Report of Working Group I: Management Measures and Implications For Shrimp and Seabob Fisheries

47. Working Group I comprised the following members.

Closed season

48. The principal benefit expected to be derived from closing the season was an increase in the biomass of the resource mainly as a result of protecting recruits, which would attain greater size when the fishery reopens.

49. The concerns expressed by the industry included idle plants and workers being unemployed during the closed season, market obligations not being fulfilled, and in the case of Penaeid shrimp, an additional month down time before the plant could start functioning again. Effective monitoring, control and surveillance during the period of the closed season were also a concern to ensure that the closed season was not breached.

50. The Brazilian delegation shared its experiences with respect to closed seasons. Biological analyses were conducted to identify the peak period of recruitment of shrimp. Based on these analyses the closed season was recommended for four months (October to January) since 1986. This was determined by the period of peak recruitment and low catches. Initially, the industry opted to close their operations at different and shorter periods that were advantageous to them (e.g. during Christmas Holidays), which did not coincide with the recommended period. Finally, the industry agreed to comply with the recommended period for 2002, but only for three and a half months. The Brazilian delegation felt that closed season was an effective management measure and easy to apply.

51. In Brazil, during the closed season for shrimp from capture fisheries, some of the processing plants process farmed shrimp. The plants also contracted workers for the period when the season was open or send workers on vacation during the closed season and conduct maintenance of vessels and plant equipment. Further, some workers benefited from unemployment insurance.

52. The representative from French Guiana thought that more technical information, such as information to determine the period for closure (since there is recruitment all year round), was required to consider the implementation of a closed season. It was also necessary to determine the benefits to be derived from a closed season and to explain why a four-month closure may be necessary. However, the industry in French Guiana was discussing closed seasons, closed areas and reducing effort in addition to maintaining the quota system already established.

53. The Suriname participants were open-minded. Their concerns included the plight of the workers, market issues, a total closure (i.e. all trawlers must be prohibited from fishing) and the need for more technical information. It was pointed out that the migration patterns of juveniles for both shrimp and seabob should be considered. Suriname agreed to further discuss the subject with all the participants of the fishing industry before taking a decision on the issue.

54. The Guyanese participants noted that Guyana would introduce a closed season from October to November for six weeks, mainly through a vigorous initiative from the industry. They were employing a flexible approach and would adjust the closed season as more information becomes available. Also, the impacts of the closed season would be evaluated after a period of three years.

55. All the countries concluded that a closed season was a management measure to be applied, and that individually they would be examining it.

56. The group recommended that neighbouring countries should monitor their production and catch rates to determine if there was any effect, positive or negative, on the closure adopted by their neighbours. The group envisaged that an annual staggering of closed seasons could be adopted by the countries of the region in the future. Biological analyses would have to be done to determine this staggered closed season arrangement.

Restricted areas and effort reduction

57. French Guiana has restricted trawling from the 30 m isobath shorewards mainly to prevent conflicts between industrial and artisanal fishers. However, permission could be sought to trawl within that area for brief periods if it was justifiable. It was observed that this regulation was known to be violated frequently. The group agreed that restricted areas were created to protect spawning stocks or juveniles or merely to preserve nursery areas. Brazil found it difficult to monitor and control restricted areas while other countries have done it for other reasons (e.g. protection of turtle nesting areas in Guyana). All the countries have been considering it and would continue to evaluate the feasibility of implementing closed areas as a management tool.

58. French Guiana was in the process of implementing a Vessel Monitoring System (VMS) for shrimp trawlers.

59. It was pointed out that all the countries of the subregion were experiencing reduced effort in terms of number of trawlers. In Guyana shrimp trawlers have switched to seabob fishing over the years but the total number of trawlers has remained more or less constant.

60. In the case of Trinidad and Tobago, although not represented on this group, the country experts made mention of these issues in the presentation of their national report. Restricted areas and seasons have been implemented primarily to reduce conflict among the various trawler fleets, and among the trawler fleets and fleets employing other gears. Further research would be required to provide a biological basis for determining appropriate closed areas and seasons. With regard to effort reduction, a 1988 Cabinet Note prohibited the entry of additional trawlers. However, this was not enforced for the artisanal fleets. It was enforced only to a certain extent for the semi-industrial and industrial fleets. Attempts were currently being made to implement mechanisms to more effectively enforce the provisions of the Cabinet Note. The Trinidad experts also indicated that their trawl industry supported the implementation of closed areas and seasons as well as the implementation of a licensing regime for all vessels and limitation of fishing effort in order to sustainably utilize the shrimp and groundfish resources. The industry also recognized the importance of collaboration among the countries of the Guianas-Brazil Shelf, and Venezuela in particular, in research and management of these resources.