Abstract
Small-scale fisheries constitute an important component of coastal human societies. The present study describes the small-scale net fisheries on Kalymnos Island (south-east Aegean Sea) that harbors the largest small-scale fleet in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. In addition, this study aims to evaluate their characteristics and economics. Relevant métiers were identified through a multivariate analysis by inputting the main resources and fishing gear data that were recorded during landings. Four main practices were observed being used as fishing gears, gillnets and trammel nets, targeting the species Mullus barbatus, Boops boops, Mullus surmuletus, Scorpaena porcus, and Sepia officinalis. Further analysis, which incorporated data concerning the type of the gear used, revealed 11 distinct métiers. Most of these métiers are practiced by other Mediterranean small-scale fisheries as well, in terms of target species, gear and seasonality. However, the métier that had its target species as B.boops is not practiced in other Mediterranean small-scale fisheries. The seasonal rotation of métiers was determined by the availability of different species rather than their market price. The results revealed the difference in fishing practice used by the fishermen in the study area compared to other fishing practices in the Mediterranean Sea. In particular, the fishermen of this study area targeted more species (B.boops) with a very low market price. They also provided essential information for the development and implementation of management plans aiming at the sustainability of small-scale fisheries.
Highlights
Great variations were presented in the small-scale fishery from one area to another, which is due to the biological and environmental conditions, but is affected by the social, economic, and historical context in which fishermen live
Considering all of the above, the present study aims to identify, analyze, and combine the main métiers, as well as their associated economic indicators, which were practiced with different types of net fisheries on Kalymnos Island, which is one of the most important and representative Mediterranean area for small-scale fisheries
The fishing tactics correspond to gillnets, trammel nets, and combined nets
Summary
Great variations were presented in the small-scale fishery from one area to another, which is due to the biological and environmental conditions, but is affected by the social, economic, and historical context in which fishermen live. The design of an impartial and accurate monitoring scheme for the small-scale fishery is a complicated procedure. This is due to the fact that it presents a large number of fishing vessels and activities along with an extended coastline (where the fishing activities take place) and the usual practice of directly supplying the landings to local markets [3,4,5].
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