Reef Fishery
Introduction
Since long before the first contact of westerners with native Guamanians (or Chamorus) in 1521, fish has been the primary source of protein for the islanders. Little is known about traditional management of Guam's fisheries, but fishing was and has remained an important part of life and culture. In the past, subsistence fishing provided Guam's residents with an ample supply of fish.
Most of the fish caught were consumed by fishermen's families or shared with the community and were harvested from three main areas of the sea: The coral or nearshore shallow adjacent areas, nearshore slopes to about 100 fathoms, and the surface ocean waters. Much of the traditional use of fish for social obligations in the form of fiestas (large gatherings for funerals, weddings, christenings) is still practiced.
Much of the change in Guam's fisheries, from traditional subsistence fisheries to the more modern subsistence, commercial, and recreational fisheries has occurred since World War II. The decline of this fishery is due partly to change in the economic system of the islands to a more western one which has eroded the ancient marine tenure laws and traditional island conservation ethics.
The introduction of more modern, manufactured fishing materials has changed the complexion of Guam's inshore fishery and aided in the decline of the nearshore reef fishery. As a result, Guam's shallow inner reefs are fully exploited and show signs of overfishing. What was once a well stocked, complex fishery with diverse fishing methods has changed to a fishery under serious fishing pressure.
Fishing Methods
Early fishing techniques Prior to World War II employed gear composed of natural materials. Today, inshore (or reef and lagoon) methods have incorporated modern equipment and have been modified in some manner from the traditional form of fishing.
Some form of hook and line fishing, usually handline, has been done since the arrival of the Chamorus on Guam around 1500 BC. Net fishing has included forms of dip netting, bag seining, throw netting, surround netting, drag netting, and gill netting.
Fishing with traps and spears has occurred throughout the history of Guam. Several types of fishing no longer occur. Two of these are the opelu fishing and the decoy method of fishing. Currently prohibited methods include fish weirs, fish poisoning from root extract, chlorine bleaching and dynamiting. These are still practiced illegally on a small scale.
Many of the currently used methods are very efficient because the technology and materials used are readily available at a minimal cost. Contemporary methods include hook and line, net fishing, spear fishing, hook and gaff, and gleaning. These methods, modified through time, account for the harvest of over 100 species of finfish and 40 nonfish species.
Currently, the most popular fishing method on Guam is hook and line. This technique ranges from the use of handlines to rod and reel with lures or baited hooks. Fly fishing has recently been observed in Guam waters.
The majority of the fish harvested are taken by net fishing. All types of net fishing done today, except gill netting, have long histories on Guam. Net mesh sizes range from 1/4-inch stretch to greater than 3-inch stretch. The cast net or throw net (talaya) is one of the few nets that are still hand woven by the traditional talaya fishermen. These nets vary in mesh size and number of pockets depending on the fish targeted.
Other than the modern equipment, drag netting has changed very little through time. It is still the simplest form of net fishing where the net is pulled through the water as the fish are driven into the net. Today, this method is most often, but not always, used at night.
The use of the surround net has occurred for many years. Today, two types of surround netting occurs. In the first type, two people transport the net through the water on two large inner tubes. The fishermen begin setting the net in a 'U' shape and close the net into a circle as a second group of people drive the fish into the net. Once the net is set, the fishermen dive into the enclosure and harvest the fish. The second form of the gill net is most commonly used in the harbors, channels, or bays to harvest mackerel.
Gill net fishing is the most recent form of net fishing on Guam. This method is quite popular, due to the availability of the gill nets, the comparative low cost, and the effectiveness of the materials. The net is used at any time of the day or night, but is most successful at ebb tide.
Spearfishing has undergone great change with the advent of modern equipment, evolving from handmade spears and freediving to spearfishing with scuba gear. Because of the highly selective nature of these methods, spearfishing harvest targets fish of larger species such as parrotfish.
Total Landings and Restrictions
Finfish are the primary harvest (>95%) of contemporary fishing methods. This harvest includes all sizes of reef fish. Over 100 species of finfish are havested in the inshore fishery. The primary families include: mackerel, surgeon fish, jack fish, goat fish, squirrel fish, grouper fish, rudder fish, wrasse fish, snapper fish, rabbit fish, emperor fish, mullet fish, and parrot fish. The most frequently caught species in the inshore fishery are: the unicorn fish, the blue jack fish, the goat fish, various snappers, the rudder fish, and the wrasse fish.
Catch Rates and Revenues
Top targeted species are being overexploited and "growth overharvesting" is occurring; the more serious form of "recruitment overharvesting" is happening to some of the key species.
The harvest of one of these key species, the Samoan Goat fish, also called Weke, best describes what is occurring in the finfish fishery. By the early 1990s, the harvest had declined by over 90% from the levels harvested in the mid 1980s. This is due to the size class which is targeted by the fishery, (100-150 mm) preventing most fish from reaching larger size classes, and by the absence of larger females that represent the major portion of the spawning potential. Many of the once economically important larger species such as the parrot fish, wrasse fish, groupers, and snappers are now rarely seen in Guam's waters, much less reported in inshore survey catch reports.
The market for nearshore reef fish has increased on Guam, especially with the diverse cultures that eat fish as a primary source of protein. With the influx of new people and the desire for local fresh fish, the market continues to expand. Recently, prices have been as high as $3-4/lb for whole reef fish. Many of the net fishermen encountered on the inshore fishing areas are no longer subsistence fishermen but are commercial fishermen.
Reef fish imports from Belau and Micronesia are increasing. It is difficult to determine the amount of fish imported because few restrictions are placed on importation. It is also difficult to monitor sales of local and imported fish because of the casual manner in which they are sold.
Resource Management
Major management concerns are addressed with respect to overfishing and habitat destruction. Management recommendations for this fishery include gear restrictions, size restrictions, and the establishment of marine conservation areas.
As the human population grows, modern fishing techniques improve, and fish stocks decline, the need for the management of Guam's tropical reef fisheries increases in order to protect the reef habitat from over fishing as well as from pollution and destruction.
The effects of pollution are seen as a result of development and population growth. Much of Guam's southwestern coral reefs are covered with silt from freshwater runoff. Other major causes of reef destruction are the use of explosives(!) and poisoning(!) as fishing methods, which, fortunately, through education and enforcement, have been declining.
A comprehensive management program must be established for Guam's fisheries. Indicators clearly show that fishing pressure on Guam's inshore resources has reached the point of overexploitation of many of the key species. It is very likely that "recruitment overharvesting", where the reproduction and recruitment of the stocks show a decline, has occurred in some of the economically important species.
Currently, there are several seasonal, area, gear, and size restrictions and bag limits on Guamanian fisheries. New regulations are one of the most promising avenues for the development of marine conservation areas. These areas will provide a refuge for recreationally important fish so they can grow, mature, and reproduce to increase stock health and recruitment. Besides the ability of an area closure to protect fish from harvest, there are many other benefits that make this a popular form of management and conservation. The closure limits the catches on adjacent reefs without closing down the entire fishery and provides areas where user conflicts are minimized. Gear restrictions should be implemented and enforced.