Artisanal Fishing Research Articles

Assessment Model for the Social Impact of Decommissioning Subsea Oil and Gas Systems

The article aims to propose a social impact assessment model that can help operators in the oil and gas exploration and production sector to evaluate the social impacts in the onshore and offshore dimensions of the decommissioning of subsea oil and gas production systems. Based on the technical characteristics of the operation, the literature review and the workshops held with interested parties, the conceptual model was developed. The model includes 2 dimensions: (i) onshore, which encompasses impacts on logistics and infrastructure and onshore employability, and (ii) offshore, which involves external context, restrictions on artisanal fishing, restrictions on tourist activities and offshore employability. The impacts in both dimensions result from the operationalization of decommissioning. The contribution of this study is to propose a social impact assessment model that takes into account the onshore and offshore dimensions of the offshore-based decommissioning process of submarine systems and to propose future research. The proposed model can support decision-making by companies and governments in the process of decommissioning submarine systems and can also help other types of offshore installations.

Struggles beneath the waves: Unveiling the incidental capture of sea turtles by artisanal fisheries in Angolan waters

The modernization and intensification of fishing practices have raised the threat to sea turtles, with escalating unintentional captures endangering turtles of all life stages. In this study, we examined the impact of artisanal fishing on sea turtles in two coastal regions of Angola, southern Africa. Between August 2015 - March 2016, through participatory monitoring (n = 8) and interviews with fishers (n= 41), we documented unintentional turtle captures occurring year-round during fishing activities. A total of 405 turtles, 403 olive ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea) and 2 green (Chelonia mydas), were caught in gillnets by fishers engaged in participatory monitoring. Net characteristics, including length and proximity to the shoreline, as reported by the interviewed fishers, correlated with those used by the monitoring group. We estimated approximately 1219 turtles captured by the 41 interviewed fishers over the 8-month study period. Most captures occurred within 100 m from the shoreline. The likelihood of accidental turtle captures increased significantly with proximity to the beach, larger mesh sizes, and greater net lengths and number of hauls. We calculated a survival rate of 41%, and a mortality rate of 59% for captured turtles. Number of turtles caught as bycatch varied throughout the year, with the highest Catch Per Unit Effort (CPUE) reported for Oct. – Dec. Since this period aligns with the nesting season, most captured turtles are likely to be females. The high mortality rate reported in this study emphasizes the immediate threat posed by accidental captures to sea turtle populations, underscoring the critical importance of conservation efforts, particularly in artisanal gillnet fisheries.

Research for development: evidence-based hilsa management improvements in Myanmar

The hilsa (Tenualosa ilisha) fishery in Myanmar is of importance as it provides an income for around 1.6 million artisanal low-income fisher households and generated USD 237.32M in export earnings from 156,000 metric tons in 2021. Fisheries Performance Indicator assessments have shown that the fishery, both artisanal and industrial, is close to economic collapse. Research was undertaken to find ways to improve the management of the fishery including studies to establish the migration routes and spawning periodicity of hilsa in addition to socioeconomic assessments and business case valuations to recommend finance mechanisms for improved management and maintenance of the fishery. Results indicate that the closed season for hilsa fishing misses the main spawning period in September. In addition, the chemical analysis of hilsa otoliths shows the importance of upstream spawning grounds – some 800km from the sea. Recommendations were made, and enacted March 2022, regarding the need for a new September closed season in addition to no-take hilsa sanctuaries along the main migration routes. A value was placed on the hilsa fishery at close to USD800M per annum. A USD100M annual investment cost is suggested to ensure that the new and old closed seasons are respected by licensed and unlicensed fishers. This investment could be generated by recommended fiscal reforms to provide incentives for fishers to respect the new fishing restrictions. Transboundary fisheries management opportunities are being advanced by informal tripartite scientific collaboration between Bangladesh, India and Myanmar. Social aspects, involving fisheries co-management with artisanal fisher communities and local government authorities, need to be continued to demonstrate the benefits of improved fisheries management in terms of the expected sustainable yields and a move away from potential economic fishery collapse.

