Evaluation of traditional traps: Towards ecosystem-based fisheries management

Abstract

In Maluku, Indonesia, trap fishing is one of the traditional fisheries that plays an important role in supplying reef fish to sea food restaurants and to the trade of live fish. To support the implementation of ecosystem-based fishery management, it is important to analyse the catch of trap through a multi-species approach rather than a single-species (selectivity) approach. In this study, multi-species catch analyses estimated species diversity, trophic levels and spatial distribution based on catch data, and sustainability of catch based on biological and ecological information. Traps were fished from February 2018 to January 2019 in waters 5 to 40m deep in Ambon Bay, Waai Bay and at Babar Island. The most abundant fishes caught were the family Mullidae, Parupeneus barberinus (n = 102) and P. indicus (n = 126). Spatial distribution of species analysed with Multivariate Principle Component Analysis showed each trap has significant co-varying species. The mean trophic level of the traps was 3.37 (SE: 0.175), indicating that the trap catches were dominated by low to moderate levels of carnivorous secondary consumers. From 42 species captured by traps, the least likely to be sustainable was Heniochus cuminatus and the most likely to be sustainable were, Selar boops. It is proposed that traditional trapping is a suitable practice in coral reef areas, with low impacts on the community of reef fish that eventually supporting balance fishery.