Sandfish (Sea Cucumber) (2023)
Holothuria scabra
Date Published: June 2023
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Summary
Of the six Sandfish stocks defined by either the biological stock or management unit level, three are undefined (Gulf of Carpentaria, North West Northern Territory, Queensland), one is sustainable (Kimberley), and two are depleted (Pilbara, Torres Strait).
Photo credit: NT Fisheries
Stock Status Overview
Jurisdiction | Stock | Stock status | Indicators |
---|---|---|---|
Western Australia | Kimberley | Sustainable | Modelled Biomass, CPUE, Fishery independent surveys |
Western Australia | Pilbara | Depleted | Modelled Biomass, CPUE, Fishery independent surveys |
Stock Structure
Sandfish (Holothuria scabra) is widely dispersed in shallow water on soft sediments throughout the Indo-Pacific region, bounded by the East Coast Africa, the tropics of Cancer and Capricorn and west of the mid Pacific Ocean. Gene flow investigations for H. scabra populations along the north and east coasts of Australia concluded that populations can be grouped into at least 3 genetically distinct stocks: (1) southern populations from the Hervey Bay area, (2) one population from the central coast of Queensland, and (3) populations from Torres Strait (Uthicke and Benzie, 2001). The last region is closely related to samples from the Solomon Islands. A similar result was reported by Gardner et al. [2012] in relation to H. scabra populations within Northern Territory waters, suggesting the existence of genetically distinct stocks in the Gulf of Carpentaria (or eastern population) and the Arafura Sea (or western population). No equivalent studies have been done in Western Australia. However, based on the existing knowledge from isolation by distance models, it was assumed that the Kimberley and Pilbara populations of H. scabra are separate stocks for management purposes. The sandfish stock in Torres Strait is concentrated on the Warrior Reefs complex, which bridges Australia and Papua New Guinea (PNG). Sandfish in Torres Strait is assumed to be a single biological stock for assessment and management purposes. Thus, six Australian stocks of Sandfish are currently recognised for management and assessment purposes.
Here, assessment of stock status for Sandfish is presented at the biological stock level—Gulf of Carpentaria, North West Northern Territory, Kimberley Western Australia and Pilbara Western Australia—and the management unit level—Torres Strait and Queensland.
Stock Status
Kimberley
Harvest of Sandfish (H. scabra) in Western Australia is managed by a formal harvest control rule (HCR) as defined in the Western Australian Sea Cucumber Resource Harvest Strategy 2018–22 [DPIRD 2018]. This is updated annually during resource assessments [Hart et al. 2022], and in response to external audits from the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) conformity assessment bodies [MSC 2023]. The main performance indicator (PI) is a biomass estimate from a population model, which uses catch, catch rate, and fishery independent survey data [Hart et al. 2022]. The PI is compared against reference levels defined as: Target (50% B0), threshold (40% B0) and limit (30% B0), where B0 is unfished biomass. The HCR has pre-defined management actions in response to the PI, and it is embedded within a larger harvest strategy that employs a risk-based, weight-of-evidence approach using 7 different lines of evidence.
The population model estimated an initial decline occurred to 0.4 B0 during 1995–99, but it was highly unlikely that biomass was reduced below 0.8B0 between 2006 and 2022. Also, the average weight of sandfish harvested in the Kimberley in the period 2004 to 2022 was 3 times the estimated size-at-maturity and stable over time. Based on these lines of evidence, there are no indications of unacceptable stock depletion in 2022. The stock is not considered to be recruitment impaired and the current level of fishing mortality is unlikely to cause the stock to become recruitment impaired.
On the basis of the evidence provided above, Kimberley Sandfish in Western Australia is classified as a sustainable stock
Pilbara
Harvest of Sandfish (H. scabra) in Western Australia is managed by a formal harvest control rule (HCR), as defined in the Western Australian Sea Cucumber Resource Harvest Strategy 2018–22 [DPIRD 2018]. This is updated annually during resource assessments [Hart et al. 2022] and in response to external audits from the MSC conformity assessment bodies [MSC 2023]. The main performance indicator (PI) is a biomass estimate from a population model, which uses catch, catch rate, and fishery independent survey data [Hart et al. 2022]. The PI is compared against reference levels defined as: Target (50% B0), threshold (40% B0) and limit (30% B0), where B0 is unfished biomass. The HCR has pre-defined management actions in response to the PI, and it is embedded within a larger harvest strategy that employs a risk-based, weight-of-evidence approach using 7 different lines of evidence.
The population model estimated a decline to 25% B0 during 2017 to 2022, which is below the limit reference point. This suggested the point of recruitment impairment had been breached. Also catch rates reduced significantly during 2015 to 2019, and a fishery independent survey detected an 80% reduction in biomass between 2017 and 2020. Based on these lines of evidence, there are indications of unacceptable stock depletion in 2022. Under the HCR a 3-year closure of the Sandfish fishery is required, and the fishery has been formally closed by legislation until 31 July 2026. The above evidence indicates that the biomass of this stock is considered to be depleted and that recruitment is likely to be impaired. The above evidence further indicates that current fishing mortality is constrained by management to a level that should allow the stock to recover from its recruitment-impaired state; however, measurable improvements are yet to be detected.