Local Ecological Knowledge of the Whitemouth Croaker, Micropologias furneri among the Caiçaras in the Sepetiba Bay, SE Brazil

Local Ecological Knowledge of artisanal fishers (Caiçaras) was employed to investigate various biological aspects of the Whitemouth croaker (Micropogonias furnieri) in the Sepetiba Bay, in the state of Rio de Janeiro. This included migration patterns, reproduction, feeding habits, and interactions such as parasitism. Semi-structured interviews were carried out with 40 fishers in two communities using the “snowball” technique. It was found that the fisher’s information coincides with the academic literature for some aspects of the biology and ecology of the species. Furthermore, the fishers provided descriptions of novel patterns, which contributed to a deeper understanding of the species' natural history. These included observations of reproduction occurring almost throughout the entire year, the influence of east and north winds on the species' entry into the bay, interactions with marine catfish (Ariidae), and notable records of the isopod Cymothoidae as an important parasite of the Whitemouth croaker. This study contributes new insights to the ecological understanding of this fish species, which holds significant socio-environmental importance. It also documents changes in the livelihoods of artisanal Caiçaras communities resulting from the increasing anthropogenic activities in the region. Finally, it highlights the species' significance in terms of its sale and consumption within these communities, owing to its relative abundance in the area, despite the environmental impacts.

Tropical fishery nutrient production depends on biomass-based management

The need to enhance nutrient production from tropical ecosystems to feed the poor could potentially create a new framework for fisheries science and management. Early recommendations have included targeting small fishes and increasing the species richness of fish catches, which could represent a departure from more traditional approaches such as biomass-based management. To test these recommendations, we compared the outcomes of biomass-based management with hypothesized factors influencing nutrient density in nearshore artisanal fish catches in the Western Indian Ocean. We found that enhancing nutrient production depends primarily on achieving biomass-based targets. Catches dominated by low- and mid-trophic level species with smaller body sizes and faster turnover were associated with modest increases in nutrient densities, but the variability in nutrient density was small relative to human nutritional requirements. Therefore, tropical fishery management should focus on restoring biomass to achieve maximum yields and sustainability, particularly for herbivorous fishes.

Decline of Artisanal Fish Catch by Species in the Croatian Section of the Sava River

Abstract The aim of this study is to analyse the development of artisanal fish catch by species in the Croatian section of the Sava River. For Abramis brama and Silurus glanis, a significant decline in catches (in kg) was observed throughout the study period (2004-2021). Since 2013, this has also been the case for Cyprinus carpio, Esox lucius, Sander lucioperca, other autochthonous species and alochthonous species, while catches of Leuciscus idus have declined significantly since 2014. The catches of three species (Acipenser ruthenus, Leuciscus aspius and Tinca tinca) fluctuated without a trend, which can be attributed to the low quantities. This decline in catches of the most sought-after species in the Sava was greater than that of the other less sought-after autochthonous species (mainly other cyprinids), whose share of the total catch increased significantly.

Implementation of good manufacturing practices (GMP) to improve the quality of smoked fish (Scombercolias)

For several years, fish smoking has been the widely adopted processing method among artisanal fish smokers located along the coastal zones in many parts of West Africa including Ghana. However, several issues pertaining to biochemical and microbiological contaminants still remain, mainly because of the suboptimal, unhygienic fish handling during the processing. To help curtail the problem, we developed and implemented a simple good manufacturing practice (GMP) system for experimentation at two local fish smoking facilities (Facility A, FA; Facility B, FB) to assess the effectiveness for improving the quality of smoked fish. The implementation of GMP did not affect the physical properties of the smoked fish but improved the peroxide value, total volatile base nitrogen, polyaromantic hydrocarbons and histamine levels. The total aerobic counts decreased from 3.96 ± 0.12 cfu/g to 1.52 ± 0.28 cfu/g (FA) or from 4.10 ± 0.2 cfu/g to 1.85 ± 0.85 cfu/g, (FB). The coliforms and Escherichia coli decreased respectively from 1.69 ± 0.12 cfu/g and 1.15 ± 0.21 cfu/g (FA) and from 1.74 ± 0.37 cfu/g and 1.24 ± 0.37 cfu/g, (FB) to below detection (no observed colony) after introducing the single use of potable water, use of smoking oven and fish core temperature of 108.1 ± 7.5 °C and 82.5 ± 3.9 °C, respectively for 2 h, wearing of safety apparels, drying and cooling of smoked fish under nets, and the use of waste disposal bins. The results show that sensitization and training of fish smokers in GMP may be relevant for improving the microbial and overall quality of smoked fish.

