A study showed that a single artisanal coral reef fishery can produce over 30,000 meals per year. Its annual economic value is more than $78,000. Ocean and coastal ecosystems bring a range of benefits to people worldwide. They provide millions of people with food and livelihood. Global and local stressors, however, threaten these services. To better understand the benefits from ocean environment, this study investigated how an artisanal fishery supports a community. This study uses a community-based approach to assess the factors affecting resource sustainability and food security in a small-scale coral reef fishery.
The study found that the small-scale Kiholo Bay fishery provides communities with large-scale benefits. “This coral reef fishery generates divers social, economic, and cultural values, which support the health and well-being of the Koholo community” said lead researcher Dr. Jack Kittinger, director of Conservation International‘s Hawai‘i program. “These benefits are likely common to coral reef fisheries across the globe, supporting key food security functions, cultural practices as well as local livelihoods.”
The results of the study suggest that similar coral reef fisheries around the world provide the people who depend on them with the same types of benefits. The survey found that 58 percent of the caught seafood is kept for home consumption, 34 percent is given away and only 8 percent sold to commercial markets. “We found that the vast majority of the catch is kept for home consumption or given away as part of cultural practices, showing the important role that this bay plays in sustaining our community” said Jenny Mitchell, a broad member of Hui Aloha Kiholo. “When Kiholo thrives, so do we”
By surveying fishermen for an entire year, researchers were able to estimate that the fishery produced more that 7,300 pounds of seafood per year for the community of people. Nearly 60% of the catch is used for subsistence, contributing to community food security. Geographic analysis of community beneficiaries showed that 20 percent of seafood procured is used for sociocultural events that are important for social cohesion.
(Adapted from conservation.org)
What can be inferred from the passage?