The Tonga sea cucumber is once again subject to overexploitation, some experts say. (Foto: Stock File/C. Reports)

Sea cucumbers may face depletion once more

TONGA
Wednesday, November 25, 2009, 02:40 (GMT + 9)

A new extension to the sea cucumber harvesting season and an increase in licences may set the stock back a decade to near depletion, fisheries officials fear.

An 11-year ban on sea cucumber harvesting was partially lifted last year, and now politicians are giving stock management research the cold shoulder as they work to enable harvesting by more operators for a longer period of time.

Harvesting season -- of an unlimited quantity of sea cucumbers -- has been extended from late September to October and then to 30 November, with the possibility of a further extension until late January 2010, Tonga News reports.

Head of the Research Division of the Ministry of Fisheries Poasi Fale Ngaluafe is distraught over the precarious future of sea cucumbers in the country’s territorial waters.

"The last couple of months have been very disheartening for us because the survey that we conducted to determine the amount of the resources and its sustainability in our waters was a waste of time,” Poasi stated. “Now there is no limitation on quotas and everyone is free to do whatever they want to do."

"This is the very industry that we banned and closed for the past 11 years because of the over-fishing of sea cucumber to the point of near depletion. The ban was lifted last year and allowed the harvesting of a limited quantity over a limited period of six months from 1 April-30 September. Now, we are repeating what we did a decade ago," he noted.

In addition to the initial 17 licenses granted in June, more than 10 have been issued to new operators since the season’s extension through the end of November. Poasi said Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries Prince Tu'ipelehake was responsible for the extension from September to October.

New Chairman of the Whole House Committee Noble Lasike, new Minister of Revenue Sione Teisina Fuko and new Minister of Justice Samiu Vaipulu headed a powerful campaign in parliament to lengthen the harvesting season and issue new licences.

Last May, the Ministry of Fisheries assigned a quota of 200 tonnes for dried processed sea cucumbers for export to the first 17 licensed operators; they were distributed in Tongatapu, Vava'u, Ha'apai, Niua and Minerva Reef.

Related article:

- Overfishing a threat to sea cucumbers

By Natalia Real
editorial@fis.com
www.fis.com