Vanuatu coastal fisheries under pressure after cyclone Pam
The Secretariat of the Pacific Community says it is concerned that coastal fisheries in Vanuatu are coming under increased pressure from overfishing after cyclone Pam.
Transcript
The Secretariat of the Pacific Community says it is concerned that coastal fisheries in Vanuatu are coming under increased pressure from overfishing after cyclone Pam.
The SPC's Director of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Marine Ecosystems, Moses Amos says marine ecosystems battered by cyclone Pam are already vulnerable and the likelihood of overfishing in the weeks and months after the cyclone just increase the pressure on the fishery.
Mr Amos told RNZI Vanuatu correspondent Hiliare Bule that managing the fishery is crucial for both short and long term food security.
MOSES AMOS: The SPC Secretariat of the Pacific Community, we have a fisheries technical team currently in Vanuatu to work with the Vanuatu government through the Fisheries Department to assess damages caused by Cyclone Pam on fisheries infrastructure. This includes the aquaculture communities, aquaculture farms and also look at possible coastline damages. The intention is to see how SPC can respond. Immediate response, early recovery and also long-term recovery. What we are doing now is we are working with the Fisheries Department to identify the immediate responses that are needed now particularly for food security and then also to identify early recovery assistance and also assistance for long-term recovery. A technical report has been completed and will be submitted to the minister.
HILAIRE BULE: What will be the immediate risk on marine resources after Cyclone Pam?
MA: For coastal fisheries, prior to Cyclone Pam, the coastal fisheries resources in Vanuatu had been in a very bad state because of the increase in coastal population and demand for nutrition and sources of protein. Cyclone Pam exacerbates or increases that pressure on coastal fisheries so we had an assessment report that identified coastal zones that have been badly damaged. The Mangrove areas and fish habitats have been greatly destroyed by siltation and strong wave actions on coral reefs. This has created a dilemma for coastal fisheries resources because the fisheries resources now, where their habitats destroyed, are now vulnerable to being fished. People now need to have some sort of food security so now they are focussing on catching coastal reef fish resources for their subsistence and also for their food security.
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