FishSource

Thailand blue swimming crab - bottom gillnet/trap (FIP)

Last Updated: 2024-02-14

Progress Rating: C

Evaluation Start Date: 2017-01-31

Type: Comprehensive

Status: Active

FIP Lead: WWF USA (WU), Thai Frozen Foods Association (TFFA), WWF Thailand (WT), Sea Purpose (SP)

Stock Profile Link
Blue swimming crab - Thailand

Comments:

The last stage 4 result was reported between 12-24 months ago with recent stage 3 results reported within the past 6 months. The FIP drops to C rating.

1. FIP Development	Oct 18	Fishery assessment or scoping document made public 11 October 2018 — Translation between v1.3 to v2.0 of MSC standard 30 May 2012 — MSC Pre-Assessment made public 1 April 2011 — Fishsource profile: Blue swimming crab - stock units undefined (Country: TH; Gear: SV, MIS_psh, GN, FIX;) [FIP: Thailand Blue Swimming Crab, TCPG]
2. FIP Launch	Aug 18	Confirmation of project participants 1 August 2018 — 2018 Participants list 1 June 2012 — FIP participants are organized
2. FIP Launch	Aug 24	Workplan made public 20 August 2024 — Updated 2024 Workplan 1 January 2022 — Updated 2022 workplan 20 June 2018 — 2018 Action Plan Review 31 January 2017 — Workplan made public
3. FIP Implementation	Jun 24	FIP activities undertaken 24 June 2024 — The FIP has produced a manual for interacting with and recording ETP species; a new logbook to accompany this manual is currently in development. 13 June 2024 — Updated HCRs have been approved for the blue swimming crab in Surat Thani; the ammended HCRs outline fishing limits, juvenile protection measures, and reference points. 1 June 2024 — The six-month report of the blue swimming crab stock assessment in Surat Thani and Nakhon Si Thammarat provinces used LB-SPR analysis to estimate biological parameters and fishing impacts. Results indicated spawning potential ratios of 0.47 and 0.57, with varying mortality rates and selectivity sizes, suggesting moderate levels of fishing pressure across the two areas. 31 May 2024 — The FIP is undergoing a process of establishing guidelines for sustainable blue swimming crab management in Surat Thani Province, including setting up six public hearings to discuss HCRs and setting fishing limits. The HCRs focus on maintaining appropriate utilization rates, protecting juvenile crabs, and ensuring potential spawning remains above target reference points to promote long-term resource sustainability. 28 December 2023 — The FIP has produced a report on the evaluation of BSC crab banks in Thailand. The results of the report show that the BSC stock in Surat Thani began to recover after the implementation of several management regulations. (Milestone 6 & 11) 28 December 2023 — The ecopath analysis report added a hypothesis as to what the predicted structure of the community would be if there were an impact from the fishery; the report concluded that a monitoring program should be implemented to track resource abundance. 1 December 2023 — The Fishing Control and Surveillance Division continues to conduct monthly inspections of fishing vessels, gear, licenses, and documentation for accuracy, adhering to the vessel inspection manual. 1 December 2023 — A study conducted based on random data collection revealed that both crab traps and crab gill nets were highly effective in catching blue swimming crabs, capturing over 90% of bsc; crucifix crabs were identified as the second most abundant catch. Findings recommend that economic opportunities for crucifix crabs be explored. 1 December 2023 — The Department of Fisheries has provided a case example of the decision-making process to demonstrate how the management system in place resolves issues. (Milestone 61) 1 December 2023 — An updated LB-SPR analysis was conducted using data from January 2023- December 2023. Results of the analysis found that the length at 50% maturity was found to be 9.96 cm, taking approximately 0.5 years to reach this size. The estimated SPR for the BSC stock in Surat Thani and Nakhon Si Thammarat were 0.47 and 0.57. 1 December 2023 — The FIP met with the Director-General of the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources to discuss ongoing FIP progress and the implementation of fishery action plan activities related to the ecosystem; the summary report of the meeting has been made available. 1 December 2023 — The Marine Fisheries Research and Development Division has developed guidelines to monitor and evaluate the BSC FMP, aiming to assess performance against target values and provide preliminary data for identifying issues and challenges in the implementation; relevant results have been categorized into a report which is now available. 25 August 2023 — The FIP participated in the Committee for Sustainable Management of Thai Blue Crab Resources and the Provincial Fisheries Committee Working Group meetings. During the meetings, draft HCRs were presented and The Marine Fisheries Research and Development Division announced they have initiated a working group to study measures controlling the minimum legal size of aquatic animals in an effort to determine necessary conservation management measures. 1 December 2022 — An updated report on the BSC fishery's impact on the habitat has been produced; the report suggests that it's likely that the majority of habitats in the Surat Thani Province face minimal impact and commercial fishing vessels don't overlap with vulnerable habitats 29 November 2022 — Blue swimming crab resource management committee meeting held; an evaluation of BSC banks demonstrated that crab banks and the release of juvenile crabs have had a positive impact on the stock 21 November 2022 — An update on enforcement and compliance has been produced; from the end of 2020 until the present day, no illegal blue crab fishing offenses have been recorded. 