WWF - Coral Triangle resources & media

Blue Economy – Which Hue for the Coral Triangle Region?

2013-03-18

"Blue economy," "green economy," "green economy in a blue world," are terminologies we've all heard for a number of years now, but can we define them, and if we can't, does it matter?

Perhaps what is important is what we are trying to achieve by transforming our current 'business as usual approaches' and unsustainable economic development models into economies and development models that maintain healthy ecosystems and people's welfare and their livelihoods.

WWF, as an international conservation organisation, has considered what blue and green economies are and how we should engage in the movement towards transforming economies so that they are sustainable, inclusive of all people, consider the important role of the environment and the ecosystem services it provides, and maintain sustainable economic development.

In a discussion paper released in the lead up to the Coral Triangle Regional Business Forum, which tackles as its theme "A Marriage of Profit and Sustainability," WWF's Jackie Thomas and Lida Pet-Soede explore what they feel are some of the key issues that governments, the private sector, communities, NGOs, and other stakeholders need to consider in promoting new economic models in the Coral Triangle region. But in doing so they also raise a concern over the promotion of blue economy as a way of deriving greater revenue from the ocean. The danger of this thinking is the risk of even greater over-exploitation of the oceans' limited resources.

WWF is aiming to deliver transformational change in the way industry, private sector, governments, and communities engage in the management, protection, and use of critical marine ecosystems and resources. It advocates a sustainable approach to natural resource use, which emphasizes the importance of the marine environment to the livelihoods and economies of the Coral Triangle. It does this by bringing the private sector to the table. This approach can be called Green Economy, Green Economy in a blue or marine world, or simply a Blue Economy.

WWF's approach for the Coral Triangle Programme is to focus on a Blue Economy, which incorporates both a Green Economy in a blue or marine world—largely its traditional conservation approach—but also Blue Economy in the Gunter Pauli sense, which advocates innovative solutions to sustainable development.

The discussion paper "WWF and Blue Economies in the Coral Triangle: Developing and Demonstrating Blue Economies for Sustainable Development and Profitable Resource Use in the Region," aims to generate discussion on what we aspire to when considering new economic models, and showcases the six country regional Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries and Food Security as a model of cooperation, which can lead to blue economies in this region.

Download the discussion paper here.

REPORT: Blue Carbon - A new concept for reducing the impacts of climate change by conserving coastal ecosystems in the Coral Triangle

2012-12-04

This paper is aimed at politicians, governments, businesses and organisations that influence the development of policies and strategies in climate change mitigation and adaptation, poverty alleviation, natural resource use, biodiversity conservation and economics.

Its aim is to stimulate discussion and debate on how to promote and utilise healthy coastal ecosystems and the valuable benefits they provide to support a sustainable and more climate resilient future for communities within the Coral Triangle.

Coastal ecosystems in the Coral Triangle support key industries such as commercial fishing and tourism. Well over 120 million people rely directly on its coastal resources for their food and livelihoods. In fact the region is the world's largest tuna producer.

REPORT: An Overview of Shark Utilisation in the Coral Triangle Region

2012-09-06

The report, An Overview of Shark Utilization in the Coral Triangle Region, examines the catch, trade, and management of sharks in waters of the six Coral Triangle countries, plus the neighbouring countries of Vietnam and Fiji.

Despite long-standing global concerns on declining shark populations due to growing evidence that many shark species are threatened, shark populations continue to decline.

This is due to a general lack of even basic management, and is further exacerbated by illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

Some fisheries target sharks for their meat but the main driver of unsustainable fishing for sharks is currently the demand in Asia for fins, which are used in shark fin soup.

Today, the vast majority of shark products come from unsustainable sources, not just fins. Sharks are also heavily traded for their meat, skin, and liver oil.

REPORT: Legal and Policy Gaps in the Management of the Live Reef Food Fish Trade in the Coral Triangle

2012-09-05

This report examines the legal and policy framework for the live reef food fish trade (LRFFT) in the Coral Triangle Initiative (CTI) countries – Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and East Timor.

