Miho Honiavasa area

Miho Honiavasa area spatio-temporal refugia

This cape at the end of the Honiavasa barrier island is under the jurisdiction of Sasavele village, Kalikoqu District, Roviana Lagoon. Honiavasa has a protruding shallow reef dominated by Porites coral heads mixed with Enhalus and Thalassia sea-grasses that plunges into a passage reef-drop where waters move between the open ocean and the lagoon. The area is mottled with Acropora, Pachyseris, and Merulina colonies, among other hermatypic corals. Various biological events characterize this area. Yellowmargin (Pseudobalistes flavimarginatus) and Titan (Balistoides viridescens) triggerfish spawn in this cape during the last quarter of every month from September to December. Flowery (Epinephelus fuscoguttatus) and camouflage (E. polyphekadion) groupers, and the coral trout (Plectropomus areolatus) form spawning aggregations at Honiavasa every last quarter from August through January. This area is a prime site for harvesting groupers for the Live Reef Food (LRF) fishery. Honiavasa is also an important spot for early morning and late evening aggregations of trevallies, barracudas, rainbow runners and many other species. Lagoon passages are ecologically significant habitats, as numerous species spawn in them (Johannes 1981).

Challenges: Establishing a seasonal "no-take" zone to protect spawning Serranids and other species will be a challenging endeavor. The two-year moratorium of the Life Reef Food fishery in the Solomons has apparently been lifted and fishing will resume in August of 2001 (Gregory Bennett personal comm.). Sasavele tribal leaders have indicated that they are willing to close the fishery as long as some alternative activity can be introduced to compensate for the loss of income. The PI met with Sasavele elders in August of 2000 and they indicated that a balsa-planting project would be a good step towards developing economic alternatives for the community. In addition, Gregory Bennett, the Roviana Project Head Officer of the "Live Reef Fish Trade" project, Solomon Island Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources, and manager of the PI's MacArthur project, is working with the Sasavele community to find a viable solution to the continued decimation of Serranid aggregations. A seasonal "no-take" zone would be an important step to protect Serranids and other species.

Ecological characteristics: Cape reef dropping into the Sasavele Passage. Large Porites coral heads mixed with sand and Enhalus and Thalassia sea-grasses.

Common fish: Balistidae spp., C. ignobilis/lugubris, Epinephelus fuscoguttatus, Epinephelus ongus, Lutjanus bohar, Lutjanus argentimaculatus, Lethrinus elongatus, Lutjanus gibbus, Lethrinus harak, Lethrinus obsoletus, Lutjanus semicinctus, Lethrinus hypselopterus, Balistapus undulatus, Lutjanus carponotatus, Lutjanus fulvus, Sargocentron spiniferum, Choerodon anchorago, various species of Carangidae, Sphyraena, Monotaxis grandoculis, Pentapodus spp., Scolopsis spp., Lutjanus rivulatus, and Valamugil seheli/Mugil cephalus.

Common shells: Anadara antiquata, Gafrarium tumidum, Hyotissa hyotis, Spondylus nicobaricus, Pinctada margaritifera, Chama, Terebralia palustris and Piinidae spp. Common crustaceans: Portunidae spp., Scylla serrata, Panulirus versicolor, Parathelphusa hydrodromus and Cardisoma carnifex.

Special characteristics: During the last quarter from September to December, Pseudobalistes conspicillum and Balistoides viridescens spawn in this cape. People from Sasavele come to dive for the eggs of these fish early in the morning. Epinephelus fuscoguttatus and Ephinephelus ongus form spawning aggregations at Honiavasa every last quarter from August through January. Also, every new moon, particularly from January through June, people troll in the early morning for C. ignobilis/C. lugubris. Numerous species of baitfish concentrate at this cape before entering the lagoon attacking large pelagic fish such Scombridae spp., and Sphyraena jello. The latter spawns here from September through December. Honiavasa and nearby reefs are amongst the most important areas to dive for various species of Portunidae crabs. Schools of Carangidae spp., Siganus spinus, Siganus lineatus, Valamugil seheli/Mugil cephalus, Herklotsichthys quadrimaculatus, Megalaspis cordyla,and Rastrelliger kanagurta are frequently seen here.

Common users: Used by everyone for fishing and gleaning.Temporal variability: Used throughout the year, although best fishing is from September through May.

Common methods: Angling, trolling, sink-line, day/night spearing, netting, and day/night diving.

Economic activities: People dive for Beguina semiorbiculata, Nassarius camelus and Holothurians.