2021 STATE OF THE SNAPPER FISHERY IN FISHERY MANAGEMENT AREAS (WPP) 713, 718 & 573
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Annexes
Annex 1:
Consortium Members’ Highlights ◀ Citizen Science Program Fisheries Data Monitoring. © Fish for Good, 2021
Progress was made in the different elements of our work because of the efforts by our partners in the Consortium to ensure achievement in the various management interventions that we seek. Last year, Konservasi Alam Nusantara (YKAN) and Poseidon Aquatic Resources carried out a study in understanding plastics and gears usage behavior in the snapper industry. A survey among fishers described and quantified plastic use and waste streams, which are categorized in terms of fishing gear, catch preservation, and other plastic waste (e.g., food packaging & consumables). Taking opportunity from the Crew Operated Data Recording System (CODRS) network, the study has collected 384 responses of distributed questionnaires from fishers using a variety of gear types based at over 50 different landing site locations across Indonesia or around 3.5% of vessels involved in snapper fishery. The large number of respondents created a significant sample in most gear and size categories. Key findings from the study include the estimated Abandoned, Lost and Discard Fishing Gear (ALDFG) from the snapper fishery amounts to about 127 t, out of a total of 3,000 t produced by Indonesia’s demersal capture fisheries;
and an estimated 658 t of plastic bags and plastic wrap is used in catch preservation in the snapper fisheries. In total, over 1,680 t of general plastic waste is estimated to be generated by Indonesia’s snapper fleet, consisting mostly of single-use plastic (food wrapping, drinks bottles, etc.) and some broken multi-use plastic items, including fishing gear items. Nearly 1,500 t is disposed of at sea per year, meaning that general vessel waste from the snapper fishery makes the largest direct contribution to marine litter. The small amount of gear waste generated in the fishery usually becomes part of this general waste stream.
Catch sorting at wholesaler, Kupang. © YKAN
Understanding the behavior in plastics and gears usage in the snapper industry provides a conceptual layout to achieve a holistic approach across prevention, mitigation, and remediation that would eventually contribute to protecting and conserving our marine resources. This study is one of YKAN’s efforts to ensure that snapper fisheries in Indonesia meet the Marine Stewardship Council Principle 2 standard: minimizing environmental impact.
Rani Ekawaty conducts socio-economic surveys with fishermen from the snapper fishery. © YKAN
