determined by assessing trends in fisheries-dependent and independent data in a formal stock assessment framework (production- and depletion models). In the future, the full WoE approach will also be applied to the sea cucumber fishery.
Management
Management unit: Yes


There is a Management Advisory Committee (MAC) in place for the sea cucumber fishery, set in collaboration with the Association of Members of Seychelles Sea Cucumber Industry and the Seychelles Fishing Authority (SFA). A new association representing the skippers and divers is expected to join the MAC in 2018. New management measures include a fishing season of eight months of the year (one month less than before), introduction of catch quotas, and allowing harvest of only three species (ban on harvest of black teatfish). Also, two more processors are allowed and there are fuel subsidies for fishers.
The sea cucumber fishery is also managed through a more recent management strategy, ongoing since 2012. This strategy also addresses effort control, and aims to improve data collection and the sustainability of the fishery. Under the scope of this strategy, a comprehensive stock assessment was conducted in 2017 and a quota system is in place since in 2018.
• Management measures: Seasonal closures, Input control (limited number of licenses (25)), interim minimum size limits. Management procedures in place.
• Main problems the plan intends to solve: Data collection, safety issues, depleted stocks.
• Management actions taken: Introduction of quota system, exploitation allowed for only 3 species, ban on harvest of Black Teatfish, fishing season reduced to 8 months (from 9 months). Implementation of measures started in late 2017. Seasonal closures, Input control (limited number of licenses (25)), interim minimum size limits.
• Year start of progress: 2012.
• Results obtained: Comprehensive stock assessment undertaken in 2017. A quota system is in place from 1st January 2018 for 3 exploited species. Exploitation of other prohibited.
• Current status: Ongoing. 
Sources
 
FAO. 2019. Report of the Eighth Session of the Scientific Committee of the Southwest Indian Ocean Fisheries Commission. Maputo, Mozambique, 12–15 February 2018. Rapport de la huitième session du Comité Scientifique de la Commission des Pêches pour le Sud-Ouest de l’Océan Indien. Maputo, Mozambique, 12–15 février 2018. FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Report/FAO Rapport sur les pêches et l’aquaculture No.1260. Maputo. 120 pp. Licence: CC BY-NC-SA 3.0 IGO.  Click to openhttp://www.fao.org/3/ca4303b/ca4303b.pdf
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