The Republic of Nauru is a solitary limestone island in the central Pacific Ocean, sixty kilometers south of the equator. When Nauru’s phosphate-based economy collapsed in the late 1990s, the island’s poverty rate was high, and as a result, inhabitants found themselves struggling for critical resources along the shore.
Due to the lack of a coastal act, communities have used damaging tactics and methods to catch fish. The Nauru Marine Resources Authority (NFMRA) discovered that the population of invertebrates, such as the lobster (Panulirus penicillatus), was deficient. Many species are becoming extinct, including finfish, mullets (Mugilidae), Topsail Drummer (Kyphosus cinerascens), Coral Cod (Cephalopholis miniata), and the Humpheaded Maori Wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus). Furthermore, the small size of the shore region makes it more prone to overexploitation, particularly of intertidal benthic creatures such as turban shells and octopi.
Nauru has been considering using LMMA to oversee the usage of coastal resources better, and the coastal law was just filed in 2019. With harmful fishing continuing, it would be advisable to impose an LMMA or construct a limited area to decrease fishing mortality. Because the report relies on a desktop study, the data gathered from the internet consist of journal articles. Nauru’s coastline reef is one of the Pacific region’s least-documented biodiversity hotspots.
Locals considered two distinct areas of interest should be preserved. The first is the Menen district, located on the island’s north side, notably the coastal region surrounding the Menen Hotel. Gleaning, diving, and artisanal fishing are used to harvest the area. Another noteworthy fact is that the designated reef includes a high nutrient concentration for the fish produced by the upwelling phenomena, making it a vital habitat for many organisms. The second destination is Ijuw, which is located on the north side of the island and is a breeding region for many species; thus, it is where residents choose to catch fish.
The residents on the island of Nauru rely heavily on marine resources for food and revenue. Nonetheless, coastal fisheries are depleting due to population development and harmful fishing. LMMA is a prevalent reaction in the Pacific area, particularly in response to local losses in fisheries resources. Many Pacific, particularly local communities, aims to ensure future resource availability. Because traditional knowledge is fading, LMMA reinforces traditional systems and enhances resource management implementation. Another component of LMMA is the closure season of a particular maritime region, extensively practiced by many communities worldwide. The importance of adopting no-fish zones or periodic closures is to guarantee that fish may replenish in abundance and be accessible indefinitely.
It is critical to address the challenges; for instance, relying on coastal resources makes LMMA implementation problematic. Fishing closures, in particular, might be concerning regarding food security and revenue. Because the coastal region provides a living for many individuals, some communities may hesitate to cooperate. This delicate scenario would require the assistance of several stakeholders for the approach to be fully aware. Diabetes and being overweight are two of the most common health problems residents face, owing to a lack of purchasing power on the island. Imported goods are exorbitantly priced because the transportation route to Nauru is uneconomical. Moreover, relying on agriculture as an alternate food source would be impractical because the area has little space for agriculture. Alternative solutions for ensuring LMMA effectiveness are limited.