Female Fishers Research Articles

Women and Artisanal Fishing in the Quilombola Community of Santiago do Iguape, Bahia: Historical Contributions and Current Challenges

Objective: To analyze the contributions of female fishers to the preservation of knowledge about local artisanal fishing, as well as the challenges they face in occupying these spaces. Introduction and Theoretical Framework: Data on the importance of artisanal fishing is presented, highlighting its relevance in the intergenerational transmission of this knowledge by women. It also emphasizes the neglect and invisibility faced by women throughout history due to gender issues, which led to women achieving basic rights granted to "fishermen" only belatedly. Method: The methodology adopted includes field data collection through semi-structured interviews with female fishers from the community, as well as direct observations. The interviews were conducted using the snowball sampling method, as described by Bailey (1994). The interviews were recorded and accompanied by photographic records, with proper authorization obtained through the signing of the Informed Consent Form (ICF), which was read and explained to each participant. Results and Discussion: The results show that female fishers possess extensive knowledge about fishing techniques and equipment, fishing resources, and other environmental issues. These women face a triple workload and many difficulties in estuarine environments. They recognize the sea and mangroves as prosperous areas that allow them to raise their children and obtain resources for their subsistence. Fishing becomes more than just an economic activity; it shapes the identity and ways of being/living/inhabiting of these women. Thus, the quilombola women of Santiago do Iguape take on a leading role in an activity marked by gender issues and the pursuit of basic rights. Implications of the Research: The research contributes to the recognition of fishing knowledge built by female fishers. These discussions may contribute to the improvement and implementation of new policies that address the current vulnerabilities faced by these fishers. Originality/Value: This study is essential for highlighting social and governmental invisibility due to gender issues, as well as the changes in women’s self-perception regarding their importance in the construction and preservation of knowledge about artisanal fishing and their rights.

Fishers (Pekania pennanti) are forest structure specialists when resting and generalists when moving: behavior influences resource selection in a northern Rocky Mountain fisher population

BackgroundStudies of animal habitat selection are important to identify and preserve the resources species depend on, yet often little attention is paid to how habitat needs vary depending on behavioral state. Fishers (Pekania pennanti) are known to be dependent on large, mature trees for resting and denning, but less is known about their habitat use when foraging or moving within a home range.MethodsWe used GPS locations collected during the energetically costly pre-denning season from 12 female fishers to determine fisher habitat selection during two critical behavioral activities: foraging (moving) or resting, with a focus on response to forest structure related to past forest management actions since this is a primary driver of fisher habitat configuration. We characterized behavior based on high-resolution GPS and collar accelerometer data and modeled fisher selection for these two behaviors within a home range (third-order selection). Additionally, we investigated whether fisher use of elements of forest structure or other important environmental characteristics changed as their availability changed, i.e., a functional response, for each behavior type.ResultsWe found that fishers exhibited specialist selection when resting and generalist selection when moving, with resting habitat characterized by riparian drainages with dense canopy cover and moving habitat primarily influenced by the presence of mesic montane mixed conifer forest. Fishers were more tolerant of forest openings and other early succession elements when moving than resting.ConclusionsOur results emphasize the importance of considering the differing habitat needs of animals based on their movement behavior when performing habitat selection analyses. We found that resting fishers are more specialist in their habitat needs, while foraging fishers are more generalist and will tolerate greater forest heterogeneity from past disturbance.