Prototype for obtaining water from atmospheric humidity using photovoltaic solar energy applied to artisanal fishing vessels

ABSTRACT The aim of this research was to evaluate the development of a prototype for obtaining water from atmospheric humidity, using solar photovoltaic energy, aboard small fishing boats. The prototype consists of an atmospheric water condenser, a pump, a sediment filter, a granular carbon filter, a carbon block filter, a UV-C lamp and storage tanks. A photovoltaic system was implemented to supply electricity, consisting of a charge controller, a battery and a photovoltaic panel. Water production and quality were evaluated both before and after passing through the system, applying Peru’s legal standards for control parameters, such as turbidity, conductivity, pH, total dissolved solids, total coliforms and thermotolerant coliforms. The results obtained showed that the system is working satisfactorily. A cost analysis was also carried out, which revealed that the water produced has a value of US$0.10/L. Depending on the power supply, water production can reach 32 L/day.

Some Growth Characteristics of Pellonula leonensis from Luubara Creek, Niger Delta, Nigeria

The Growth, mortality, population and yield parameters of the Clupeid Pellonula leonensis were studied based on the data collected from artisanal fishers during throughout 2020 along Luubara Creek, Niger Delta. The fish were caught using the Kara cane trap. Total specimen lengths ranged from 4.50-14.50cm and weighing from 0.50-50.00g. The growth pattern of Pellonula leonensis was estimated K (2.300) L∞ (14. 22cm), to (2.140) and Ø (2.72). The value of K and Ø showed that Pellonula leonensis from the creek grows fast and regularly. The evaluation of mortality characteristics of Pellonula leonensis for twelve months showed that total mortality (Z) 7.08yr-1, natural mortality (M) 3.97yr-1 and fishing mortality (F) 3.11yr-1 from the value of M and F, it is crystal clear that M is higher than F. Exploitation (E) of 0.439 obtained in the study showed that the species is under exploited as E was lower than 0.5. The ratio of length at first capture to asymptotic length (Lc/ L∞) estimated showed that Pellonula leonensis with Lc (0.34cm) was caught at a small size. This scenario will lead to growth overfishing if adequate management and regulations are not put in place.

Behavioral repertoire of Lahille’s bottlenose dolphins that interact with artisanal fishers

Behavioral repertoire of Lahille’s bottlenose dolphins that interact with artisanal fishers

Analysis of Migratory Catfish Production from Artisanal Fishing in the Middle Madeira Sub-Basin Using New Monitoring Methods, Southwestern Amazon

Studies on the production of Pimelodidae catfish in the Amazon are generally carried out in large fishing centers. However, the data referring to small-scale fisheries have gaps that can represent a risk to the activity. This study evaluated the volume produced and the revenue obtained from migratory catfish of the Pimelodidae family of commercial interest landed in Humaitá, Amazonas, Brazil, from May 2018 to April 2019. Daily monitoring was carried out with the Z-31 Fishermen’s Colony through questionnaires to fishermen for each vessel docked. The total production was 6013.93 kg, with 1,689 fish counted and 13 species. A total of 186 landings by 122 fishermen in 24 fishing sites characterized as rivers, lakes, and “igarapés” were evaluated. The average selling price was R$5.57/kg, and the highest volumes were obtained from July to September, mainly with gillnets, where the “Surubim” Pseudoplatystoma punticfer had the highest volume and revenue. Low productivity was verified in most localities, characterizing the fishing as artisanal. The lack of adequate conditions for storing and transporting fish, the local hydrological variations, and the presence of hydroelectric plants on the Madeira River are major factors limiting the fishing expansion in southern Amazonas.

Vulnerability to Climate Change: Adaptation Costs of Artisanal Sea Fishing in Lima Region, Peru

Artisanal fishers and their livelihoods are vulnerable to variable catches caused mainly by climate change. The objective of this study is to assess vulnerability and estimate the costs of adaptation to climate change among artisanal fishers in the Lima region. The method consisted of generating catch loss indices and adaptation measures for artisanal marine fishing based on workshops with local fishers. According to the seawater surface temperature anomalies (SSTA) metric recorded by coastal laboratories of the Peruvian sea, the El Niño phenomenon in the summer of 2017 was classified as strong. We constructed five-catch variation indices (from ‘slight’ to ‘severe’ catch loss variation). The results indicate that in the artisanal fishery, despite there being no species subject to severe variation, there were some, such as flathead mullet (Mugil cephalus), mahi mahi (Coryphaena hippurus), and crab (Platyxanthus orbignyi), with a very high variation index, while the snakehead kingcroaker (Menticirrhus ophicephalus) exhibited moderate variation. We concluded that for the period 2017–2030, the adaptation costs (base year 2017) of accessible fishing credit and a bonus payment to artisanal fishers affected by El Niño events would be 3.9 million soles (US $ 1.2 million) in 2017 present value.

