The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™
ISSN 2307-8235 (online)
IUCN 2008: T180406A1626867
Actinopyga palauensis, Panning's Blackfish
Assessment by: Conand, C., Gamboa, R. & Purcell, S.
View on www.iucnredlist.org
Citation: Conand, C., Gamboa, R. & Purcell, S. 2013. Actinopyga palauensis. The IUCN Red List of
Threatened Species 2013: e.T180406A1626867. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.20131.RLTS.T180406A1626867.en
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THE IUCN RED LIST OF THREATENED SPECIES™
Taxonomy
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Animalia
Echinodermata
Holothuroidea
Aspidochirotida
Holothuriidae
Taxon Name: Actinopyga palauensis Panning, 1944
Common Name(s):
• English:
Panning's Blackfish
Assessment Information
Red List Category & Criteria:
Least Concern ver 3.1
Year Published:
2013
Date Assessed:
May 18, 2010
Justification:
This species is known from New Caledonia, Tonga, Nuie, Palau, Marianas and in the Great Barrier Reef
where it is common but considered to be less abundant than A. spinea. It is fished in many parts of its
range, but is still considered to be a minor commercial species in terms of catch. This species is
therefore listed as Least Concern. Given its relatively small range and potential commercial value, more
data is urgently needed on the fishery for this species, as well as this species' biology.
Geographic Range
Range Description:
This species is found in Palau, Federated States of Micronesia, Tonga, Nuie, eastern Australia (Great
Barrier Reef) and New Caledonia.
Country Occurrence:
Native: Australia; New Caledonia; Niue; Palau; Tonga
FAO Marine Fishing Areas:
Native: Pacific - western central
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Actinopyga palauensis – published in 2013.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T180406A1626867.en
1
Distribution Map
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Actinopyga palauensis – published in 2013.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T180406A1626867.en
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Population
This species was found at sites in Province Nord, New Caledonia where occasionally (3 sites) the
abundances on barrier reefs were greater than 1,000ind*km-2 of reef (Purcell et al. 2009). During the
same survey on a barrier reef, this species was found at 17 individuals per hectare (Purcell et al. 2009).
Current Population Trend: Unknown
Habitat and Ecology (see Appendix for additional information)
This is a relatively conspicuous species that is found in reef passes and forereef pavement (Purcell et al.
2008). Purcell et al. (2009) found it in New Caledonia, mainly at barrier reef sites, but occasionally in the
lagoon. A. palauensis is typically found in deeper waters from 10 to 30m, but can also be found as
shallow as 4m (Purcell et al. 2008). Little else is known about its biology.
Many sea cucumbers are broadcast spawners, which can limit the fertilization success of a species. No
information is known on the changes of habitat requirements during the life history of this species, but
generally, the juveniles of aspidochirotids are cryptic and small individuals that may migrate into adult
habitat later (Purcell 2004).
Systems: Marine
Use and Trade (see Appendix for additional information)
This species is fished in Palau, Federated States of Micronesia, Tonga, Niue and New Caledonia, which
together make up the entirety of its distribution. In the latter it is among the dominant species in the
catches (Kinch et al. 2008). In the State of Yap (part of FSM) there is a potential to further develop the
fishery of this species (Friedman et al. 2008).
Although not one of the most important species (medium value) for fishery purposes, it can be
expected that this species may become more popular after the depletion or reduction of other species
of higher commercial importance and value.
Threats
This species is harvested throughout the entirety of its distribution, but no catch records exist that
indicate a population decline due to harvesting.
Conservation Actions (see Appendix for additional information)
There are no known conservation measures in place for this species, although it is found in some marine
protected areas within its range. More information is needed on the impact of fisheries on this species
as well as on the biology of this species.
With the inclusion of I. fuscus in CITES Appendix III, a debate started whether the conservation of this
group may be addressed with their inclusion in one of CITES appendices (Toral-Granda 2007).
Credits
Assessor(s):
Conand, C., Gamboa, R. & Purcell, S.
