Sponsored By:
The Barbara Delano Foundation
The Homeland Foundation
The David & Lucile Packard Foundation
The AVINA Foundation

Presented By:
WildAid
Hawaii Audubon Society
Pacific Fisheries Coalition

Khaled Ibrahim Hariri
Strategic Action Plan for the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden
P. O. Box 53662
Jeddah 21583, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Email: [email protected]

Abstract.

Shark meat has always formed a traditional protein supplement for the inhabitants of coastal settlements in the countries bordering the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden (RSGA). In the hinterland, shark meat is eaten sun-dried, salted or hot smoked. With the increase in the demand for dried shark fins from South East Asia, more fishing effort has been placed on the larger offshore species. Large, dried, shark fins fetch higher prices. The shark meat itself is not consumed, and it is often thrown overboard. Primary fishing techniques have changed from long-lines to gillnets, using larger boats equipped with more powerful engines. Records of quantities landed and of exports of dried fins are unreliable. There are no stock assessment studies on sharks, and the taxonomic identification of species found in the region is incomplete. The institutional and legal frameworks for the management of the living marine resources in the countries of the region are very weak. Fisheries management plans are lacking, and there is no regional forum vested with the authority to recommend specific management measures for the member countries to adhere to. There are no management schemes at the national or regional levels to deal with the management of transboundary and highly migratory species.

Recently, a regional program, known as the Strategic Action Program (SAP) had been set up to assist in tackling coastal and marine environmental problems in the region. This paper provides an overview of the problems encountering sustainable management of sharks and other elasmobranchs in RSGA, and highlights the anticipated interventions of the SAP.

Introduction

The Red Sea and Gulf of Aden region (RSGA) is made up of three bodies, namely the Red Sea water mass, Gulf of Aden, and the Southern part of the Arabian Sea. These waters form part of the Wastern Indian Ocean and are designated areas 51 in FAO Fisheries Statistical Yearboks. The Red Sea is rich in habitats and biodiversity. Its coastal ecosystems of mangroves, salt marsh, and rocky, sandy and muddy shores border shallow seas, seagrass beds, coral reefs and abyssal depths. In the Gulf of Aden, the upwelling during the monsoons supports a valuable fishery. The water is enriched with nitrate, phosphate, ammonium and silicate nutrients for the growth and production of phytoplankton .

The predominantly autotrophic organisms form with other live plant communities the base of grazing food webs, and are most evident in deeper, clearer estuarine and nearshore systems and in consumers' grazing food webs. The nature of food webs of estuarine and marine ecosystems reflects a complex interrelationship of producers, consumers and decomposer organisms. Sharks are among the characteristic fishes in the neritic zone in the pelagic environment. In the RSGA region, sharks have a significant soci-economic role in the livelihood of the fishermen, particularily the artisanal in Gulf of Aden countries. Shark fins, livers and meat are exploited commercially. Sharks also have an important ecological role as they contribute to the natural equilibrium among the top predators.

Shark Fishing:

The artisanal fishermen responsible for most of the sharks and rays landings operate from small wooden and FRP non-deck boats of 7-12 meter overall length of the houri- type canoe-shaped boats powered with small outboard engines of 25-75 h.p. to larger sanbuq-type dhow-shaped open deck vessels. These boats are between 12-18 meters overall length and are usually powered with inboards engines of 33-200 h.p. The houri is normally operated by 3-5 crew while the larger sanbuqs are crewed by 7-12 individuals. The fishing gear used in shark fishing varies depending on the size of boat, the distance of the fishing ground from shore and the dexterity of the fishermen. Long lines are used with the main rope length varying between 80-150m. The number of hooks ranges between between 20 to 50 hooks in each long line with sizes from 1-4 (Mustad standard). Gillnets are increasingly used in shark fishing. Mesh size is 12 with average 15 cm. Mesh stretch is normally used. The length of the net or longlines fishermen also use hook and line for catching.

Distribution:

No studies on distribution of sharks species and their migratory routes through the region and the Indian Ocean are available. However, it could be stated that small sizes and juveniles are found near the shore for protection against larger predators and for the availability of food suitable to their sizes.Larger sizes of sharks are found offshore.

