A. Species
Scientific name: Epinephelus spp.
Common name(s): Groupers
Global IUCN Red List Threat Status:
B. Location of use
Geographic location(s):
- Pacific - southwest
Country/Region: Federated States of Micronesia
C. Scale of assessment
Scale of assessment: Sub-national / Sub-region / Sub-State
Name/Details of location: Pohnpei (island)
D. Timescale of use
Start Year: 2006
End Year:
E. Information about the use
How is the wild species sourced?: Wild species sourced from its natural habitat
Type of use: Extractive
Practice of use: Targeted fishing harvesting/exploiting or collecting wild aquatic resources
Lethal or non-lethal: Lethal
Does this use involve take/extraction of: The whole entire organism
Purpose(s) of end use: Food and feed
Motivation of use: Basic subsistence
Is this use legal or illegal?: Legal under national law
F. Information about the Users
Which stakeholder(s) does the record primarily focus on?: Local people
G. Information about the sustainability of use
Is there evidence that the use is having an impact on the target species?: Wild species sourced from its natural habitat
Has an assessment (or judgement) of sustainability of the use of the target species from an ecological perspective been recorded?: Yes, considered unsustainable
Details of assessment carried out: Survey findings show a fishery dominated by night-time spear-fishing and one that, forserranids, largely removes juveniles and small adults of all documented epinephelines within the state. These practices are regarded as unsustainable and can lead to or exacerbate growth overfishing. As part of a wider annual market survey, grouper catch was recorded at local Pohnpei fish markets between 10 January and 25 May 2006 to characterize the grouper fishery and gauge the need and possible direction for future research and management. Markets were selected for examination based on an initial island-wide survey of all existing fish markets. Approximately 75% of all known Pohnpei fish markets were sampled for total purchase weight of reef fishes 5 days per week.
Brief summary on why the use has been assessed/judged to be sustainable or unsustainable: The survey results indicate the need for an immediate management response that merges traditional market-based management measures, such as size limits and gear restrictions, with precautionary management tools such as MPAs to provide comprehensive protection for all life history stages of affected species and promote sustainable fisheries.
Has an assessment (or judgement) of sustainability of the use of the target species from an economic perspective been recorded?: Yes, considered unsustainable
Details of assessment carried out: this study
Brief summary on why the use has been assessed/judged to be sustainable or unsustainable: fishing diminishes stocks, but Restricting fishing will exacerbate unemployment: 54% of the population is unemployed, while 11.1% of the workforce (15 + years of age) is dedicated to agriculture or fishing, including a combined total of 756 commercial and 1,408 subsistence farmers and fishers
Has an assessment (or judgement) of sustainability of the use of the target species from a social perspective been recorded?: Yes, considered unsustainable
Details of assessment carried out: this study
Brief summary on why the use has been assessed/judged to be sustainable or unsustainable: fishing diminishes stocks, but Restricting fishing will exacerbate unemployment: 54% of the population is unemployed, while 11.1% of the workforce (15 + years of age) is dedicated to agriculture or fishing, including a combined total of 756 commercial and 1,408 subsistence farmers and fishers
Has an assessment (or judgement) of sustainability of the use of the target species from a human health perspective been recorded?: not recorded
Has an assessment (or judgement) of sustainability of the use of the target species from an animal health/welfare perspective been recorded?: not recorded
Recommendations provided in the record to maintain or enhance the sustainability of the use of the target species
The study identified the need for a comprehensive management plan that merges traditional measures, including size limits and gear restrictions, with precautionary management tools. Specifically, the scale an scope of marine protected areas should be increased to protect juveniles and other life history stages over wider areas than currently employed.
Record source
Information about the record source: scientific_pub
Date of publication/issue/production: 2007-01-01T00:00:00+0000
Source Reference(s):
Date of record entry: 2022-11-08