National Sea Cucumber Fishery Management Plan 2012.

The Marshall Islands Marine Resources Authority carries out duties regard to scientific, economic, cultural, environmental and other relevant considerations under Title 5 and section 207 of the Fishery Act. Therefore, the Board has approved the Sea Cucumber Fishery Management Plan to determine management and development measures for effective conservation and optimum utilization. The objectives of the Sea Cucumber Fishery Plan are to ensure ecologically sustainable development of the sea cucumber fishery; minimize the impact of sea cucumber fishery on the marine and coastal environments; establish an effective, conducive and enforceable management structure; optimize economic returns from the fishery.
In order to protect the species of sea cucumbers, restrictions will be applied on particular fishing techniques and fishing for particular sea cucumber species, with a special emphasis on high-value species of sea cucumbers. Specified areas within the fishery waters will be closed to allow sea cucumber populations to recover from the pressures of fishing. In addition to that, fishing or collecting of sea cucumber will be prohibited within areas established as protected areas by the national government, local governments or communities, and within world heritage sites. Fishing operations will be encouraged to be conducive to the sustainable use of the sea cucumber resources.
The management of the sea cucumber fishery at the local and community level will be promoted.
The commercial fishery and export of many species of sea cucumbers will be increased in an environmentally sustainable manner. Licensing arrangements will be established to control and monitor exports. Catch data, export quantities and scientific information will be monitored to support management of the sea cucumber fishery. Furthermore, an effective monitoring and enforcement system will be established to ensure compliance with the Sea Cucumber Fishery Plan, licenses, conditions of licenses and regulations.
The local government councils shall prepare the local sea cucumber fisheries management plans, with the assistance of the Authority; designate local sea cucumber fisheries; and issue of licenses and permits for local fishers. Furthermore, the Marshall Islands Marine Resources Authority shall provide recommendations in regard to sea cucumber export licensing and reporting as well as on harvestable sea cucumber quotas at the species level; collect data on harvest and exports of sea cucumber; inspect sea cucumbers destined for export; provide annual reports on the status of the sea cucumber fishery to the Board and stakeholders; establish an on-going program for monitoring and surveillance of compliance with measures stipulated under the Sea Cucumber Fishery Plan, regulations and under the Act; conduct sea cucumber resource assessments; review scientific efforts to support the sustainable development and management of the sea cucumber fishery; and facilitate the development of local government and community sea cucumber resource management plans.