Catch statistical data:

The main landings of sharks and rays are by the artisanal fishermen from Yemen, Somalia and Eritria. Due to the lack of reliable data on catch and effort statistics on these landings, with the exception of statistics from Saudi Arabia, albeit no details are given for each shark species, the brief analysis given below will rely mainly on the information gathered from the Yemen shark fisheries.
This is due to the following:

• Average annual catches of sharks and rays from the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden by Yemeni artisanal fishermen in the 1990s had always exceeded the total annual landings of the countries in the region.
• Shark meat in various forms is regularily consumed by inhabitants in the coastal settlemnets and in the hinterland.
• There are some reports indicating that Yemeni fishermen also go shark fishing in waters of other neighbouring countries in RSGA.
• The trend in total landings of shark and rays by artisanal fishermen in the Yemeni waters in the Red Sea demonstrates decline with increased effort.
• The availability of recent information, based on a field preliminary study in April 1999, shows that the present landed catches of sharks probaly exceed the calculated estimates of MSY of the shark fisheries in Socotra Island. This study still needs more work and boat-based surveys to ascertain the findings.
• Management Problem: The Management Poblem relates to the lack of adequate information on the species of sharks in the region, the catch effort data and the inadequate information on the exports of dried fins in terms of quantities and species. Poaching by foreign longlines and gill netters in the Gulf of Aden compounded by the inability of surveillance and monitoring by the local authorities in the countries bordering these waters make it very difficult to estimate total catches with reasonable accuracy.

A Framework for Action:

PERSGA is the Regional Organization for the Conservation of Coastal and Marine Enviroment of the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. It is the executing agency for a recent Strategic Action Programme (SAP) recently launched with support from GEF to alleviate problems facing the management and maintenance of the rich and diverse coastal and marine resources of the region.

Strategic Action Programme (SAP) for the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden

PERSGA, as the executing agency for the SAP, will focus on seven key issues and progress in these fields will be constantly evaluated and monitored.

• Capacity Building for Regional Cooperation
• Reducing Navigation Risks and Maritime Pollution
• Sustainable Use and Management of Living Marine Resources
• Conservation of Habitats and Biological Diversity
• Development of a Regional Network of Marine Protected Areas
• Support for Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM)
• Enhancing of Public Awareness and Participation

SAP Activities

PERSGA supports a team of highly competent national experts drawn from the area and provides technical support through national focal points. Each component of the SAP is managed by a working group headed by a lead specialist from the region.

The Red Sea and Gulf of Aden form an important transport route for a substantial proportion of the world's oil supplies. The installation of new navigational aids and the development of Vessel Traffic Management systems for the southern Red Sea will reduce the risk of accidents. Improved port reception facilities for waste materials and enhanced training in oil spill management will provide extra benefits.

The rapid depletion of valuable fisheries, coupled with the loss of important spawning, nursery and feeding grounds due to destructive fishing methods and inappropriate coastal development have become serious threats to the sustainable development of living marine resources. To address this problem the SAP will develop management strategies for several target species. Stock assessments of fish, shrimp and lobster, the development of fisheries research and training centres and an enhanced capacity for the enforcement of current regulations is planned.

The region is rich in habitats and biological diversity. Coastal ecosystems such as mangrove, salt marsh, rocky, sandy and muddy shores border shallow seas, seagrass beds, coral reefs and abyssal depths. A large number of endemic species is found particularly in coral reef habitats. Endangered species such as turtles and dugongs roam across international boundaries in their search for food and breeding sites. Management plans, legislation and international cooperation will assist in the conservation of these valuable resources.

In 1998 many of the world's coral reefs suffered an episode of 'coral bleaching', a condition characterised by the loss of symbiotic algae from the coral tissue. This phenomenon, linked to rising seawater temperatures, has affected many of the reefs in the southern Red Sea. The SAP will develop a regional coral reef action plan to address this issue.

Various international reviews have recommended sites that should be set aside as marine protected areas. These locations will act as havens for threatened species and as permanent sources of juveniles that can restock areas depleted through continuous exploitation.

During the development of the SAP, a consensus was reached among participating countries that many causes of environmental problems in the region could be traced back to the lack of effective Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM). One of the priorities of the SAP will therefore be to develop and reinforce the capacity of national governments in this field. This will be a participatory process allowing for an exchange of experience and will provide assistance to those countries that do not have national ICZM plans.

To bring about broad-based participation in the SAP, multi-level awareness programmes targeting different groups within the community (fishermen, ship owners, tourism operators, harbour workers) and decision makers from national to village and household levels are essential. Educational materials focussing on the regional issues discussed, TV documentaries and an Internet webpage are foreseen that will complement PERSGA's current newsletter.

SAP Implementation

In December 1998, the Secretary General of PERSGA and representatives of the three Global Environment Facility (GEF) partners - UNDP, UNEP and The World Bank - launched the SAP in a widely publicised ceremony in Jeddah, attended by the Members of the PERSGA Council and numerous high ranking regional and international guests. The implementation of the SAP, which started immediately after the ceremony, requires approximately US$ 36 million over a five-year period. The countries of the Region, the Global Environment Facility and selected international and bilateral donors, are expected to provide the funding.

The catch per boat/day is estimated at 66.15kg (CPUE).

Table 2: In Hawlaf near Hadibou the catch composition when fishermen use longlines is 100% sharks according to the following from samples of 15 boats/day.

From 15 boats/day sampling

Table 3: Commercial and local names of shark species in the Socotran Archipelago: