Training Visit on Fisheries Resource Management and Fishing Ground Improvement/Creation in Japan

Summary Report Activities on Fisheries Resource Management and Fishing Ground Improvement/Creation in Japa

Study on Juvenile and Trash Excluder Devices (JTEDs) in Myanmar

The SEAFDEC Training Department, in cooperation with the Department of Fisheries, Myanmar conducted experiments on Juvenile and Trash Excluder Devices in Myanmar. The objective of the experiment is to compare the efficiency for catch and release of juvenile and trash fishes using different escape openings of JTEDs. The rigid sorting grid with a bar space of 1, 2 and 3 cm was operated at 5 stations each. The window shaped JTED and semi-curved JTED were operated at 4 stations and 3 stations, respectively. There were a total of 22 operations. The CPUE of the fish trawl net operated in Myanmar waters was 99.75 kg/hr/haul. The escape rate of the trawl net catches using the rigid sorting grid JTEDs with 1, 2, 3-cm bar spacing, the window shaped and semi-curved JTEDs was 30.39, 31.26, 92.62, 8.43 and 9.87%, respectively. However, some large fish could escape the rigid sorting grid with bar spacing of 2 and 3 cm, window shaped and semi-curved JTEDs. The groups of escaped catches were trash fish, demersal fish, pelagic fish and cephalopod with escape rate of 43.49, 41.05, 10.24 and 5.22%, respectively. The major species of commercial-demersal catch that escaped from all JTEDs was Saurida tumbil and followed by Nemipterus sp. and Upeneus sp. Nemipterus sp. The size of the escaped species caught in cod-end was larger than those caught in cover net

Study on Juvenile and Trash Excluder Devices (JTEDs) in Brunei Darussalam

The SEAFDEC Training Department, in cooperation with the Department of Fisheries, Brunei Darussalam, conducted the second series of experiments on Juvenile and Trash Excluder Devices in Brunei Darussalam. The objective being to study the catching and release efficiency for juvenile and trash fishes using different escape openings of the JTEDs. The rigid sorting grid with a bar space of 1, 2 and 3cm were operated at 6 stations in daytime, 4 stations at night and at 2 special stations for the rigid sorting grid with a bar space 1 cm for sea trials. The rectangular shaped JTEDs and semi-curved d JTEDs were operated at 6 stations at night only. There were a total of 44 operations. The CPUEs of the fish trawl net, operated in the northern areas of Brunei Darussalam were 283.27 kg/hr, about 54% in daytime and 46% at night. Escape rate percentages, by weight, of the trawl net with the rigid sorting grid JTEDs attached and having a bar space of 1, 2, 3cm, the rectangular shaped JTEDs and semi-curved JTEDs were 30.38, 77.67, 86.29, 40.03 and 12.77%, respectively. However there were some large fishes that could escape from the rigid sorting grid JTEDs with bar spacing of 2 and 3 cm of both the rectangular shaped JTEDs and semi-curved d JTEDs. The estimated selectivity curves were shown the sizes of Leiognathus ssp., which escaped from the rigid sorting grid JTEDs with bar spacing of 1, 2, 3cm in both the rectangular shaped JTEDs and semi-curved d JTEDs at L50, were 10.30, 13.29, 14.22, 4.28 and 9.16, respectively. The estimate selectivity curves were shown the sizes of Gerres ssp., which escaped from the rigid sorting grid JTEDs with bar spacing of 1, 2, 3cm of both the rectangular shaped JTEDs and semi-curved d JTEDs at L50, were 11.77, 13.40, 12.90, 11.91 and 10.01, respectively.2nd Ed

Environmental Survey Studies on Artificial Reefs in Rayong Province, Thailand: Technical Assistance in a Pilot Site for Suitable Designs of Resource Enhancement Practices

The series of environmental survey studies on artificial reefs carried out in Rayong Province, Thailand by SEAFDEC Training Department was part of the pilot project and capacity building on rehabilitation of fisheries resources and habitats and fishing grounds implemented during 2010 to 2014. Selected onsite study and evaluation of enhancement practices including impacts of artificial reefs to fisheries resources and environment were conducted in order to provide technical assistance to the Member Countries in their efforts to identify pilot project sites and capacity building activities on rehabilitation of fishery resources and habitats/fishing grounds. The survey studies were carried out based on fishing gear used in order to determine the species composition and abundance, while underwater observation was carried out to inspect the conditions of the artificial reefs 'Rayong No. 2' installed at the eastern part of Samed Island, Rayong Province in December 2009 by the Department of Fisheries (DOF) of Thailand. The G-18 position of the artificial reefs (Lat. N 12 degree 31.085, Long. E 101 degree 30.830), was selected and referred to as a major site for the study as it comprised large amount of concrete block ARs (35 pieces of ARs 1.5 m super(3)) and probably has the most abundant species diversity in the ARs area. The fishing gears and equipment used for the species composition survey were fish trap, bottom gill-net, hand line, juvenile fish trap, Smith-McIntyre grab, and underwater observation. Results of the survey from fish trap operation before the ARs installation (February - March 2009) indicated the abundance of 18 fish species, and total catch was 52,658 g inside the ARs area. The major species caught were Lutjanus vitta, Diagramma pictum, Scolopsis monogramma and Monacanthus chinensis at 1863.3, 1520.8, 348.3, and 162.5 g/trap/time, respectively. Meanwhile, one year after ARs installation (March 2011), the fish trap operation indicated 12 fish species were found inside ARs area, and total catch was 22,520 g. The major species caught were Siganus javas, Lutjanus lyjanus, Lutjanus russelli, Siganus canaliculatus and Diagramma pictum at 202.5, 1360.0, 500.0, and 500.0 g/trap/time, respectively. Results from fish trap operations showed that the number of species and amount of catch decreased one year after ARs installation. Results from benthos survey in August 2011 showed that there were 26 species of macro benthos found around the G-18 ARs position. There were 531 individuals found at the distance of 50 m to the west (W-50) yet in the most concentrated position there were 8 species. The major species found belong to Family Capitellidae, Family Pectinariidae and Family Maldanidae. Results of benthos survey in October 2012 found that there were 31 species around the G-18 ARs position, where 968 individuals were found at the distance 50 m to the south (S-50) yet the most concentrated position there were 10 species. The major species found belong to Family Capetellidae, Family Nereididae, Family Onuphidae, and Family Maldanida. Results from interview with local fishers around Ban Phe Bay indicated that the major fishing gear used were fish trap, squid trap, bottom gill-net, hand line, and towing-line. Most of the fishers occasionally operated their fishing gear around ARs because the abundance of fish was not rich. The accident where about 50,000 liters of crude oil leaked from the PTT Global Chemical pipeline around 20 km off the coast of Rayong on 27 July 2013 had caused massive impact to the environmental condition and ARs around Ban Phe Bay. This accident led to severe reduction of the fishery resources around Rayong Bay for a year. However, the results from a study on water circulation around Rayong Bay and Samed Island during September 2013 showed that water circulation around ARs area was less due to a blockage along the shore where tidal current flow eastward Samed Island. Less current which flowed through the ARs structures could be the cause of less biological growth in the ARs areas

