Long-term trends in subsistence fishing patterns and coral reef fisheries yield from a remote Fijian island

Household and seafood consumption surveys were conducted on the Fijian island of Ono-i-Lau to examine changes in subsistence fishing patterns and the quantity and composition of yield from the fishery, over a 20-year period from 1982 to 2002. It was found that the transition from traditional outrigger canoes to outboard-powered vessels has caused a dramatic increase in catch rate. This has resulted in a reduction in fishing effort, rather than an increase fisheries yield, as the fishery remains governed by subsistence needs and population size. The introduction of fishing technology has had more of a social impact, rendering the traditional shore-based fishing conducted by women less important. This study indicates that the reefs of Ono-i-Lau have sustained a yield of between 2.9 and 3.7 tonnes km−2 year−1 of reef-associated fish over the 20-year period. This provides a useful reference point from which to compare other reef fisheries in the region. The findings of this study also support the argument that non-selective harvesting of finfish can minimize the probability of ecosystem shifts.