Abstract
Capture fisheries in small island developing states have the capacity to increase access to vital micronutrient-rich food to tackle malnutrition, but when fishers are restricted to nearshore habitats by limited capacity (boats, engines, fishing gear), fisheries production can be low. This is the case of coastal Timor-Leste, where some of the world’s most diverse coral reefs are juxtaposed with one of the world’s most undernourished populations. In these settings, interventions that have successfully improved livelihoods from fishing and reduced threats to biodiversity are rare. Elsewhere in the Pacific, nearshore anchored fish aggregation devices (FADs) have shown success in improving catch rates by making pelagic stocks more accessible to small-scale fishers. Here we test the effects of FADs at increasing capture fish production, by deploying 8 experimental FADs at 4 sites around the country and recorded catch and effort data from FAD and non-FAD fishing trips. We assess the effects of FADs on catch rates and catch assemblage and the rate of 100% return on investment (RoI). The average longevity of FADs was 11 months. Results show a significant positive effect of FADs on catch rates when controlling for random site variation, with FADs paying for themselves in ~5 months or less at 3 out of 4 sites. Across all sites and fishing types, 63 species were identified, but FAD catches significantly reduced overall assemblage diversity, with 3 species (Amblygaster sirm, Decapterus macarellus, Rastrelliger brachysoma) representing 96% of the catch. Despite the relatively short longevity of FADs deployed in Timor-Leste, the fast RoI seen at most sites indicates that FADs are effective in providing livelihood benefits in certain locations. Catch rates were highest where fishers were specialised, invested in FAD fishing, and formed catch sharing groups with access rights to specific FADs. National level investment into a FAD programme by the government could realistically increase overall fish production in the country, thereby improving availability of micronutrient rich fish to combat malnutrition. A deployment program should be coupled with capacity building around group formation and defining access rights to ensure equitable community benefits.
Highlights
People living in small island developing states (SIDS) of AsiaPacific gain disproportionate livelihood and nutrition benefits from nearshore marine habitats (Connell, 2013)
The aim of this paper is to explore if a national inshore fish aggregating devices (FADs) program can contribute to food and nutrition security in Timor-Leste
The FADs deployed as part of this study were open access in all sites except Vemasse, where FADs were incorporated into existing FAD fishing groups that manage and fish at specific FADs, invest in gear, and hold shares of the catch
Summary
People living in small island developing states (SIDS) of AsiaPacific gain disproportionate livelihood and nutrition benefits from nearshore marine habitats (Connell, 2013). Small-scale fisheries (SSF) in these SIDS predominantly rely on coral reef habitats that are increasingly under threat from diverse drivers (Hughes et al, 2003; Pandolfi, 2003; Bellwood et al, 2004), diminishing their ecological function and potentially affecting the well-being of the millions of people with reef-dependent livelihoods (Teh et al, 2013). Localized fishing and coastal development are pervasive drivers of reef degradation (Mora et al, 2011; Hughes et al, 2017), and with increasing climate variability comes greater vulnerability of fishers (Sainsbury et al, 2018). Less than a third of Pacific countries will be able to meet per capita fish consumption demand in 2030 based on current SSF practices (Bell et al, 2009). Projections of the food deficit and the required increases in yield underpin national and regional development strategies, but effective, affordable and scalable governance solutions with minimal environmental degradation, remain elusive
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