Resources Conservation and Enhancement in Nam Houm Reservoir, Lao PDR

In 2010, the Training Department of the Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC/TD) in cooperation with Department of Fisheries of Thailand and Department of Livestock and Fisheries of Lao PDR embarked on a five-year project on Rehabilitation of Fisheries Resources and Habitat/Fishing Grounds for Resources Enhancement funded by Japanese Trust Fund 5 (JTF-5). The selected project pilot site was Nam Houm Reservoir in Lao PDR. Mainly used support agriculture, Nam Houm Reservoir has water serving capacity of 60 million m3 in wet season. The total population from four villages near the Reservoir is 3,300 and as reported there are 36 species of fish in Nam Houm Reservoir. The main valuable and market species are tilapia Oreochromis niloticus, featherback fish Notopterus notopterus, and common silver barb Barbonymus gonionotus (Bleeker, 1849). The Project carried out various activities including improvement of fisheries information and data collection, promotion of sustainable fisheries and the concept of community-based and co-management in inland fisheries, strengthening of critical habitat protection measures by installing 50 pieces of highly effective fish shelter with fishing gear prevention tools in the conservation area to protect broodstocks from illegal fishers, technology transfer of mobile hatchery to the fishers group at Nam Houm Reservoir, as well as promotion of breeding techniques for common silver barb by injecting hormones to broodstocks and juvenile fish releasing techniques. All activities were successfully undertaken with the cooperation of Nam Houm Reservoir Fishery Management Committee (RFMR) and local fishers. The Project also demonstrated a good practice of comanagement between local people and government in the inland fishery sector. Moreover, the technical knowledge and techniques from the team of experts had been transferred to local officers and local people during the Project period. Now, the local people can apply and develop more techniques appropriate for reservoir fisheries in the country to achieve the goal of sustainable inland fisheries management in the future

Habitat Conservation and Resources Enchancement in Seagrass Beds in Sriboya Island, Krabi Province, Thailand

The project on 'Rehabilitation of Fisheries Resources and Habitat/Fishing Grounds through Resources Enhancement', has been undertaken by Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center/Training Department (SEAFDEC/TD) since 2010 to identify appropriate resource enhancement tools, develop strategies and guidelines for resources enhancement for various types of aquatic habitats, and support capacity building for the ASEAN Member States in the implementation of their respective resource enhancement programs. The activities pursued with local communities in sites selected as critical fishing grounds in marine habitats, included conservation and rehabilitation measures that had been conducted. A deteriorated seagrass bed area in Sriboya Island, Krabi Province, Thailand was selected as one of the pilot sites to mitigate the depleted stocks of a species of an edible sea snail, the dog conch (Strombus canarium) which is commonly harvested by fishers and local communities by hand and/or labor-saving equipment as motorized boats, dredges and diving with air pump supply. However, such massive collection methods of harvesting easily led to drastic degradation of the seagrass bed habitats as well as deterioration of the dog conch population. TD therefore promoted the conservation and optimum utilization of dog conch through public awareness activities. The workshops on Andaman Sea Province Dog Conch Shell Resource Management Measures on August 2013 and 2014 in Krabi Province, Thailand, which was participated in by local stakeholders in Krabi and nearby provinces, led to an agreement and subsequent implementation of several management schemes, such as restrictions on dog conch harvestable size (<6 cm) and types of fishing gear (dredges), as well as banning the use of motorized boats. Furthermore, several types of media that support awareness building, such as posters, stickers, brochures and banners were produced and distributed to several provinces along the Andaman Sea coast. Through such activities, permanent dog conch conservation areas were established by local fishing communities at Sriboya Island in Krabi Province, and Muk Island in Trang Province. Demarcation of conservation areas at Sarai Island in Satun Province and some other areas had been proposed and under consideration by their respective local fishing community