It looks at four key areas: ecosystem approach to fisheries management; port state measures; trade and market measures; and combating illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. The report goes on to compare the domestic implementation of LRFFT using benchmarks established under relevant international instruments and CTI management goals. Trends are highlighted in terms of gaps in domestic legal frameworks and options are provided for CTI countries to improve LRFFT management.

South West Pacific Longline Caught Albacore: Going, Going, Gone?

2012-03-28

This report examines the impacts of increased fishing effort on the South Pacific Albacore tuna stock, and what steps must be taken to avoid not only depleting the stock, but also species affected by bycatch such as sharks and turtles.

WWF recognises the legitimate aspirations of Pacific Small Island Developing States (SIDS) to increase the value from tuna fisheries in their exclusive economic zones.

There is however, considerable concern about the rapid growth in the longline fleets from both the Peoples' Republic of China (PRC) and Chinese Taipei (i.e. as referred to in WCPFC) in the Western and Central Pacific amongst WWF, Western and Central Pacific Ocean (WCPO) fishery managers, and domestic vessel owners in these SIDS.

Of the total South Pacific Albacore (SPA) catch of 75,000 tonnes (2010), Chinese and Chinese Taipei catch has increased from 24,000 (2000-2004) to 53,000 tonnes.

This catch is derived from around 300 vessels registered in China and Chinese Taipei, but also a growing fleet of 300 plus vessels now fishing under charter, or reflagging to the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, the Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI), Federated States of Micronesia (FSM), Fiji, Cook Islands, Papua New Guinea (PNG) and Kiribati.

Growing China and Chinese Taipei fishing activity is believed to have increased both in response to a rapid building strategy of new cost efficient vessels, to economic incentives and support and to fleets transferring from the Indian Ocean, in response to the piracy problems there.

As well as finding homes in Pacific Island Countries (PICs), these vessels are also increasing their effort on the high seas, which makes up around half of the total WCPO catch. This growth in effort is leading to localised depletion of the adult stock, and increased effort south of 20⁰S, on the juvenile migrating stock, which is contributing to a reduction in biomass, and with the stock rapidly approaching MSY. Equally, all fleets are now experiencing significant reductions in catch per unit effort (CPUE) in response to an increase in adult fishing mortality.

The effectiveness of the Western and Central Pacific Fisheries Commission (WCPFC) Conservation and Management Measure (CMM) 2005-02, as amended in 2010, to protect the southern Albacore stock, is now questionable, albeit that the scientists still maintain that the stock remains within biological limits.

This increase in effort will also likely have a significant impact on the other target species - bigeye and yellowfin tunas. The achievement in reducing effort by the Japanese and Korean longline fleet on these stocks could well be undermined by the increasing catches from China and Chinese Taipei.

This increase in longline activity also poses an increasing threat to oceanic shark populations caught as bycatch and which now appear to be showing signs of rapid depletion.

Similarly, fishery impacts on turtles and birds require constant monitoring. Again, whilst fully supporting the legitimate aspirations of SIDS, within a robust and responsible sustainability framework to develop domestic fisheries – as required under CMM 2005-02/2010-05 - anecdotal industry evidence indicates that there is a serious problem with over-licensing in a number of WCPO SIDS.

WWF supports the efforts of the Forum Fisheries Agency (FFA), Te Vaka Moana, (TVM) and its member countries, the Parties to the Nauru Agreement (PNA), the Melanesian Spearhead Group (MSG), other PICS with target albacore fisheries, the Pacific Islands Tuna Industry Association (PITIA) and other non-aligned Parties to strengthen the management strategy for the albacore longline fishery and to address the related species interaction issues.

Measures aimed at introducing effective capacity limits and effort management must be urgently addressed by WCPFC and the region's domestic fisheries managers.

