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THE SOUTH CHINA SEA FISHERIES REFUGIA INITIATIVE

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The 8th Project Steering Committee Meeting

DATE: 23 December 2022 

TIME: 08:30 – 11:30AM, UTC+7

LOCATION: Virtual Meeting

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Regional Training Workshop on Larval Fish Identification

DATE: 16-27 November 2022

LOCATION: SEAFDEC/TD

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Project Document

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About Fisheries Refugia

About Fisheries Refugia

Refugia Guidelines

Refugia Guidelines

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Establishment of Fisheries Refugia in Malaysia:
Background and Situation Analysis to Support

 

Priority Fisheries Refugia Areas

The fisheries refugia concept was defined by the RWG-F as “Spatially and geographically defined, marine or coastal areas in which specific management measures are applied to sustain important species [fisheries resources] during critical stages of their life cycle, for their sustainable use” (UNEP, 2005) and was developed as a novel approach to the identification and designation of priority areas in which to integrate fisheries and habitat management. The fisheries refugia concept focuses on the nature of the particular habitat and its critical significance to the life-history of the fished species. Management of refugia, therefore, focuses on the habitat rather than simply restricting access, either temporally or spatially, to fishing grounds. The process of identifying priority fisheries refugia in Malaysia was initiated via a RWG-F review of the above list of sites in relation to information on the distribution and abundance of fish eggs and larvae in the South China Sea; and the outcomes of country consultations on the identification of fisheries refugia.

In Malaysia, a national consultation was undertaken to identify priority locations for the establishment of fisheries refugia. This consultation involved participation by representatives from local government units, research institutes, law enforcers, fisherfolk organizations, and non-governmental organizations. The purpose of these consultations was to introduce participants to the concept of fisheries refugia and the procedures for the identification and selection of refugia sites and involved: establishing a consensual understanding of the concept of fisheries refugia among participants and prioritizing sites for inclusion in a national and regional system of fisheries refugia. The consultations also considered available information on areas critical to the life-cycles of demersal and pelagic species along the South China Sea coast of Malaysia. The priority fisheries refugia sites selected for Malaysia are at (1) Tg. Leman, Johor, and (2) Kuala Baram, Sarawak. These sites are depicted in Figure 1.

Figure 1:Sites selected in Malaysia for inclusion in an initial system of fisheries refugia

 

 

              

 

Establishment of Fisheries Refugia in Malaysia:
Background and Situation Analysis to Support

 

Known Areas of Critical Significance to the Life-Cycles of Fisheries Resources

Fish resources in the South China Sea are very important to Malaysia and a lot of studies have been done to determine its status. Contrary to that, very few efforts have been put into the study of fish larvae. The abundance of fish larvae is an indicator of fertile water. Published works on studies of fish larvae in Malaysian waters in the South China Sea are limited. Realizing this, the Fisheries Department had started to include fish larvae study in the fish resources survey that had been conducted regularly in Malaysian waters. Knowledge of morphology, spawning season, spawning, and nursery grounds are important for proper fisheries management.

The fish larvae survey in Southeast Asia was first carried out by Delsman in the Java Sea (1930). In the South China Sea, Vatanachai (1972) and Termvidchakorn (1999a, 1999b) reported a number of studies that were carried out by Southeast Asian Fisheries Development Center (SEAFDEC) on the Gulf of Thailand, East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia, West Sabah, Brunei Darussalam, and Sarawak. Several surveys on larval fish have been done in Malaysian waters by DoF Malaysia since 1999. Surveys conducted were not on a regular basis but depending on the budget available. Result of the surveys giving the preliminary information of spawning and nursery area based on the high density of fish egg and larvae. This information can be used in formulating fisheries management strategies.

The surveys can be divided into some different areas: Strait of Malacca on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia, east coast of Peninsular Malaysia in the South China Sea, Sabah and Sarawak waters in the South China Sea and Sulu-Sulawesi Sea in the east coast of Sabah. Malaysia as a member country of SEAFDEC has collaborated in the sampling of larval fish in the South China Sea since 1999. A survey in the Strait of Malacca on the west coast of Peninsular Malaysia has been conducted in 2006. It covered the area between Langkawi Island in the north to Port Klang in the south. The high density of fish larvae and fish eggs were observed near the coastal areas off  Pulau  Langkawi, Matang Mangrove area. Off Kuala Selangor and Port Klang areas were also a high density of fish larvae and may relate to the one-fathom bank where it was reported that upwelling occurs which then supports the growth of phytoplankton & zooplankton and consumed by fish larvae. The top five families of fish larvae during study duration were Engraulidae, Bregmacerothidae, Gobiidae, Carangidae, and Scombridae. This study showed that mangrove areas and islands play an important role in spawning and nursery ground for fish species. Surveys in Sabah and Sarawak waters in 2010 showed that families Carangidae, Serranidae, Scombridae, Synodontidae, Clupeidae, and Lutjanidae were among the commercially important in the study area. The density of fish egg and larvae were higher near the coastal area compared to deeper water.  The area of Luconia shoal was a high density of fish egg and larvae. 

  

 

 

              

 

Establishment of Fisheries Refugia in Malaysia:
Background and Situation Analysis to Support

 

Baseline analysis and gaps

The experience of Malaysia with a lack of compliance with no-take ‘MPAs’ was the entry point to efforts to improve the basis for integrated fish stock and habitat management in Malaysia. Particularly this experience laid stress on the importance of focusing on the concepts of sustainable use and fishery-critical habitat linkages in communicating with government officials and coastal fishing communities in Malaysia about spatial fisheries management tools. It was noted by the Department of Fisheries that these are more easily understood and likely accepted at the fisheries community level than either the science of no-take areas or the concept of biodiversity and its conservation.

Stakeholder consultations involving representatives from local government units, regional government agencies, law enforcers, fisherfolk organization, non-governmental organizations, and national fisheries committee members have been undertaken and resulted in:  the identification of goals and objectives for the priority refugia sites identified above; and a high level of stakeholder support for the establishment of the refugia approach in Malaysia.

Key gaps that have been identified include needs for:

  • Enhanced national coordination mechanism to accommodate overarching responsibility for the establishment of national fisheries refugia;
  • Strengthened enabling environment for the formal designation and operational management of fisheries refugia;
  • Improved national and site-level science and information base to support evidence-based planning and operational management; and
  • Development of practical experience in the designation and management of fisheries refugia sites

 

Key gaps that have been identified include needs for:

  • Enhanced national coordination mechanism to accommodate overarching responsibility for the establishment of national fisheries refugia;
  • Strengthened enabling environment for the formal designation and operational management of fisheries refugia;
  • Improved national and site-level science and information base to support evidence-based planning and operational management; and
  • Development of practical experience in the designation and management of fisheries refugia sites

 

  1. Stakeholder mapping and analysis
  2. Institutional, sectoral and policy context
  3. Threats, root causes and barrier analysis
  4. Status and Trends in Fisheries and their Habitats

 

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