Toward a better use of fisheries data in spatial planning

Abstract

AbstractIn the search for protecting biodiversity, enhancing sustainable resource use, and minimizing conflict among users, spatial planning is now ubiquitous around the globe. Acquiring maps of fishing activity is critical to account for the interests of fishers, but fisheries are generally underrepresented in spatial plans. We conducted a quantitative systematic literature review on how fisheries data have been included in spatial planning. 145 research articles were reviewed. Most studies (99%) assessed marine ecosystems. A kaleidoscope of data sources has been used to map fisheries, from vessel tracking data (11%) to surrogates (17%). Most articles (43%) have focused on mapping fishing effort, but other variables might be more relevant for spatial planning. Stakeholder groups are generally aggregated together (84%), but to achieve socially equitable outcomes, differences in relative importance or vulnerability should be included in the analyses. There ought to be a shift in spatial and temporal scale so that the scale in which fishing activity is recorded matches the scales needed for relevant management. At the planning stage, fishing data have been incorporated mostly to avoid conflict (97%). However, when stocks are overfished, ensuring some areas remain open to fishing and including fisheries in alternative ways to “cost” (which incorporates the economic and social impact of spatial closures) might be necessary. The use of inappropriate fisheries data has produced spatial plans that lead to poor management decisions, social conflict, and lack of compliance. Based on these results, we offer a set of suggestions on how to develop fisheries spatial planning research that will promote environmental and social sustainability.