Haruko Koike and Alan Friedlander
This study assesses the ecology and the fishery of sea cucumbers in the Seychelles to aid future management decisions
Thelanota ananas
Holothuria fuscogilva
Background
Sea cucumbers have been fished as a delicacy for many years, but recent increases in demand have led some species to become overfished and even endangered. To compensate for the decline in catch, fishing grounds have expanded. Seychelles sea cucumber fishery has grown since the 1990s and the Seychelles Fishing Authority (SFA) has noticed a decline in their population. This project aims to further understand the ecology of sea cucumbers in Seychelles, assess their stock status, and simulate management scenarios.
Seacucumber Fishermen in the Seychelles
Seacucumber Fisherman in the Seychelles
Project Goals
- Assess current stock status and its response to fishing activities and habitat
- Describe the fishery pattern
- Create recommendations for management
Methods
Ecological
- Conduct underwater visual survey to estimate current stock size and habitat associated
Fishery Analysis
- Analyze fishery trend from log books
- Combine conventional stock assessment with ecological data collected
Economical
- Conduct bioeconomic analysis to provide management option through market control
NMDS graph showing the relationship between ecological variable, fishing effort, and size
For more information please contact Haruko Koike: hkoike@hawaii.edu
Fisheries Ecology Research Lab 