Abstract
AbstractThe availability of up‐to‐date information for managing marine resources is limited worldwide. In California, lack of data is hindering the execution and evaluation of two recent state laws, the Marine Life Management Act and the Marine Life Protection Act. The inability to meet the objectives of these laws is particularly acute for large cryptic benthic species (e.g., crabs, lobster, and prawns) that support valuable trap fisheries. Such species are not readily quantified by conventional methods and thus are not usually included in existing monitoring efforts. We explored the integration of data collection with ongoing commercial crab fishing activities to address this information gap and developed sampling regimes that provided accurate estimates of at‐sea catches that could show the status of crab populations. Crab catches sampled in port represented only a subset of the catch at sea owing to selective harvesting of the catch (i.e., sorting) and thus would be a poor estimator of wild stocks. We developed a framework for addressing data accuracy and validity, data management and sharing, incentives, compensation, and long‐term funding. Our findings suggest that data collection programs in which fishermen, managers, and scientists collaboratively design, collect, and analyze data are well suited for trap fisheries, particularly those that include multiple species or practice high rates of selectivity. The resulting recommendations for ensuring that the process is transparent and that the data are accurate and integrated into management include having (1) well‐defined goals and appropriate, scientifically sound data collection methods, (2) hands‐on training for participants, (3) validation of the collected data, (4) well‐defined procedures for handling confidential data, (5) an adequate funding source, and (6) timely and consistent reviews of the data with subsequent actions as needed. This program offers a sound solution for obtaining comprehensive fishery information in a more cost‐effective manner than is currently available.
Highlights
Abstract.—The availability of up-to-date information for managing marine resources is limited worldwide
A review of California’s marine fisheries (Leet et al 2001) identifies the lack of biological data needed for Subject editor: Glen Jamieson, Pacific Biological Station, British Columbia, Canada
California’s Marine Life Management Act requires the development of Downloaded From: https://bioone.org/journals/Marine-and-Coastal-Fisheries:-Dynamics,Management,and-Ecosystem-Science on 02 Nov 2021 Terms of Use: https://bioone.org/terms-of-use fishery management plans based on essential fishery information, such information is sparse for trap fisheries
Summary
Abstract.—The availability of up-to-date information for managing marine resources is limited worldwide. The resulting recommendations for ensuring that the process is transparent and that the data are accurate and integrated into management include having (1) well-defined goals and appropriate, scientifically sound data collection methods, (2) hands-on training for participants, (3) validation of the collected data, (4) well-defined procedures for handling confidential data, (5) an adequate funding source, and (6) timely and consistent reviews of the data with subsequent actions as needed This program offers a sound solution for obtaining comprehensive fishery information in a more cost-effective manner than is currently available. Large mobile invertebrates (including crabs, shrimp– prawns, and lobsters) form the basis of valuable trap fisheries worldwide (Leet et al 2001) These animals play an important role in the ecological functioning of nearshore ecosystems (e.g., food chain support). The need for new data collection approaches is supported by the current realization that managers and affiliated monitoring groups lack the funds and staff to collect these data, and data other than fishery landings are needed to assess and ensure the sustainability of the resources
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