National Sea Cucumber Fishery Management and Development Plan 2021.

The Tonga National Sea Cucumber Fishery Management and Development Plan provides a management framework for the open season which is from 31 May 2021 to the 30 September 2021. This Plan was developed to assist the country, particularly fishing communities in their livelihoods during the impacts of COVID-19 pandemic, and to address the increasing number of illegal harvesting of sea cucumber during the moratorium. This Plan shall apply to (I) all species of sea cucumber and (II) all fishing activities, including commercial fishing, artisanal fishing, subsistence fishing and marine scientific research fishing, (III) methods of collection that include gleaning, wading and free-diving, and (IV) collection, processing and export of beche-de-mer product of those species listed in Table 1 in this Plan. The area of application includes the island groups of Tongatapu, Vava’u, Haápai, ‘Eua and Niuatoputapu. The goals of this Plan are: to ensure sustainable use of sea cucumber resources in the area of application, and to generate revenue and provide livelihoods and economic benefits to the people of Tonga.
This Plan sets out the objectives, strategies, and management measures to be implemented during the open season to ensure harvest is sustainable and not further undermine the sea cucumber stock of Tonga. The implementation and monitoring of management measures will be strengthened to ensure the sustainable utilization of the sea cucumber resources. The level of compliance with the management measures in place, especially the minimum size limits and quota allocated by species by group of islands, will be improved. Sea cucumber/beche-de-mer processing establishment and export license shall be issued to allow the license holder to purchase sea cucumber, process and export bech-de-mer. Any boat used for harvesting sea cucumbers shall be registered in the Ministry of Fisheries Fishing Vessels Register. The status of harvest, export and price data will be monitored and reported. Sustainable fisheries management will be ensured to provide opportunities for economic prosperity. The income of families in the communities will be increased through harvesting and processing of the sea cucumber resources. The revenue collection of the government from the utilization of the sea cucumber resources will be increased. Awareness will be raised on the ecological, social and economic importance of the sea cucumber fishery. Surveys and research will be conducted during the open season to improve information on sea cucumber resources. Sustainable sea cucumber fishery will be developed through partnership and co-management with coastal communities and other stakeholders.
The Ministry of Fisheries is the primary government agency with the mandate for the management, development and sustainable utilization of sea cucumber resources. Other government agencies have also some tasks relating to sea cucumber fishery, especially to oversee and administer obligation under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). A sea cucumber fisheries management committee will be established which will report directly to Fishery Management Advisory Committee. The Ministry of Fisheries will develop an implementation plan and a monitoring, evaluation and learning framework to ensure effectiveness.