WIOMSA-CORDIO spawning book Full Doc 10 oct 13.pdf

2009-2010 would suggest that previous aggregations were sizable if this fishery has persisted forgenerations, but the low productivity of this species and improvements in fishing technology aredepleting the aggregation. Recently, subsequent to the surveys and interviews, Kizimkazi fishershave reported to one of us (NJ) that the total catch in the 2011-2012 season has declined to ca. 45individuals. We have also received anecdotal reports of increased incidental catch, which may reflectgreater numbers of shark fishers operating with the same heavy hook and line gear used to catchE. lanceolatus. Using the vulnerability framework described later in Chapter 11, we assessed thisspecies and its fishery as highly vulnerable because: a) fishers’ knowledge of the seasonal occurrenceof the Giant grouper aggregation is good; b) fishers’ access to the site is high; c) aggregationfishing may be the main driver of potential population collapse, since fishers catch E. lanceolatuspredominantly when aggregating, although year-round data are scant; d) there is no regulatoryco-management framework for this species in Zanzibar; and e) the market demand is relativelyhigh, since the fish are valuable in the Zanzibar town market. In conclusion we recommend thatZanzibar fisheries management agencies and institutes initiate discussions with fishers as a matterof urgency regarding this aggregation-based fishery before it disappears.101