PART I

BACKGROUND TO THE WORKSHOP

The Global Environment Facility (GEF)/United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)/The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) programme on “Reduction of environmental impact from tropical shrimp trawling, through the introduction of bycatch reduction technologies and change of management” commenced in 2002. This present main-phase project has been developed by FAO under a preparatory-phase activity funded from a PDF Block B grant supported by GEF/UNEP, through a process where government-appointed National Coordinators from 13 countries agreed with the executing agency (FAO) on a common approach to a series of national baseline studies. These baseline studies were executed under the supervision of the respective National Coordinators and involved a wide consultative process with most of the stakeholders having an interest in shrimp exploitation (including fishermen, shrimp-trawler owners, fishery authorities, fish processors and traders, shrimp-fisheries experts/researchers), and to a certain extent, the local communities which somehow benefit from the wealth resulting from shrimp exploitation. Initially, invitations to several countries with substantial shrimp fisheries were issued, followed by a National Coordinators workshop (March, 1999) and four regional workshops in 1999 and 2000 (FAO, 1999; FAO, 2000). Currently, thirteen countries from four regions (Latin America/Caribbean, Asia, the Near East and West Africa) are now participating in the main phase of the project. (Source: UNEP project document EP/GLO/201/GEF). Although representatives from three East African countries (Mozambique, Kenya and the United Republic of Tanzania) attended the National Coordinators workshop and/or the African regional workshop in Nigeria (December, 1999), these countries were for several reasons not participating in the current phase of the project.

Together with Madagascar and South Africa, these Western Indian Ocean (WIO) countries catch in the region of 24 000 tonnes of shallow water penaeid shrimps per annum, ranging from 200 tonnes per annum in South Africa to 11 500 tonnes per annum in Madagascar (FAO Fisheries Statistics - capture production volumes). The target species are mainly Penaeus indicus and Metapenaeus monoceros. As with shrimp fisheries elsewhere, there is a substantial and varied bycatch, and as with the target species, many of the bycatch species are common to all five countries. Estimates of bycatch range from about 800 tonnes per annum (Fennessy, 1994a) to about 20 000 tonnes per annum in Mozambique (calculated from figures in Magane, Sousa and Pacule, 1998). Most of the bycatch is discarded. There is frequently conflict between the trawling and artisanal sectors (Bwathondi and Mwaya, 1984; FAO, 2000; van der Elst and Govender, 2001; Mwatha, unpublished data). The main cause of the conflict is primarily due to loss of livelihood rather than poverty, which is often near-endemic in many coastal communities. In South Africa, user-conflict with the commercial line-fishing sector also exists (Fennessy, 1994b). The conflict with other fisheries sectors is both direct (e.g. damage to artisanal nets by trawlers; bycatch of trawlers comprises species which are valuable to other sectors) and indirect (e.g. by trawlers modifying habitats or altering predator-prey interactions).

Approaches to resolving the trawl bycatch problem have varied from country to country. All of these WIO countries have some estimates of composition and quantities of bycatch, and most have undertaken trials of one or more of the following bycatch reduction devices: grid separators (Mahika, 1992; Isaksen and Larsen, 1993); Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs; Wamukoya and Salm, 1998; Gove, Pacule and Goncalves, 2001; Mueni and Mwangi, 2001; Mwatha, unpublished); square mesh panels (Fennessy, 2002). Other approaches include the setting up of systems to make the discarded catch available to coastal communities (e.g. Jensen, 1985), and setting spatial and/or temporal limits on trawling (e.g. Fennessy, 1994a).

The lack of a regional initiative aimed at addressing shrimp trawl bycatch issues prompted the hosting of this regional workshop on shrimp trawl bycatch in the WIO. The meeting was therefore held against the backdrop of raising concerns of high levels of fish discards associated with shrimp trawling in the world and in the WIO in particular.

OVERVIEW OF THE WORKSHOP

The workshop was jointly organized by the Fisheries Department of FAO, the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute (KMFRI) in Mombasa (Kenya) and the Oceanographic Research Institute (ORI) in Durban (South Africa), and was hosted by KMFRI. Twenty-nine participants from five countries attended the Workshop. The list of participants is attached in Appendix 1.