On the basis of the evidence provided above, Pilbara Sandfish in Western Australia is classified as a depleted stock.
Biology
Sandfish biology [Hamel et al. 2001; Kithakeni and Ndara 2002; Skewes et al. 2014].
Species | Longevity / Maximum Size | Maturity (50 per cent) |
---|---|---|
Sandfish (Sea Cucumber) | 6–10 years |
Females 200mm, Males 140–170mm |
Tables
Western Australia | |
---|---|
Commercial | |
Diving |
Method | Western Australia |
---|---|
Commercial | |
Area closures | |
Boat limits | |
Fishing gear and method restrictions | |
Harvest Strategy | |
Limited entry |
Commonwealth – Recreational. The Australian Government does not manage recreational fishing in Commonwealth waters. Recreational fishing in Commonwealth waters is managed by the state or territory immediately adjacent to those waters, under its management regulations.
Commonwealth – Commercial (catch). Catch is by calendar year. All catch is Indigenous.
References
- Breen, SB 2001, Queensland East Coast Bech-de-mer Fishery Statement of Management Arrangements. Queensland Fisheries Services. 22 pp.
- Butler, I, D'Alberto, B and Cao, A 2023, Torres Strait Bêche-de-mer and Trochus fisheries, in Butler, I, Patterson, H, Bromhead, D, Galeano, D, Timmiss, T, Woodhams, J and Curtotti, R (eds), Fishery status reports 2023, Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences, Canberra.
- Butler, I, D'Alberto, B and Tuynman, H 2022, Torres Strait Bêche-de-mer and Trochus fisheries, in Patterson, H, Bromhead, D, Galeano, D, Larcombe, J, Timmiss, T, Woodhams, J and Curtotti, R (eds), Fishery status reports 2022, Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics and Sciences, Canberra.
- DEH 2004, Assessment of the Queensland East Coast Beche-de-mer Fishery. Commonwealth Department of Environment and Heritage. Canberra 29pp.
- DPIRD 2018, Western Australian Sea Cucumber Resource Harvest Strategy 2018 – 2023. V1.0
- Gardner, MG, Fitch, AJ and Li, X 2012, Population Genetic Structure of Sea Cucumbers (Bêche-de-Mer) in Northern Australia. Project No. 2008/733, Bedford Park, Adelaide, South Australia
- Hamel, JF, Conand, C, Pawson, DL and Mercier, A 2001, The Sea Cucumber Holothuria scabra (Holothuria: Echinodermata): Its Biology and Exploitation as Beche-de-Mer. Advances in Marine Biology 41: 129–223
- Hart, AM, Murphy, DM and Fabris, F 2022, Western Australian Sea Cucumber Resource. Resource Assessment Report. Fisheries Research Report No. 324: Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Western Australia. 113 pp.
- Kithakeni, T and Ndara, SGM 2002, Some aspects of sea cucumber, Holothuria scabra (Jaeger, 1935), along the coast of Dar es Salaam. Western Indian Ocean J. Mar. Sci. 1(2): 163-168
- MSC 2023, Western Australia sea cucumber fishery Surveillance Report, June 2023
- Murphy, NE, Plagányi, E, Edgar, S, Salee, K and Skewes, T 2021, Stock survey of sea cucumbers in east Torres Strait, final report, CSIRO, Australia.
- Murphy, NE, Skewes, T, Filewood, F, David, C, Seden, P and Jones, A 2011, The recovery of the Holothuria scabra (sandfish) population on Warrior Reef, Torres Strait, final report to AFMA, CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research, Cleveland, Queensland.
- QDPIF 2004, Ecological assessment of Queensland's East coast Beche-de-mer Fishery. Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, QLD.
- Roelofs, A, Dunning, M and Gaffney, P 2003, A review of the distribution, biology and ecology of Queensland east coast beche-de-mer stocks, and options for the future sustainable management of the fishery. Submission to the Australian Government Department of the Environment and Heritage (AGDEH). Controlled Specimens Declaration - Conditions 5 and 6. December 2003
- Skewes, T, Dennis, DM, Koutsoukos, A, Haywood, M, Wassenberg, T and Austin, M 2004, Stock survey and sustainable harvest strategies for Torres Strait bêche-de-mer, AFMA project R01/1345, CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research, Cleveland, Queensland.
- Skewes, T, Plaganyi, E, Murphy, N, Pascual, R and Fisher, M 2014, Evaluating rotational harvest strategies for sea cucumber fisheries, CSIRO, Brisbane.
- Skewes, T, Taylor, S, Dennis, D, Haywood, M and Donovan, D 2006, Sustainability assessment of the Torres Strait Sea Cucumber Fishery, CRC-TS Project task number T1.4, CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric Research, Cleveland, Queensland.
- Uthicke, S and Benzie, J 2001, Restricted gene flow between Holothuria scabra (Echinodermata: Holothuroidea) populations along the north east coast of Australia and the Solomon Islands. Marine Ecology Progress Series 216:109-117.
Downloadable reports
Click the links below to view reports from other years for this fish.