Alcohol consumption and risky sexual behaviors among fishers in Elmina in Ghana

BackgroundAlcohol consumption is part of human social behavior and constitutes a routine part of social life in many countries. Prior studies have found over-indulgence of fishers in alcohol in fishing communities. The study uses the Alcohol Myopia Theory (AMT) to analyze and explain the phenomena of fishers engaging in sex after alcohol consumption, and condom use with sexual partner(s) after alcohol consumption. The study investigated alcohol consumption, predictors of alcohol consumption, and the reasons for drinking alcohol among fishers. It also examined fishers’ engagement in sex after alcohol consumption, the use of condoms with sexual partners after drinking alcohol, and predictors of the use of condoms with sexual partners after drinking alcohol.MethodsA cross-sectional convergent parallel mixed-method design was used to study 385 fishers in Elmina. Also, two focus group discussions were conducted among male and female fishers. Descriptive statistics were used to analyze the quantitative data, while the qualitative data was analyzed thematically.ResultsGenerally, 59.2% of participants indulged in alcohol consumption. Most male participants (70.6%) indulged in alcohol consumption than female participants (48.5%). Also, 48.5% of participants indulged in binge alcohol consumption, while 38.1% indulged in moderate alcohol consumption. The predictors of alcohol consumption were sex, religion, and type of fishing occupation. Participants identified consuming alcohol to kill loneliness and boredom, to forget family and work-related issues, and to have fun as reasons why fishers consume alcohol. Sixty-four percent of participants have ever engaged in sexual intercourse after consuming alcohol in the past 12 months. However, 70% of participants did not use a condom the last time they had sex after drinking alcohol. Only ethnicity of participants predicted their use of a condom the last time they had sex after drinking alcohol. The primary reasons for the non-use of condoms were do not like using condoms (37.9%), forgetting to use a condom (33.0%), and had sex with a trusted regular partner (15.5%).ConclusionsThis study demonstrated that alcohol consumption was prevalent among fishers, especially among male fishers, which contributes to risky sexual behaviors among them as espoused by the AMT. It is recommended that fishers are targeted for alcohol use and risky sexual behavior programs and interventions since alcohol use is prevalent among them and most of them also engage in unprotected sexual intercourse after consuming alcohol.

Factors affecting condom use among fishers in Elmina fishing community in Ghana.

Although it is well known that low condom usage among fishers contributes to high HIV prevalence in fishing communities, little is known about the attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors of fishers when it comes to the use of condoms. This article is a follow-up to a cross-sectional study that used a mix-method design for data collection and analysis to examine the connection between mobility and the risk of contracting HIV among 385 fishers in the Elmina fishing community of Ghana. The Health Belief Model is utilized in the discussions to analyze attitudes and actions toward condom use among the fishers in Elmina. Over 40% of respondents who said they had intercourse in the previous year did not use condoms. The results show that male fishers are more likely than female fishers to use condoms during sexual activity, and younger fishers are more likely to use condoms than older fishers. More condoms were used by educated fishers than by less educated or uneducated fishers. According to the study, female fishers use less condoms than male fishers since they are unable to convince their partners to use them when they refuse to. Additionally, the findings show that slightly more than one in 10 respondents did not use condoms because they believed their sexual partner to be attractive and unlikely to carry any sexual infection. There is a general low perception of HIV susceptibility and severity resulting in the low condom usage among the fisherfolks according to the results. The article urges civil society organizations in the study area to investigate ways to incorporate the provision of free condoms to fishers and at the numerous fishing destination sites along the coast of Elmina. The regular use of condoms in Elmina and the nearby fishing areas should also be emphasised through this outreach or mobile HIV service outlets.

Post‐release survival of translocated fishers: implications for translocation success

AbstractAs a vital tool for the conservation of species at risk, translocations are also opportunities to identify factors that influence translocation success. We evaluated factors associated with post‐release survival of 90 radio‐tracked fishers (Pekania pennanti) translocated from central British Columbia, Canada, to the Olympic Peninsula of Washington, USA, from 2008 to 2011. We hypothesized that the survival of translocated fishers would be affected by the same factors that influence the survival of resident, native fishers (i.e., sex, age, season, body condition), and additional factors that were associated with the translocation process (e.g., duration of captivity, release date, yr of release). Fisher survival was most strongly influenced by translocation year (i.e., release‐yr cohort), season, sex, and age class of fisher; whereas duration of captivity, standardized body mass, release date, and number of intact canines did not influence survival. Survival was lowest for fishers released in cohort 2 in 2009 and during the breeding season (Mar–Jun), and was greatest for juveniles and males. When combined across release‐year cohorts, year 1 survival rates were greatest for juvenile males followed by juvenile females, adult females, and adult males. Sex and age‐related differences in survival of translocated fishers were counter to those commonly reported for established fisher populations, where adult females often have the highest survival rates and juveniles the lowest. Predation (40%) and vehicle strikes (20%) were the most common causes of known mortality among the 24 recovered fishers for which cause of death was determined. We speculate that females face higher risks of mortality in translocated populations because their small size makes them more vulnerable to predation and because adult females in resident populations are less likely than males and juveniles to disperse. Our findings support designing translocations that favor releasing a preponderance of female fishers in recognition of their lower survival rates and to ensure adequate breeders are established in the population, and juvenile and young adult fishers to enhance survival of both sexes. Releases conducted over multiple years will minimize the impact of stochastic annual events that may adversely affect survival in any given year. Persistence, widespread distribution, and documented reproduction of fishers within our study area for ≥6 years following the last releases indicate that survival parameters we measured contributed toward successful population establishment over the short term.

