Chapter I Intro & Objectives - SPREP

PHOENIX ISLANDS PROTECTED AREA MANAGEMENT PLAN
Chapter III. Background, 5. Fisheries Resources
Draft 1 March 2007
In 2001, the Ministry of Home Affairs and Rural Development initiated the Phoenix Island
Kakai Scheme (PIKS Project Manager 2002). The main activities of the scheme included:
(1) cutting copra, (2) shark fins, (3) sea cucumbers, (4) seaweed, and (5) replanting coconut
trees and cleaning. Shark finning was initially successful with the use of longline. However,
the boat and engine broken and could not be repaired. Sea cucumbers were not abundant.
Only wae ura and tabanebane were found in harvestable amounts. In 2002, a survey was
conducted and wae ura was found on the ocean side. Seaweed was transplanted in 2001 from
Fanning, but this failed as the vessel stayed too long on Christmas Island. A second attempt
in 2002 from Fanning was successful.
In 2001, a foreign-owned shark finning vessel visited most of the Phoenix Islands
(Mangubhai 2002). Notable decreases in shark populations were observed in some of the
Phoneix Islands after.
Obura and Stone (2003) reported that Napoleon wrasse numbers declined from 2000 and
2002 (see also Stone et al 2001). These declines occurred even though this species was not
targeted by longliners.
ABARIRINGA (CANTON, KANTON)
In 1949, J. Francis of Honolulu set up Marine Products Inc. on Abariringa (Canton) (Teiwaki
1988). The scheme used i-Kiribati fishermen to catch tuna, mullet and lobster and ship
products using military transports to Hawaii. The originator of the concept of fish exports
from Abariringa (Canton) was Jim Francis, a fisheries research from Hawaii (Murphy et al
1954). He formed Marine Products Company that he later sold to Medeiros, Izami, and
Chee. Oates (2003) reported that J. Francis’ fish exports from Abariringa (Canton) did not
start until 1952. Within the first 6 months, about 20.4 tonnes (45,000 pounds) of fish,
primarily mullet, were shipped to Hawaii.
In 1950, T.H. Miller of Fiji set up the Phoenix Islands Fisheries on Abariringa (Canton)
(Teiwaki 1988). Miller also hired i-Kiribati fishermen to catch tuna, mullet, and lobster.
Fresh fish were sent to Hawaii. Halstead (1950) noted that T.H. Miller owned the Phoenix
Islands Fishing Company on Abariringa (Canton). Fish were shipped twice a week to
Honolulu via airplane.
Both Francis and Miller were able to use U.S. military transport and infrastructure to support
their operations (Teiwaki 1988).
Bailey (1952) reported that frozen fish were being exported from Abariringa (Canton) to
Honolulu by air.
In 1952, Joe Medeiros, a Portuguese fisher was exporting fish to Honolulu (Murphy et al
(1954). Murphy et al (1954) noted that it was only because of the dependable plane
transportation that commercial fishing was feasible on Abariringa (Canton). About 907 to
1,361 kg (2,000 or 3,000 pounds) of fish were exported weekly to Honolulu by Medeiros.
Fish were then sold at the Honolulu auction.
Walker (1955) reported that about 9 tonnes (20,000 pounds) of chilled fish were ship by air to
Hawaii each month. Pan American handled two shipments per week. Walker (1955) noted
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