1 November 2022 — LBSPR analysis has been conducted using updated data from May- November 2022; some fishing mortality parameters have been estimated 1 June 2022 — Peer review conducted on stock assessment applying MSY and LBSPR methodologies 1 June 2022 — LB‐SPR analysis has been conducted using samples around the Bandon Bay area between June- December 2021; report made available 1 June 2022 — Study on the effect of ghost fishing on uncountable fishery mortality of BSC in Surat Thani Province conducted 1 June 2022 — DoF has developed guidelines to reduce overfishing at a national level 1 June 2022 — Milestone 33b & 33f addressed- a bycatch PSA report has been produced identifying no high-risk species between either fishery; 75 species were identified as moderate risk in the gillnet fishery, and the majority of species within the trap fishery are identified as low risk 1 June 2022 — DoF has provided updates on shellfish management; information on the history of regulating permitted areas for shellfish farms provided 1 June 2022 — Catch composition and risk assessment of gillnet and trap gears used in small-scale fisheries in the Gulf of Thailand conducted 23 May 2022 — A working group came together to examine and identify current shellfish farming management guidelines; an update on the status of shellfish farming has been made available 1 January 2022 — FIP 4th annual review produced; an updated draft BSC management plan has been made available. 1 December 2021 — Project to assess the support of juvenile BSC released into the wild on catches from fishing in the eastern region is ongoing. Release evaluation made available. 1 December 2021 — Update made to milestone 36; updated literature review made available on risk from BSC fishing on habitats in Surat Thani 1 December 2021 — The Department of Fisheries has implemented the Crab Bank Project in Surat Thani Province. In 2020, a total of 25,098 individual gravid female BSC had entered the crab banks and a total of 12,549,000,000 individual Zoea stage of young BSC were released into the wild 1 December 2021 — A new milestone, milestone 60, was added to look at the impacts of the fishery on the ecosystem. A report has been produced which provided the results of an ecopath model for Bandon Bay. 1 December 2021 — A report has been produced on the Surat Thani habitat restoration projects progress in 2021 (Milestone 37); the DMCR has implemented the mangrove planting project, covering an area of 11,170 rai (4416 acres). In addition to mangrove restoration, 150 rai (59 acres) of coral have been planted across 8 provinces and 60 rai (24 acres) of seagrass have been planted across 4 provinces. 1 December 2019 — Stock assessment completed - Milestone 30 1 December 2018 — Fisheries management plan drafted 5 October 2018 — Wrtitten agreement between FIP and government research institutes signed 1 June 2018 — Review spatial and temporal fishing patterns by gear type with habitat type ongoing 1 June 2018 — Review of ecosystem dynamics completed - the study provided an understanding of the structure and function of various components within the ecosystem in the region using the EcoPath model. (2018 Action Plan review - pages 20, 44). 1 June 2018 — First meeting of the Management Committee reported 20 April 2018 — Review of FIP completed 1 March 2018 — RBF Assessments (reports) published 29 December 2017 — Communications plan developed 1 May 2017 — Review and collate existing data on BSC 1 May 2017 — Review of habitat, distribution, and reproductive biology of BSC in Thailand 1 May 2017 — Desktop study on catch rate and bycatch of blue swimming crab fisheries completed. 1 March 2017 — Desk-based review of stock status currently being finalised 1 May 2015 — WWF, TCPG/TFFA, and DoF gather to discuss the FIP Action Plan at the National Level, and to prototype the plan at the provincial level in Ban Don, Surat Thani.
4. Improvements in Fishing Practices and Fishery Management	Mar 23	Verifiable improvement in policy/management and fishing practices 21 March 2023 — Increase to MSC PI score 1.2.1, 3.2.1 & 3.2.4; Three-year audit conducted. The FMP was signed and adopted in 2023 which outlines a range of harvest strategies and management measures. 21 March 2023 — Increase to MSC PI score 2.4.3; Three-year audit conducted. Crab traps and crab gill nets likely have minimal impact on sensitive habitats such as seagrass sources, coral reefs, and mangrove forests. 27 January 2023 — Increase to PI 2.3.3; A status update report of the fishery's impact on ETP species has been produced. While the fishery does overlap with ETP species habitats, there are several management measures in place to mitigate impact. 1 December 2022 — Milestone 47- The blue swimming crab FMP has been finalized and approved 25 January 2021 — Increase in MSC PI 2.1.1 score; likely no primary species in the trap fishery as none are ‘managed’ according to the MSC Standard 25 January 2021 — Increase in BMT score 3.2.3 - level of compliance evaluated 25 January 2021 — Increase in BMT score 3.1.1; national regulations in place that define roles and resposibilities of actors in fisheries management and how fisheries should be managed at different levels of governance 25 January 2021 — Increase in MSC score 2.4.2; impacts to main habitats are likely minimal 25 January 2021 — Increase in MSC PI score 2.2.2; Trap fishery impact on the two main secondary species in this fishery is thought to be at low risk according to the RBF 25 January 2021 — Increase in BMT score 1.2.4; YPR and LB SPR have been conducted for this fishery 25 January 2021 — Increase in MSC PI score 2.1.2; Trap fishery has no primary species caught in this fishery 26 June 2019 — Increase in MSC PI scores for 2.1.3; 2.2.3 - Final report of the bycatch study published 1 June 2018 — Increase in BMT scores 2.1.3, 2.2.3, 2.4.3 and 2.5.3 1 June 2018 — Advisory committee for BSC established and met three times in 2017 to take forward NPOA
5. Improvements on the Water	Jan 21	Verifiable improvement on the water 25 January 2021 — Increase in BMT score 1.1.1; the stock is likely to be above PRI 25 January 2021 — Increase in BMT score 2.4.1; mud and sand and artificial reefs were identified as the two main habitat types 25 January 2021 — Increase in BMT score 2.3.1; There is an increased risk of interaction with cetaceans and dugongs from larger vessels; no ETP species were identified in the trap fishery
6. MSC certification (optional)	—	MSC certificate made public