Lagoon FADs for Nonouti, Kiribati

A Lagoon FAD workshop, which involved 23 participants from the 10 villages of Nonouti Island, in Kiribati, was implemented during the months of August and September as part of the development of Kiribati’s Community-based Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries Management (CEAFM) programme. The programme was the result of a request by the Nonouti Member of Parliament and former President of Kiribati, Ieremia Tabai, to the Kiribati Ministry of Fisheries to develop a resource management programme for the Nonouti inshore fisheries which also included the development of the bonefish fishery as a tourist attraction and a management plan for this particular fishery.

This project was implemented through a joint effort between SPC’s Nearshore Fisheries Development Section (NFDS) and Coastal Fisheries Science and Management Section (CFSMS), the Kiribati Fisheries Division, and the Nonouti Island Council. SPC’s CFSMS provided input in the development of CEAFM plans and strategies while the NFDS provided the technical input on lagoon FAD work. The lagoon FAD materials were purchased with funding from the Republic of China’s Regional Assistance.  The grant was a result of a funding proposal submitted by the CFSMS for the development of Kiribati’s 2009 CEAFM programme but the project did not get off the ground until August 2010 due to the delayed disbursement of funds from the donor.

Earlier in the year community consultations were carried out by Etuati Ropati, SPC Coastal Fisheries Management Officer, in 8 of the 10 villages on Nonouti.  This resulted in recommendations to the Nonouti Island Council to implement management actions focussed on developing alternatives to support current undertakings. One of the problem areas identified was reduced catches within the lagoon area prompting artisanal fishermen to venture further away from their villagers and even to fish offshore for pelagic species. Increased fishing effort and the use of nets were the major contributors to reducing the lagoon fish stocks.

Several ideas such as the implementation of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs), control on the use of nets, and offshore FADs were suggested as starting points for the recovery of lagoon fish stocks. In addition to this, it was recommended to experiment with lagoon FADs as another potential method of recovering lagoon stocks. This was one of the most important techniques for bait-fishing for the pole and line industry which was not commonly known except amongst experienced pole and line Fishing Masters. These FADs produced a large recurring stock of bait-fish as well as bottom fish species and lagoon pelagics in a short time; usually after two weeks.

The concept for lagoon FADs is the same as for nearshore and offshore FADs; that is, to start a food chain by attracting bait-fish to aggregators and bigger fish will follow. However, to be productive for bottom fish species as well as lagoon pelagics the aggregators on the lagoon FADs need to be connected to the anchor system on the bottom to at least half the lagoon depth. In some areas where there is more co-operation between fishermen and boat users the aggregators can run all the way from the bottom to the surface. This is especially useful in shallow waters. Lagoon FADs should only be deployed in lagoon areas that are constantly underwater to around 6 feet. Also, the effectiveness of lagoon FADs depend on the amount of aggregating systems deployed within a selected area. The more moored aggregating systems in an area the more productive the system. Usually all the aggregating systems are connected to each other by small sized ropes to help the anchor system to settle and to prevent individual aggregating systems to drift away from the bunch.

In Nonouti, six lagoon FAD systems were constructed and three were deployed; one each off Matang Village, Tenanoraoi Village, and Teuabu Village. The deployment of the other three constructed lagoon FADs will be decided between the Nonouti Island Council and the remaining villages. Additional gears for the FADs are stored in a container at the Kiribati Fisheries complex at Tanaia, Tarawa. These gears will be transferred to the Nonouti Island Council when they are required to construct more lagoon FADs for the rest of the villages.

A parting message to the Nonouti Island Council and to the participants from the 10 villages was to ensure that they filled the logsheets provided so that sufficient data can be obtained to reinforce justifications for continued funding of lagoon FADs and also to provide important data for fisheries management.

For more information, please contact: William SOKIMI, Nearshore Fisheries Development Officer, or Etuati Ropati, Coastal Fisheries Management Officer