Commercial exploitation of reef resources: examples of sustainable and non-sustainable utilization from the Maldives

Abstract

Sustainable Maldivian reef fisheries include the tuna livebait 'fishery, the historical money cowry fishery and the export of marine aquarium fish. Non-sustainable export fisheries include those of sea cucumber, giant clam, deepwater shark and grouper. The tuna livebait fishery has been in existence for over one thousand years and mainly targets small pelagics. Money cowries were exported for hundreds of years to Asia and Africa. These fisheries share the characteristics of large resource base, low unit value and wide distribution of low-impact fishing effort. The sea cucumber, giant clam and the deep water shark fisheries share the characteristics of large resource base, low population turn over rates, ease of collection and high unit value. The grouper and aquarium fisheries have intermediate characteristics. The aquarium fishery maybe sustainable because it has a large resource base and limited entry. The grouper fishery may not be sustainable because both fishing effort and unit value are high.