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Spearfishing in the Pacific Islands. Current status and management issues.

Year of publication 2006

Pages 72

Author Gillett, R.; Moy, W.;Fishery and Aquaculture Economics and Policy Division

Product type Book (series)

Series title FAO/FishCode Review

Series number 1728-4392 - FCR19

Edition 1

Synopsis (short abstract) Spearfishing is growing in importance in the Pacific Islands. While its management has featured as a topic in some regional-level meetings, detailed information on spearfishing is surprisingly scarce. In early 1994, the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) proposed to consolidate information on spearfishing in the Pacific Islands. The original intent was to undertake a review of the available literature through a desk study. With the realization that many issues related to spearfis hing are undocumented, the strategy was changed to include some field work. These activities were supported by the FAO FishCode Programme. This report reviews spearfishing in selected Pacific Island countries and identifies the important species caught by and the major problems associated with the method. It further considers possible interventions to mitigate these problems and the assistance that is likely to be required by Pacific Island countries in the management of their spearf isheries. Visits to five countries undertaken during the study show that there are very large differences between countries, and between locations within a single country, in the level and type of spearfishing activities. General conclusions on the management of spearfishing include: (a) for several reasons, a complete ban of scuba spearfishing coupled with effective enforcement is the single most important spearfishing management measure; (b) spearfishing effort must be managed along wi th other forms of inshore fishing, since attempts at restricting spearfishing alone are not likely to be successful as fishing effort may be easily transferred to other small-scale fishing methods; and (c) in the management of inshore fisheries, including that of spearfishing, interventions must be formulated, initiated and enforced at the local level, preferably with some assistance from the national level.

Cite this content as:

Gillett, R.; Moy, W.Spearfishing in the Pacific Islands. Current status and management issues.FAO/FishCode Review. No. 19. Rome, FAO. 2006.72p.

Language English

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