FAQ: Everything you need to know on sharks and their conservation

2012-03-01

What role do sharks play in the ecosystem, what benefits do they give to humans? Are sharks protected? What are the regulations? What does WWF do to save sharks? These and more questions are addressed in this comprehensive Frequently-asked-questions document.

INFOGRAPHIC: Marine Protected Areas in the Coral Triangle

2011-09-29

Although they may be our best investment to face the impacts of climate change in the Coral Triangle, today there are still too few effective examples of MPAs.

INFOGRAPHIC: Climate change in the Coral Triangle

2011-08-10

Climate change has become a defining but highly unpredictable feature of the Coral Triangle, the world's epicentre of marine diversity.

Check out this infographic to discover key facts regarding climate change in the Coral Triangle.

Report: Symposium on Responsible Consumption of Tuna Tokyo, August 2010 WWF

2011-07-24

The symposium "Responsible Tuna Consumption Symposium", organized by WWF-Japan in August 3rd、2010, was the first event of this kind in Japan to bring together consumers, local fishing industry players, fish processors and traders, media and relevant government stakeholders in Japan, the world's largest tuna consuming country.

INFOGRAPHIC: Marine turtles in the Coral Triangle

2011-07-21

Marine turtles are to the Coral Triangle what jewels are to a crown: both indispensable and marvelous. In the case of turtles, they are also highly vulnerable.

Check out this infographic to discover the simple aspects of turtles' life cycle, and the threats they face in the ocean.

INFOGRAPHIC: Seafood in the Coral Triangle

2011-07-20

Wondering where your seafood comes from? If you live in Southeast Asia, there are good chances that the answer is the Coral Triangle.

Check out this infographic to discover the trade and impacts of seafood in the world's center of marine biodiversity.

Benefits of Marine Protected Area Networks: An Overview in Support of the Coral Triangle Initiative

2011-04-29

This report contains an overview of benefits of Marine Protected Area networks, focusing on the Coral Triangle. It aims to provide technical background for the Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries and Food Security (CTI).

One of the 5 CTI goals is to establish and effectively managed Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). The MPA target of the CTI is to have a Coral Triangle MPA system in place and fully functional by 2020.

The target is for a signicant percentage of total area of each major near-shore habitat type within the Coral triangle region (e.g., coral reefs, seagrass beds, mangroves, beach forests, wetland areas and marine / offshore habitat) to be in some form of designated protected status, with 20% of each major marine and coastal habitat type in strictly protected no-take replenishment zones to ensure sustainable sheries.

The CTI documentation states that the above ultimate goal of 20% of each major marine / coastal habitat type in strictly protected no-take replenishment zones recognizes an emerging scientic consensus that at least 20%-30% of all such habitat types need to be strictly protected in order to ensure sustainable fisheries.

This has been recognized by governments at the 2003 World Parks Congress and the 2004 COP-7 meeting under the Convention on Biological Diversity.

Towards a More Sustainable Live Reef Food Fish Trade in the Coral Triangle: First Regional Workshop

2011-02-23

With funding support from the U.S. Department of State, a three-day workshop was held in Hong Kong from the 10th to 12th November 2009. This workshop was also supported by the ICRI Secretariat as part of its regional program and as a deliverable under the U.S.-Mexico ICRI workshop (see Appendix 1 for Terms of Reference).

This funding was used to convene a technical workshop, focused on bringing together practitioners to present the most up-to-date information on the Live Reef Food Fish Trade and to outline a roadmap and strategy to address the unsustainable aspects of the live reef food fish trade.

