{"id":504,"date":"2020-03-09T07:05:38","date_gmt":"2020-03-09T07:05:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wiomsa.org\/researchsupport\/?page_id=504"},"modified":"2025-05-09T07:51:18","modified_gmt":"2025-05-09T07:51:18","slug":"phase-i-fish-spawning-aggregation-sites-fsas","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/wiomsa.org\/researchsupport\/phase-i-fish-spawning-aggregation-sites-fsas\/","title":{"rendered":"Phase I – Determination of the Distribution and Characteristics of Fish Spawning Aggregation Sites (FSAS) and their Importance to the Artisanal Fisheries Resources of Seychelles"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t

Determination of the Distribution and Characteristics of Fish Spawning Aggregation Sites (FSAS) and their Importance to the Artisanal Fisheries Resources of Seychelles<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
Keywords<\/h6>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
Country Covered<\/h6>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Fish spawning aggregations, local ecological knowledge, reproductive biology, fisheries management, socio-economics<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Seychelles<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
Lead Institution<\/h6>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
Project Duration<\/h6>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Seychelles Fishing Authority (SFA), Mah\u00e9, Republic of Seychelles<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

February 2003 – March 2005<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
Abstract<\/h6>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Many reef fishes aggregate at specific times and locations for the purpose of spawning. Spawning aggregations are vulnerable to overfishing, notably transient-type aggregations typically of many groupers (Serranidae) and rabbitfishes (Siganidae). The overall aim of the programme was to determine the importance of Fish Spawning Aggregation (FSAs) for the management of artisanal reef fisheries. Specifically the project aimed at assimilating local knowledge (LK) on FSA, and verifying the LK information of location and timing of FSA and their dynamics using in-situ<\/em> studies. The project also aimed at studying the reproductive biology of some key species, assess the socio-economic impacts of a range of regulatory management tools designed to conserve FSAs, including closed areas\/seasons; develop a GIS-based management tool to examine management strategies for the conservation of FSAs and to make management recommendations based on consultations with stakeholders; provide training in the practical skills necessary to implement FSA and reproductive biology research; and raise awareness of the importance of FSAs and reproductive biology through community outreach and media programmes. The targeted beneficiaries of the project included the local fishing community, the scientific community, policy and decision-makers.<\/p>

Several activities were conducted during the study in order to answer the set objectives. (i) Investigation of fishers\u2019 local knowledge (LK) on FSA in order to identify key sites and vulnerable species for verification and further studies, (ii) Locating and verifying fisher reports of transient FSAs and defining periodicity and other FSA dynamics considered important for monitoring and management, (iii) Provision of accurate information on spawning periodicity and patterns of E. multinotatus<\/em> and S. sutor<\/em>, (iv) Socio-economic surveys of the small boat trap and schooner handline fisheries and (v) training, and awareness raising and education programmes on the importance of FSAs were conducted. The project was implemented in Seychelles specifically in the granitic islands of Mah\u00e9, Praslin and La Digue.<\/p>

Main outcomes of the study may be summerised as below. (i) it was verified that artisanal fishers are aware of fish spawning aggregations and common aggregating species include some commercially exploited species such as included Epinephelus polyphekadion<\/em>, E. fuscoguttatus<\/em>, Plectropomus punctatus<\/em> and Siganus sutor<\/em> as well as individuals belonging to lethrinids and lutjanids, (ii) Siganids were the most important family to the trap fishery, comprising around 50 % of annual catches<\/p>

Through this project, the MASMA programme has contributed to provisioning of knowledge necessary for management and decision-making. Generally the project enhanced awareness of FSAs, supported the training necessary to undertake research and monitoring, generated baseline information on their location, fisheries and socio-economic importance, and has highlighted the importance of their conservation and management needs. Increased awareness of the issues surrounding FSAs was an outcome of the project, as evidenced by their consideration on government agenda. The Seychelles government position regarding the management and conservation of FSAs, both locally and internationally, was affirmed in November 2004 when, at the 3rd<\/sup> World Conservation Congress in Bangkok, Thailand, the Seychelles Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources was the lead sponsor of a recommendation (subsequently adopted) calling on governments, regional and international NGOs, and fisheries management organizations to take steps to conserve and manage FSAs.<\/p>

Several projects spinned off from this study. (i) The importance of identifying FSAs formed the basis for interview-based studies of local ecological knowledge in Kenya, Mozambique and Tanzania during 2004, implemented by IUCN\u2019s Eastern Africa Regional Programme under the NORAD funded Jakarta Mandate programme.(ii) Pathed way for continuing research in locating and defining further FSAs through funding by the Seychelles-EU Fishing Agreement. (iii) Social studies pertaining to the potential for co-management of trap fishery are ongoing, in collaboration with a local environmental NGO (Nature Seychelles). (iv) The findings of this project provided the rationale for inclusion of demonstration sites for trap fishery co-management in a large, local UNDP-GEF programme (Mainstreaming Biodiversity) in April 2007. (v) In the WIO, efforts were ongoing to develop a regional level programme in support of FSA research and management, focusing on the requirement for protected areas and networks building on the concepts of resilience.<\/p>

The project identified future potential studies in areas of FSA dynamics and reproductive biology, information that is vital for effective FSA management.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
Project Objective<\/h6>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
Project Activities<\/h6>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\u2022 Assimilate and verify local knowledge on FSAs, particularly regarding their locations and timing.
\u2022 Study the reproductive biology of key fish species, including groupers and rabbitfishes.
\u2022 Assess socio-economic impacts of various management strategies designed to conserve FSAs.
\u2022 Develop a GIS-based management tool for conservation strategies related to FSAs.
\u2022 Provide training in FSA and reproductive biology research methodologies.
\u2022 Raise community awareness about the significance of FSAs through outreach and media programs.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\u2022 Investigating Local Knowledge: Engaging with fishers to identify critical FSA sites and vulnerable species.
\u2022 Locating Transient Aggregations: Verifying fisher reports to better understand FSA periodicity and dynamics.
\u2022 Collecting Accurate Data: Providing information on spawning patterns of key species such as E. multinotatus and S. sutor.
\u2022 Conducting Socio-Economic Surveys: Analyzing the roles of small boat traps and handline fisheries.
\u2022 Implementing Training Programs: Offering educational initiatives focused on FSAs.
The project specifically targeted the granitic islands of Mah\u00e9, Praslin, and La Digue in Seychelles<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
Study Sites<\/h6>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
Project Total Budget (USD)<\/h6>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t