Social Evaluation Study for the Milne Bay Community-Based Coastal and Marine Conservation Program png/99/G41 Jeff Kinch April 2001 unops contract for Services Ref

Average daily consumption is estimated at 55 grams per head per day or more in offshore islands in PNG (UNDP, 1989a, b). A fish consumption survey was conducted in 1986 at Misima and found average daily fish consumtion at four Misiman villages to be 13.5 grams (see Placer, Pty Ltd, 1986). Fish consumption is higher when visiting outer islands for harvesting expeditions.

Marine turtles are utilised by all communities to differing degrees. Brooker people in CBMMCA 3 and the Deboyne Islands (CBMMCA 2) have greater access to turtle populations as the Bramble Haven Group and the Conflict Group are major nesting sites. People use turtles as a source of food, for feasts and trading, and to a limited extent for sale in local markets. The most heavily utilised species is the green turtle (Chelonia mydas), with lesser catches of the hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata).

Earlier studies indicate that the numbers of green, hawksbill and leatherback turtles are decreasing in many areas of Papua New Guinea (see Pritchard, 1979; Spring, 1982a, b). There are no recent data for Milne Bay Province. In the 1995-1996 season, Brooker people thought that the numbers had dropped in comparison with recent years. The 1996-1997 season was thought to be a better year with an increase in numbers. In the 1997-1998 season numbers were thought to be relatively high though not as high as the previous year. In the 2000-2001 season Brooker people were complaining that turtles were late in coming to lay and numbers were subsequently down. This can be linked to the El Nino event of 1998 as there is a significant correlation between the index of the El Nino and numbers decline. Lanyon et al (1989) suggest that the El Nino regulates nesting numbers through nutritional pathways as the El Nino affects seagrass nutrients and subsequent nutritional status and life history of green turtles.