Hilsa fisheries in India: a socio-economic analysis of fishers in deltaic Ganga region of river Hooghly

Hilsa (Tenualosa ilisha) is a premium table fish in the eastern and some parts of the north-eastern region of India, especially for the Bengali community, contributing uniquely to the societal and economic significance of artisanal fisheries of the country. The major distribution of the fish species in India lies in the Bhagirathi–Hooghly component of the Ganga River system. The aim of the study was to examine if traditional Hilsa fisheries in India are sustainable as the livelihood of artisanal fishers in light of the socio-economic conditions of Hilsa fishers in West Bengal. Structured socio-economic surveys were conducted with 402 fishermen from the upper stretch of river Hooghly to its lower stretch (300 km) in West Bengal during 2020–2021. The average monthly income of the Hilsa fishers in the lower stretch of river Hooghly (Godakhali) (₹25,000–30,000/USD 301–361) was higher than that in the upper stretch at Farakka (₹10,000–15,000/USD 120–180). However, fish species other than Hilsa are generating significantly higher returns for 56% of fishers in the Hooghly district; 40% of Hilsa fishers in South 24 Parganas and Murshidabad (Farakka) districts are engaged in non-fishery activities for livelihood. There are significant differences between Hilsa fishers with other fisheries as secondary occupations and those with non-fishery activities as secondary occupations in terms of socio-economic characteristics. These imply that Hilsa fisheries are profitable as a continued traditional livelihood, but it alone is not sufficient enough to support the livelihood of the artisanal fishers. This indicates the threatened economic sustainability of the Hilsa fisheries sector at present. Considering the high market demand for Hilsa in the eastern and north-eastern regions of India and the market complexities, more significant investments need to be channeled into the Hilsa fisheries of the northern Bay of Bengal region. Such investments encompass a wholesome approach, including more governmental initiatives for conservation and management.

Population structure and average length at the first maturation of the king weakfish, Macrodon ancylodon (Bloch & Schneider, 1801) (Pisces, Sciaenidae) in the estuarine complex of São Marcos Bay, eastern amazon, Brazil

Population structure and average length at the first maturation of the king weakfish, Macrodon ancylodon (Bloch & Schneider, 1801) (Pisces, Sciaenidae) in the estuarine complex of São Marcos Bay, eastern amazon, Brazil

Critical Points Concerning Artisanal Fishing: an Analysis from the Perspective of Artisanal Fishers in Southeastern Brazil

In Southeastern Brazil, artisanal fishing communities reside, operate and suffer from interference originating from various economic branches. Thus, this study is aimed at identifying the critical points concerning the practice of artisanal fishing from the traditional knowledge of artisanal fishers in the coastal mesoregion of ES. 102 ethnographic interviews were conducted in 2022 with artisanal fishers through a semistructured questionnaire containing both open and closed questions. The critical points of fishing were identified through a SWOT analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats). All the participants were men (n=102; 100%), and they reported that negative critical points (weaknesses and threats) exert the greatest influence on fishing. From the perspective of these fishers, the main problems that interfere with artisanal fishing are the lack of adequate fish storage, the precariousness of the vessels, the reduction in fish stocks, the high perishability of fish, the devaluation of traditional knowledge, and the presence of middlemen that prevent the commercialization of fish production from moving directly from the fisher to the final consumer. The identification of these critical points enables the recognition of flaws in the production chain and the realization that they can be minimized through public policies and comanagement strategies related to the economic, ecological, and social development of the sector.

Working conditions of fishermen concerns the future of artisanal fishing

The present study sought to understand Fishermen's satisfaction with their profession and their socioeconomic conditions. These data were acquired through semi-structured questionnaires in eight locations in the State of Maranhão. Most interviewees were male (94.55%), with an average age of 43.58. Fishermen from some locations point to the loss of fishing materials and difficulty in purchasing new equipment, professional risks, fatigue, lack of safety and reduction in fishing resources as agents that make fishing activities difficult. The income of the majority varies between 1 and 2 minimum wages, and therefore, there are other activities to generate extra income. Furthermore, most interviewees do not want their children to inherit the fishing profession. This reality demonstrates that the difficulties encountered in fishing, which exposes neglect, lead to the devaluation of this profession in many fishing communities in Brazil. Therefore, the data from this study serve to alert public management to take steps to improve working conditions, aiming to perpetuate this profession for future generations, a factor that is essential for food security.