During the workshop, participants were expected to discuss existing bycatch policy and legislation, the state of bycatch knowledge and impacts of bycatch, as well as methods for reducing bycatch or improving bycatch utilization in their respective countries.

Specifically the main objectives of the workshop were to:

• review baseline studies on bycatch and bycatch reduction in five Western Indian Ocean countries, including estimation of bycatch and discard rates;

• review baseline studies on bycatch and bycatch reduction in five Western Indian Ocean countries, including estimation of bycatch and discard rates;

• identify the specific bycatch problem in each country and develop suggestions how to solve it;

• promote and encourage the use of bycatch reduction technology in existing fishing gears;

• promote cooperation between countries in shrimp trawl bycatch research;

• discuss the development of a regional programme on the introduction of bycatch reduction technologies in shrimp trawls and measures for increased utilization of bycatch.

The expected outputs of the meeting were:

• A report documenting the current state of knowledge of shrimp trawl bycatch in the five countries.

• Increased knowledge about different types of bycatch reduction technologies and approaches to improve the utilization of bycatch.

• Proposals for the development of a regional programme on shrimp trawl bycatch in the western Indian Ocean.

WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS

The meeting was initially addressed by Dr Sean Fennessy from the Oceanographic Research Institute (ORI) in Durban, South Africa. He gave background information on the developments leading to the hosting of this important workshop. In particular, he referred to previous discussions between ORI and KMFRI around the problems of shrimp trawl bycatch in their respective countries, and how these discussions led to the development of a proposal to hold this workshop, under the auspices of the GEF/UNEP/FAO programme. He noted with appreciation the enthusiasm the regional countries had in supporting the proposal to convene this workshop. This interest was manifested in the excellent attendance at the workshop, although the non-attendance of a Tanzanian representative was noted with disappointment.

Dr Wilfried Thiele from the Fisheries Department of FAO in Rome gave the introductory remarks (see below). He explained that FAO has identified the discarding of fish associated with commercial shrimp fisheries as a priority area that requires urgent intervention. Dr Thiele emphasized that FAO is dedicated to promoting responsible fishing practices by supporting and promoting initiatives that address the negative impacts associated with fishing. To achieve effective management of fisheries resources, cooperation between countries is very important. FAO is also consciously aware that research and the development of appropriate technologies require substantial financial and human resources that are quite limited, especially in developing countries. As a result, technology development tends to be restricted to those countries with strong economies. It is for this reason that research aimed at developing efficient and practical technological solutions to shrimp trawl bycatch has been very limited in most developing countries and in the WIO region in particular.

To address the problem of tropical shrimp trawl bycatch, FAO initiated the GEF-funded project which aims to reduce the environmental impacts from tropical shrimp trawling, through the introduction of bycatch reduction technologies and change of management strategies. It is unfortunate that none of the Western Indian Ocean countries were participating in the GEF shrimp trawl bycatch project, and Dr Thiele expressed the hope that the participants of this workshop would come up with recommendations on ways in which the donor community, including FAO, could assist WIO countries to address the problems associated with shrimp trawl bycatch to achieve long term solutions. He was therefore delighted to be involved in the organization of this regional workshop whose main agenda is to bring together regional experts to exchange ideas and to come up with clear and practical ways of addressing the problems associated with shrimp trawler bycatch Dr Thiele indicated that he expected the workshop participants to come up with clear recommendations on the way forward and to come up with tangible projects which could attract donor support, and to also explore ways of involving other countries interested in this initiative.

In his opening remarks, Dr J.M. Kazungu, the Director of the Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute, thanked FAO for financially supporting the organization of the workshop. He noted with appreciation the attendance of experts in research and management from the region and from other parts of the world. He also emphasized that the workshop participants should deliberate on important issues related to shrimp trawl bycatch and come up with clear recommendations on how to address this problem for the better management of this important resource. He officially opened the workshop and wished the participants fruitful deliberations and an enjoyable stay in Mombasa.