The workshop was organized and conducted to identify and prioritize key gaps in knowledge and regulation and to define a roadmap and strategies to address this unsustainable trade. Specific goals of the workshop were:

To provide a snapshot of the current status and trends for the LRFT and to share information on past and current efforts at national and regional scales to address issues related to the sustainable management of the LRFT. The emphasis will be on communicating the most up to date information and identifying existing knowledge gaps. Presentations covered:
1. trade data trends for major source and consumer countries, price trends and market demand forecasting;
2. Status of targeted species, including vulnerable and endangered species;
3. Current policies and regulations and associated monitoring and enforcement, including multi-lateral agreements and new initiatives;
4. Trends in mariculture production including full-cycle and capture-based mariculture;
Identify lessons learned and factors contributing to the successes and failures of past and current LRFT programs and explore reasons why efforts to date have not resulted in sustainable management;
To jointly explore, develop and analyze demand-side and supply-side strategies at national and regional scales that can strengthen partnerships between governments, NGO's, institutions and the private sector; and to review existing International Standards for the Live Reef Food Fish Trade (Muldoon and Scott, 2005) (www.livefoodfishtrade.org) to determine current applicability and development of guidelines on best practices for managers and policy makers, including EAFM;
Present a series of recommendations consistent with and that build upon the Coral Triangle Initiative Regional Plan of Action and which are consistent with the goals and objectives of the current Secretariat of the International Coral Reef Initiative.

Policy Brief: Towards the Adoption of Circle Hooks to Reduce Fisheries Bycatch in the Coral Triangle Region

2011-02-10

This policy brief evaluates the urgent issue of bycatch reduction in longline fisheries in the Coral Triangle, providing evidence, analysis, recommendations and advice.

It outlines evidence confirming the benefits of Circle hooks in reducing bycatch of marine turtles while not adversely impacting – and in most cases actually improving – target catch.

It furthermore provides a rationale for the transition to the use of Circle hooks among longline operations in the Coral Triangle region, as a necessary step in reversing negative impacts on marine turtles in this region.

In describing various policy options and outlining a recommended course of action, this brief aims to serve as an impetus for positive, solution-based change in longline fisheries and contribute to sustained improvements in the management and environmental performance of this sector.

Companies endorsing WWF Coral Triangle Bycatch Policy Brief:

Anova Seafood

Culimer BV

Edeka Group

Luen Thai Fishing Ventures

Norpac Fisheries Export

Sea Delight

>> DOWNLOAD THE BRIEF

BROCHURE: WWF Coral Triangle programme

2010-11-21

WWF has been pioneering conservation in the Coral Triangle for more than twenty years, collaborating with businesses, NGO, government agencies and communities.

Today, we are aboard 30-foot fishing vessels giving training on how to dehook caught turtles, meeting with heads of state to secure funding and catalyze governmental support for the Coral Triangle Initiative, and signing deals with some of the leading seafood businesses in the region to help them capitalize on more sustainable ways of doing business.

REPORT: Coral Triangle Initiative Business Summit

2010-02-08

"Profit and environmental protection can co-exist"
- President of the Philippines, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo

The WWF Coral Triangle programme together with the Republic of the Philippines Department of Agriculture (DA) and Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) hosted the Coral Triangle Initiative Business Summit on 19-20 January 2010 at the Makati Shangri la Hotel in Makati City, Philippines.

The summit was called to provide opportunities for business leaders to explore emerging green investment opportunities, to network and forge partnerships with other companies and industries that are dependent on the Coral Triangle's natural resources, and to examine ways to adopt environmentally-responsible business operations.

The 2-day Summit was attended by leaders from tuna and live reef fish businesses, airlines and resort owners, as well as government ministers and officials, and non-government organizations. The event resulted into agreements on how industries could contribute to the protection of the Coral Triangle and the 120 million livelihoods that depend on its marine resources.

Doing green business in the Coral Triangle: the case for sustainable tourism

2010-01-25

Doing green business in the Coral Triangle: the case for sustainable seafood

2010-01-25

Coral Triangle Business Summit 2010: BROCHURE

2010-01-06

At the Coral Triangle Initiative Business Summit, a myriad of opportunities await sectors that rely on marine resources. Come and discover sustainable business solutions and explore financial opportunities for profitable "green" investments that help conserve this fragile, resource-rich region.

Compliance with the FAO Fisheries Code of Conduct in the Coral Triangle

2009-11-20