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Actinopyga palauensis – published in 2013.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T180406A1626867.en
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Reviewer(s):
Polidoro, B., Carpenter, K.E., Harwell, H. & Knapp, L.
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Actinopyga palauensis – published in 2013.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T180406A1626867.en
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Bibliography
Conand, C.P. 1998. Holothurians (sea cucumbers, Class Holothuroidea). In: K.E. Carpenter and V.H. Niem
(eds), FAO Species Identification Guide for Fishery Purposes, pp. 1157-1190. Rome.
Friedman, K., Ropeti, E. and Tafileichig, A. 2008. Development of a management plan for Yap’s sea
cucumber fishery. SPC Beche de Mer Information Bulletin 28: 7-13.
IUCN. 2013. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (ver. 2013.1). Available at: http://www.iucnredlist.org.
(Accessed: 12 June 2013).
Kinch, J., Purcell, S., Uthicke, S. and Friedman, K. 2008. Population status, fisheries and trade of sea
cucumbers in the Western Central Pacific. In: V. Toral-Granda and A. Lovatelli and M. Vasconcellos. (eds),
Sea cucumbers. A global review of fisheries and trade. Fisheries and Aquaculture Technical Paper. No.
516, pp. 7-55. FAO, Rome.
Purcell, S. 2004. Criteria for release strateges and evaluating the restocking of sea cucumbers. In: A,
Lovatelli (ed.), Advances in sea cucumber aquaculture and management.. FAO Fisheries Technical
Paper463, Rome.
Purcell, S.W., Gossuin, H. and Agudo, N.N. 2009. Status and management of the sea cucumber fishery of
la Grande Terre, New Caledonia. The WorldFish Center, Penang, Malaysia.
Purcell, S.W., Gossuin, H. and Agudo, N.S. 2008. État et gestion de la ressource en holothuries de la
Grande Terre, Nouvelle Calédonie. In: Le WorldFish Center (ed.).
Toral-Granda, V.M. 2006. Fact sheets and identification guide for commercial Sea cucumber species.
Toral-Granda, V.M. 2007. The Biological and Trade Status of Sea Cucumbers in the families Holothuriidae
and Stichopodidae. Convention on International Trade in Endangerd Species of Wild Fauna and Flora:
33. The Hague, Netherlands.
Citation
Conand, C., Gamboa, R. & Purcell, S. 2013. Actinopyga palauensis. The IUCN Red List of Threatened
Species 2013: e.T180406A1626867. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.20131.RLTS.T180406A1626867.en
Disclaimer
To make use of this information, please check the Terms of Use.
External Resources
For Images and External Links to Additional Information, please see the Red List website.
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Actinopyga palauensis – published in 2013.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T180406A1626867.en
5
Appendix
Habitats
(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)
Habitat
Season
Suitability
Major
Importance?
9. Marine Neritic -> 9.8. Marine Neritic - Coral Reef -> 9.8.3. Foreslope
(Outer Reef Slope)
-
Suitable
-
9. Marine Neritic -> 9.8. Marine Neritic - Coral Reef -> 9.8.4. Lagoon
-
Suitable
-
Use and Trade
(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)
End Use
Local
National
International
Food - human
No
Yes
Yes
Conservation Actions in Place
(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)
Conservation Actions in Place
In-Place Land/Water Protection and Management
Occur in at least one PA: Yes
Research Needed
(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)
Research Needed
1. Research -> 1.3. Life history & ecology
3. Monitoring -> 3.2. Harvest level trends
Additional Data Fields
Distribution
Lower depth limit (m): 30
Upper depth limit (m): 4
Population
Population severely fragmented: No
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Actinopyga palauensis – published in 2013.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-1.RLTS.T180406A1626867.en
6
The IUCN Red List Partnership
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ is produced and managed by the IUCN Global Species
Programme, the IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) and The IUCN Red List Partnership. The IUCN
Red List Partners are: BirdLife International; Botanic Gardens Conservation International; Conservation
International; Microsoft; NatureServe; Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; Sapienza University of Rome; Texas
A&M University; Wildscreen; and Zoological Society of London.
THE IUCN RED LIST OF THREATENED SPECIES™