APPENDIX 1 - AGENDA

APPENDIX 2 - LIST OF PARTICIPANTS

KENYA

ALI Mohammed
Coordinator: Coastal & Marine Programmes
National Env. Mgt. Authority
POBox 67839
NAIROBI
Tel.: 254-2-67839
E-mail: [email protected]

BASTA Paolo
Director
BASTA & Sons Ltd
PO Box 80782
MOMBASA
Tel: 254 11 476128
Mobile: 0733 910396
E-mail: [email protected]

ESPOSITO Giuseppe
Operations in Charge
Trawler Operator
East African Seafood LT
PO Box 40268
MOMBASA
Tel.: 254 11 311091/225221
Mobile: 0722 774328
E-mail: [email protected]

FONDO Esther N.
Research Officer
Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute
PO Box 81651
MOMBASA
Tel.: 254 11 475151-4
E-mail: [email protected]

KIMANI Edward N.
Research Officer
Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute
PO Box 81651
MOMBASA
Tel.: 254 11 475151-4
Mobile: 0722670037
E-mail: [email protected]

MONOR Godfrey V.
Assistant Director of Fisheries
Fisheries Department
PO Box 90423
MOMBASA
Tel.: 041 315904
Mobile: 0733 705634
E-mail: [email protected]

MORAGWA Gladys
Research Officer
Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute
PO Box 81651
MOMBASA
Tel.: 254 11 475151-4
E-mail: [email protected]

MUENI Elizabeth
Fisheries Officer
Fisheries Department
PO Box 90423
MOMBASA
Tel.: 254 11 315904
Mobile: 0722 326826
E-mail: [email protected]

MWATHA Gerald K.
Research Officer
Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute
PO Box 81651
MOMBASA
Tel.: 254 11 475151-5
Mobile: 0722596211
E-mail: [email protected]

NTHEKETHA Nicholas M.
Fisheries Officer
Fisheries Department
PO Box 12
MALINDI
Tel.: 042 31687
Mobile: 0733739981
E-mail: [email protected]

NZUKI Simons
Conservationist
KESCOM
PO Box 82144
MOMBASA
Tel.:011-312744
Mobile: 0733-610222
E-mail: [email protected]

OCHIEWO Jacob
Socio-Economist
Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute
PO Box 81651
MOMBASA
Tel.: 254 11 475151-4
Mobile: 0733 804395
E-mail: [email protected]

ODUOR Peter M. Odote
Research Officer
Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute
PO Box 81651
MOMBASA
Tel.: 254 11 475151-4
Mobile: 0733526230
E-mail: [email protected]

PARAZZI Nicky
Watamu Turtle Watch/Local Ocean)
PO Box 125
WATAMU
Tel.: 0122-32118
E-mail: [email protected]

RUWA Renison K, Dr
Deputy Director
Kenya Marine and Fisheries Research Institute
PO Box 81651
MOMBASA
Tel.: 254 11 471435
Mobile: 0733700572
E-mail: [email protected]

MADAGASCAR

ANDRIAMISEZA Olga
Control and Statistics
Ministry of Fisheries
ANTANANARIVO
Tel.: 22 40650
Mobile: 032 0408211
E-mail: [email protected]
: [email protected]

RABARISON Guy
Researcher
CNRE
Cite 67 Ha N°393
ANTANANARIVO
E-mail: [email protected]

MOZAMBIQUE

BOMBA Francisco Victor A.
National Deputy Director
Ministry of Fisheries - Mozambique
PO Box 1723
MAPUTO
Tel.: 258 300961
E-mail: [email protected]

DE SOUSA Barbara Palha
Fisheries Biologist
IIP
Mao Tse Tung Av. 389
MAPUTO
Tel.: 258 1 990307
Office: 258 82 882586
E-mail: [email protected]

GOVE Domingos Z.
Advisor
Center For Sustainable Development of Coastal Zones
PO Box 66
PREAIA DE XAI-XAI GAZA
Tel.: 258 02235004
Mobile: 082307528
E-mail: [email protected]

FAO

HARRIS Aubrey
Senior Fisheries Officer
FAO Subregional Office for Southern and East Africa
PO Box 3730
HARARE
ZIMBABWE
Tel.: 263 4 253693
E-mail: [email protected]

TEUTSCHER Frans
FAO Consultant
Via Ragoli 61
ROME 00124
ITALY
Tel.: 39065090178
E-mail: [email protected]

THIELE Wilfried, Dr
Senior Fishery Industry Officer
FAO Fisheries Department
Viale delle Terme de caracalle
ROME 00100
ITALY
Tel.: 390657055836
E-mail: [email protected]