Impact of anthropogenic pollution and artisanal fishing on the population of Tilapia spp. Oreochromis niloticus and Oreochromis amphimelas in Lake Manyara, northern Tanzania

Impact of anthropogenic pollution and artisanal fishing on the population of Tilapia spp. Oreochromis niloticus and Oreochromis amphimelas in Lake Manyara, northern Tanzania

Bayesian joint longitudinal models for assessing the exploitation rates of sardine stock in the Mediterranean Sea

AbstractThe European sardine is a pelagic species of great ecological importance for the conservation of the Mediterranean Sea as well as economic importance for the Mediterranean countries. Its fishing has suffered a significant decline in recent years due to various economic, cultural and ecological reasons. This paper focuses on the evolution of sardine catches in the Mediterranean Sea from 1985 to 2018 according to the fishing Mediterranean country and the type of fishing practised, artisanal and industrial. We propose three Bayesian longitudinal linear mixed models to assess differences in the temporal evolution of artisanal and industrial fisheries between and within countries. Overall results confirm that Mediterranean fishery time series are highly diverse along their dynamics and this heterogeneity is persistent throughout the time. Furthermore, our results highlight a positive correlation between artisanal and industrial fishing. Finally, the study observes a consistent decreasing time trend in the quantity of fish landings. Although the causes of this feature could be also linked to economic motivations (such as a reduction in demand or the reorientation of fleets towards more commercially beneficial species), it may indicate a potential risk to the stock of this species in the Mediterranean Sea.

Disentangling the dynamic of the Moored Fish-Aggregating Devices (MFADs) fleet in Guadeloupe using a stock-flow analysis

Fish-aggregating devices (FADs) have been used in centuries to attract fish and facilitate their captures. Drifting FADs developed at a large and industrial scale, but moored fish-aggregating devices (MFADs) are mostly used by artisanal fishers and often implemented to shift the pressure away from depleted coastal fish stocks and toward large migratory pelagic fish populations. Indeed, as pelagic fish aggregate around the devices, MFADs allow small-scale fishers to access this resource and improve their income. If there are many studies on the development of MFADs, the underlying assumption that the development of the MFAD fishery leads to the redeployment of the coastal fleet toward large pelagic species remains unproven. In the French archipelago of Guadeloupe, Lesser Antilles (FAO area 31), an important small-scale MFADs fleet targeting dolphinfish and tuna species developed since the end of the 80s. Available data on vessels, fishers and fishing effort permitted to develop a stock-flow framework and to analyse allocation of fishing effort between coastal and MFADs fisheries over the 2008–2019 period as well as the fleet and sub-fleet dynamics. The framework showed that the redeployment of fishing effort towards pelagic species thanks to MFADs was not straight forward. Pelagic vessels were more likely to become coastal than the opposite, and there was no influence of MFADs on the likelihood of pelagic vessels to quit their coastal activity. Instead, vessels fishing both on MFADs and coastal stocks were the dominant sub-fleet in the pelagic fleet in 2019. Nevertheless, pelagic vessels fished less and less on coastal stocks during the period, which was correlated with an increased use of MFAD. It also showed that the MFAD fishery remained more attractive for younger fishers but, as for the coastal fishery, MFADs failed to attract enough newcomers to compensate the outflows of ageing fishers as working conditions and barriers to enter the fishery remain key issues.

Policy-oriented adaptation strategies for artisanal marine fisheries under climate and non-climate stressors in San Andres de Tumaco, Nariño, Colombia

Climate and non-climate stressors significantly impact artisanal fishing in San Andrés de Tumaco, Nariño, Colombia, a crucial activity for local food security and employment. Our study aimed to prioritize these stressors on artisanal Fisheries Economic Units (FEUs) and propose policy-oriented adaptation strategies. We adopted an integrated approach, using diverse evidence sources and techniques such as complex network theory and Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis. Key challenges identified include reduced fish catch, abnormal climatic conditions, and changes in fish distribution. The community prioritizes educational, counseling, cultural, and behavioral adaptation measures. Crucial policy-oriented strategies encompass researching fish species' vulnerability to climatic changes, predicting commercial fish distribution considering climatic shifts, and developing a WebGIS for accessible regional climatic information; strategies that are consequently aligned with the Integral Policy for the Development of Sustainable Fisheries in Colombia. Our integrated approach assists decision-making, fostering adaptive capacity within these communities. It underscores the need for policy-driven, locally-sensitive, and strategic action to ensure the long-term resilience of artisanal fisheries against climate change and non-climate stressors.