Responsible grouper fisheries in Weh Island, Aceh Province, Indonesia

抄録

The reef fish known as ‘Grouper’ from the Family Serranidae is a favoured food in seafood restaurants around the world, especially in the Asian region. High grouper demand directly leads to increased fishing efforts around Indonesian’s coral reefs. Weh Island is located in the most western part of Aceh Province, Indonesia, and is characterised by a high diversity of corals and reef fish. Reef fisheries are important sources of protein and income on Weh Island, and a main target group are reef fishes in the Family Serranidae. The objectives of this study were (1) to examine the current ecological status of groupers, (2) to identify the fishing gear used in grouper fisheries, and (3) to determine and quantify the fishing gear that is used sustainably in the grouper fishery of Weh Island. We used fish catch surveys, underwater visual censuses, and focus group discussions to collect information on the grouper fishery. Fish catch surveys were conducted at five fish landing sites, and underwater visual censuses were conducted at 20 sites around Weh Island. The data from the visual censuses were analysed using multi criteria analyses and linear goal programming. The input variables used in multi criteria analyses were the number of boat crews, fishing methods, social impact, and fish. Twenty five species of grouper were caught by six types of fishing gear; gillnets, encircling gillnets, handlines, purse seines, spearguns and troll lines.