Kerr, A. M., Netchy, K. H., Hoffman, S. M.

The shallow-water echinoderms of Yap. Results of a survey performed 27 July to 9 August 2007, including a stock assessment of commercially valuable species

2007

UOGML Technical Report 121

38

"Yap has an abundance of commercially valuable species of holothuroids (sea cucumbers) and is currently being targeted by at least three foreign buyers of the processed product, beche-de-mer. The Yap State government has realized the danger of overharvesting this valuable resource and is currently seeking to develop a management plan that will permit a sustainable level of harvesting. We performed a survey of holothuroids and other echinoderms around the main island to 1) assist in a stock assessment of commercially valuable species and 2) document Yaps echinoderms as part of a global survey of coral reef biodiversity. In a total of nine days of surveying, 19 sites were visited around the island. Several commercially valuable species of holothuroids inhabited Yaps waters, some in abundance. The most valuable species seen were Holothuria (Microthele) whitmaei (trade name: black teat fish), Holothuria (Metriatyla) scabra (sand fish) and Thelenota ananas (prickly red fish). A total of 66 taxonomic units attributable to species have now been identified from Yaps waters: 33 holothuroids, 14 echinoids, 14 asteroids and 5 crinoids. At least four (12%) of the holothuroids are in all likelihood new to science and formally undescribed. Based on our brief survey, our preliminary recommendations for a beche-de-mer management plan include: 1) Institute a moratorium on fishing until a management plan is in place. 2) Conduct an inventory of the islands commercially valuable species. 3) Institute minimum harvestable lengths for each species. 4) Institute temporary closures to increase stock size and value. 5) Increase public awareness and teach monitoring methods to villages. 6) Continually assess the effectiveness of the management plan and modify it when necessary. We discuss all these measures at greater length in the report."