Thumbnail Image

Giant Clams in the Maldives- A Stock Assessment and Study of Their Potential for Culture-BOBP/WP/72

Year of publication 1991

Pages p.24

Author Jeremy R. Basker;Fishery and Aquaculture Economics and Policy Division

Product type Project

Category Programme / project report

Edition 1

Synopsis (short abstract) Tuna fishing is the major fisheries activity in the Maldives. However, fishing for nontraditional organisms is becoming popular, as it provides fishermen with new areas of employment or alternatives when tuna fishing is poor. One non-traditional fishery in the Maldives is that for giant clam. This fishery is only a year old, but so considerably has the resourcebeen exploited that different non-fishery professionals — tourist resort owners, divers and, of course, environmentalists — have alread y shown great concern about its long term effects. It was this concern that led to the Ministry of Fisheries and Agriculture undertaking an assessment of the status of giant clams in the Maldives through their Reef Fish Research and Resources Survey Project (RAS/88/007). The assessment was executed by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations through the Bay of Bengal Programme, with funding from the United Nations Development Programme. This paper is based on the report su bmitted by the consultant to the Government of Maldives in April 1991 and describes the findings of the assessment and discusses the possibility of developing a viable mariculture project to ensure a continued existence of the giant clam in the Maldives. The author wishes to thank all the team at the Marine Research Section of the Ministry of Fisheries, particularly Maizan Hassan Maniku and Charles Allism, for their detailed backgound information, Hassan Shakeel of MRS, for putting up with man y questions and providing logistic assistance, Bill Allison for field assistance in counting of clams and John Lucas for helpful comments on the final report.

Language English

Also available in:
No results found.

Related items

Showing items related by metadata.

  • Thumbnail Image
    Project
    Programme / project report
    Biosocioeconomic Assessment of the Effects of Fish Aggregating Devices in the Tuna Fishery in the Maldives - BOBP/WP/95 1994
    Also available in:
    No results found.
    Fish Aggregating Devices (FADs) have proved very successful in the Maldives, where there is a countrywide FAD installation programme by the Ministry of Fisheries and Agriculture (MOFA) underway. The main reason for the success of FADs in the Maldives is their applicability to the existing fisheries. With the motorization of the fishing fleet, the efficiency and range of operation of the fleet has increased. FADs help not only to reduce searching time and fuel costs, but they also considerabl y increase production. Although the aggregation of fish around FADs has been demonstrated successfully, and the merits of FAD-fishing proven, data on the cost-effectiveness of FADs are still lacking. MOFA, with the assistance of the Bay of Bengal Programme’s (BOBP) regional ‘Bioeconomics’ project (RAS/91/006), therefore, undertook to assess and quantify the impact of FADs in tuna fishing. The project installed two FADs in two separate areas in the Maldives and closely studied the biological, e conomic and sociological effects of them on the fisheries and on the island communities in the two areas. The effectiveness of the two FADs was measured by comparing data collected one year before and one year after their installation. The results of the study are presented in this paper. The study was funded by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
  • Thumbnail Image
    Project
    Programme / project report
    Review of the Beche De Mer (Sea Cucumber) Fishery in the Maldives-BOBP/WP/79 1992
    Also available in:
    No results found.
    This paper is a review of the beche de mer (sea cucumber) fishery in the Maldives. The review was undertaken in view of the potential of the fishery for further development as well as the vulnerability of the resource to uncontrolled exploitation. Data and information for the review were gathered in the Maldives during a one month period in May/June 1991. The review was carried out by a Programme Officer of the Bay of Bengal Programme (BOBP). Assistance received by him, from Mr. Hassan Maniku Maizan (Director of Fisheries Research and Development in Male) and Dr. R.C. Andersson, FAO/BOBP Fishery Biologist, in overall planning of the study, from Mr. Hassan Shakeel (Fishery Resources Officer of the Marine Research Section, Male), in logistics and interpretation, from Mr. Abdullah Waiz (of the Marine Research Section, Male), in the collection of information from exporters, from Mr. Ahmed Hafiz (of the Marine Research Section, Male) and from numerous fishermen and exporters, in the provi sion of information, is gratefully acknowledged. The review and this paper which reports on it have been sponsored by the United Nations Development Programme and were executed by the Bay of Bengal Programme.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Project
    Programme / project report
    Reef Fish Resources Survey in the Maldives-BOBP/WP/64 1991
    Also available in:
    No results found.
    This paper describes exploratory fishing trials carried out for over a year (1986-87) in the reefs of North Male Atoll in the Maldives.The aim was to assess the potential for reef fish in the Maldives and study the possibilities of developing a viable reef fish fishery. The paper provides preliminary information on various reef fish species, their abundance and rates of exploitation, and the the relative efficiency of various fishing gear that can tap the reef fish resource. The trials were conducted in co-operation with the Ministry of Fisheries, Maldives, using a modified dhoni as survey vessel.Some staff were provided by the Ministry’s marine research section, while the FAO made available the services of a masterfisherman and a fisheries biologist. The exploratory reef fish project, and this paper which reports on it, were fuaded by the UNDP (the United Nations Development Programme), and carried out for the FAO by the BOBP or the Bay of Bengal Programme for Fisheries Developm ent. The BOBP began in 1979 and covers seven countries around the Bay of Bengal — Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Maldives, Sri Lanka and Thailand. Its main goals are to develop, demonstrate and promote new ideas, technologies or methodologies to improve the conditions of small-scale fisherfolk in the region.
Show more

