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Preliminary Exploration of Unreported and Unregulated Sea Urchin Exploitation in Eastern Indonesia
Tamti H.
Coastal Management
Q2Abstract
Gleaning invertebrate fisheries have been important to coastal communities since prehistoric times. While target species often play ecologically important roles, public awareness is typically low and the exploitation of these commodities is rarely recorded or regulated. This study aimed to provide data and information on the nature and scale of sea urchin exploitation in eastern Indonesia and discuss the policy implications. Data were collected from 187 respondents at 12 sites across four regions in Indonesia from July to September 2020, focusing on collector profiles; species collected; gleaning scale and methods; and gleaner perceptions on temporal change and potential regulation. Male and female respondents (10-76 years-old) collected sea urchins for their gonads, for home consumption or sale. Most sea urchins are collected on foot with simple gear, although some respondents used boats and/or snorkeling equipment. Two echinoderm families dominated the catch: Toxopneustidae (genus Tripneustes) and Diadematidae (genera Diadema, Echinothrix). Nearly half (46%) of the respondents perceived a decline in urchin abundance, reinforcing indications of overfishing in the Coral Triangle. The majority (84%) of respondents considered regulation (statutory and/or customary) was necessary, with 73% suggesting size and/or catch limits, indicating that collectors could support the urgently needed regulation of sea urchin fisheries in eastern Indonesia.