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Adaptive management for the sustainable exploitation of lagoon resources in remote islands: lessons from a massive El Niño-induced giant clam bleaching event in the Tuamotu atolls (French Polynesia)

Part of: Humans and Island Environments

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 April 2017

SERGE ANDRÉFOUËT ,
SIMON VAN WYNSBERGE ,
LINA KABBADJ ,
COLETTE C.C. WABNITZ ,
CHRISTOPHE MENKES ,
THIERRY TAMATA ,
MICHEL PAHUATINI ,
IOTEFA TETAIREKIE ,
IOSUA TEAKA  and
TEIKI AH SCHA
...Show all authors
SERGE ANDRÉFOUËT*
Affiliation:
Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, UMR 9220 ENTROPIE (Institut de Recherche Pour le Développement, Université de la Réunion, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique), B.P.A5, 98848, Nouméa, New Caledonia
SIMON VAN WYNSBERGE
Affiliation:
Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, UMR 9220 ENTROPIE (Institut de Recherche Pour le Développement, Université de la Réunion, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique), BP529 Arue, 98713 Papeete, Tahiti, French Polynesia
LINA KABBADJ
Affiliation:
Institut de Recherche pour le Développement, UMR 9220 ENTROPIE (Institut de Recherche Pour le Développement, Université de la Réunion, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique), BP529 Arue, 98713 Papeete, Tahiti, French Polynesia
COLETTE C.C. WABNITZ
Affiliation:
Changing Ocean Research Unit, Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries, The University of British Columbia, AERL, 2202 Main Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada The Pacific Community (SPC), BP D5, 95 Promenade Roger Laroque, 98848, Nouméa, New Caledonia
CHRISTOPHE MENKES
Affiliation:
Laboratoire d'Océanographie et du Climat: Expérimentations et Approches Numériques, Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Université Paris 06, IPSL, UMR CNRS/IRD/MNHN, B.P.A5, 98848, Nouméa, New Caledonia
THIERRY TAMATA
Affiliation:
Direction des Ressources Marines et Minières, Fare Ute, BP 20, 98713 Papeete, Tahiti, French Polynesia
MICHEL PAHUATINI
Affiliation:
Fishery and Aquaculture of Giant Clams, Management Committee of Giant Clams, 98779 Reao, French Polynesia
IOTEFA TETAIREKIE
Affiliation:
Fishery and Aquaculture of Giant Clams, Management Committee of Giant Clams, 98779 Reao, French Polynesia
IOSUA TEAKA
Affiliation:
Fishery and Aquaculture of Giant Clams, Management Committee of Giant Clams, 98779 Reao, French Polynesia
TEIKI AH SCHA
Affiliation:
Town, Management Committee of Giant Clams, 98779 Reao, French Polynesia
TAIHOPU TEAKA
Affiliation:
Town, Management Committee of Giant Clams, 98779 Reao, French Polynesia
GEORGES REMOISSENET
Affiliation:
Direction des Ressources Marines et Minières, Fare Ute, BP 20, 98713 Papeete, Tahiti, French Polynesia
*
*Correspondence: Prof. Serge Andréfouët email: serge.andrefouet@ird.fr
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Summary

Small-scale mariculture of high-value species for trade in remote islands can offer valuable alternative livelihoods to local communities. The endangered giant clam species Tridacna maxima is naturally abundant in some atolls in French Polynesia (FP) and has been the focus of commercial mariculture activities since 2012. Shortly after spat collectors became operational in two atoll lagoons, FP rose to become one of the main exporters of giant clams for the aquarium trade. However, this activity has been threatened recently by a mass clam-bleaching event triggered by the 2015–2016 El Niño. This study reviews the roles that international (Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora) and national regulatory frameworks play in the development of this activity in a small island context, and how they can indirectly promote better science and monitoring in order to inform adaptive management strategies. The links between the nine main groups of stakeholders show the necessary adaptation measures required to mitigate climate-driven mortalities. While this case study remains specific to giant clam farming in FP, general lessons are provided that could help in mitigating economic impacts from climate-related events on other islands.

Keywords

Tridacna maximaclimate changemariculturemarine policyCITEScoral reef
Type
Papers
Information
Environmental Conservation , Volume 45 , Issue 1: Thematic section. Humans and Island Environments , March 2018 , pp. 30 - 40
Copyright
Copyright © Foundation for Environmental Conservation 2017 

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Footnotes

Supplementary material can be found online at https://doi.org/10.1017/S0376892917000212

References

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