Users also downloaded

Showing related downloaded files

  • Thumbnail Image
    Book (series)
    Flagship
    The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2021
    Transforming food systems for food security, improved nutrition and affordable healthy diets for all
    2021
    Also available in:
    In recent years, several major drivers have put the world off track to ending world hunger and malnutrition in all its forms by 2030. The challenges have grown with the COVID-19 pandemic and related containment measures. This report presents the first global assessment of food insecurity and malnutrition for 2020 and offers some indication of what hunger might look like by 2030 in a scenario further complicated by the enduring effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. It also includes new estimates of the cost and affordability of healthy diets, which provide an important link between the food security and nutrition indicators and the analysis of their trends. Altogether, the report highlights the need for a deeper reflection on how to better address the global food security and nutrition situation.To understand how hunger and malnutrition have reached these critical levels, this report draws on the analyses of the past four editions, which have produced a vast, evidence-based body of knowledge of the major drivers behind the recent changes in food security and nutrition. These drivers, which are increasing in frequency and intensity, include conflicts, climate variability and extremes, and economic slowdowns and downturns – all exacerbated by the underlying causes of poverty and very high and persistent levels of inequality. In addition, millions of people around the world suffer from food insecurity and different forms of malnutrition because they cannot afford the cost of healthy diets. From a synthesized understanding of this knowledge, updates and additional analyses are generated to create a holistic view of the combined effects of these drivers, both on each other and on food systems, and how they negatively affect food security and nutrition around the world.In turn, the evidence informs an in-depth look at how to move from silo solutions to integrated food systems solutions. In this regard, the report proposes transformative pathways that specifically address the challenges posed by the major drivers, also highlighting the types of policy and investment portfolios required to transform food systems for food security, improved nutrition, and affordable healthy diets for all. The report observes that, while the pandemic has caused major setbacks, there is much to be learned from the vulnerabilities and inequalities it has laid bare. If taken to heart, these new insights and wisdom can help get the world back on track towards the goal of ending hunger, food insecurity, and malnutrition in all its forms.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Booklet
    High-profile
    FAO Strategy on Climate Change 2022–2031 2022
    Also available in:
    The FAO Strategy on Climate Change 2022–2031 was endorsed by FAO Council in June 2022. This new strategy replaces the previous strategy from 2017 to better FAO's climate action with the Strategic Framework 2022-2031, and other FAO strategies that have been developed since then. The Strategy was elaborated following an inclusive process of consultation with FAO Members, FAO staff from headquarters and decentralized offices, as well as external partners. It articulates FAO's vision for agrifood systems by 2050, around three main pillars of action: at global and regional level, at country level, and at local level. The Strategy also encourages key guiding principles for action, such as science and innovation, inclusiveness, partnerships, and access to finance.
  • Thumbnail Image
    Book (stand-alone)
    Technical book
    The future of food and agriculture - Trends and challenges 2017
    Also available in:
    No results found.
    What will be needed to realize the vision of a world free from hunger and malnutrition? After shedding light on the nature of the challenges that agriculture and food systems are facing now and throughout the 21st century, the study provides insights into what is at stake and what needs to be done. “Business as usual” is not an option. Major transformations in agricultural systems, rural economies, and natural resources management are necessary. The present study was undertaken for the quadrennial review of FAO’s strategic framework and for the preparation of the Organization Medium-Term plan 2018-2021.
Show more