Population attributable fraction of indicators for musculoskeletal diseases: a cross-sectional study of fishers in Korea.

BackgroundThe musculoskeletal disease (MSD) burden is an important health problem among Korean fishers. We aimed to investigate the indicators of the prevalence of MSD and contributions of significant indicators to MSD in Korean fishers.MethodsThis cross-section study included 927 fishers (male, 371; female, 556) aged 40 to 79 years who were enrolled from 3 fishery safety and health centers. The outcome variable was one-year prevalence of MSD in 5 body parts (the neck, shoulder, hand, back, and knee). Independent variables were sex, age, educational attainment, household income, job classification, employment xlink:type, hazardous working environment (cold, heat, and noise), ergonomic risk by the 5 body parts, anxiety disorder, depression, hypertension, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia. The adjusted odds ratio of MSDs by the 5 body parts were calculated using multiple logistic regression analysis. We computed the population attributable fraction (PAF) for each indicators of MSDs using binary regression models.ResultsThe one-year prevalence of MSD in the neck, shoulder, hand, back, and knee was 7.8%, 17.8%, 7.8%, 27.2%, and 16.2% in males vs. 16.4%, 28.1%, 23.0%, 38.7%, and 30.0% in females, respectively. The ergonomic risk PAF according to the body parts ranged from 22.8%–59.6% in males and 22.8%–50.3% in female. Mental diseases showed a significant PAF for all body parts only among female (PAF 9.1%–21.4%). Cold exposure showed a significant PAF for the neck, shoulder, and hand MSD only among female (25.6%–26.8%). Age was not a significant indicator except for the knee MSD among female.ConclusionsErgonomic risk contributed majorly as indicators of MSDs in both sexes of fishers. Mental disease and cold exposure were indicators of MSDs only among female fishers. This information may be important for determining priority risk groups for the prevention of work-related MSD among Korean fishers.

Fish-for-Sex (FFS) and risk of HIV Infection among Fishers in Elmina Fishing Community in Ghana

This paper is a follow-up to a cross-sectional study which employed mix-methods for data collection and analysis to investigate a relationship between mobility and HIV risks amongst 385 fishers in Elmina. It discusses the roles of men and women in fish-for-sex (FFS), reasons for such transactional sexual activity and its implications for HIV risk infection. The theory of gender and power has been utilized to explain gender dynamics in power inequalities, and their effects on interpersonal sexual relationships between males and females within the fishing community. The paper concludes sex-division of labour exists in the study area and thrives on socio-cultural norms and power inequalities, which mainly favours men, as it gives them the power to exploit women through the supply of fish. Another observation from the paper is that as long as the female fishers require capital for their fish trade and the male fishers have greater control over the supply of the fish, the women will have very little basis to negotiate for. The paper therefore establishes linkage between fish-for-sex relationship and risk of HIV exposure among fishers in Elmina. The paper recommends empowerment of female fishers by granting them trading capital to limit their overdependence on male fishers for capital, and prevent them from exchanging sex for fish. The paper also calls for the intensification of education by relevant agencies involved in HIV education on safe sex practices through the use of condoms in fishing communities.

Intraspecific Competition, Habitat Quality, Niche Partitioning, and Causes of Intrasexual Territoriality for a Reintroduced Carnivoran

Animals exploring a new environment develop cognitive maps using diverse sensory input and, thereby, gain information needed to establish home ranges. Experiencing, and learning information about, resources should be advantageous to the resident of a home range while lack of such information should put invaders into the home range at a disadvantage. Conspecifics, especially, should avoid the home ranges of one another to ensure that they do not experience reduced resource availability caused by resource depression or depletion. Yet, encountering conspecific competitors of different sexes may elicit responses that can lead to spacing on a landscape that has different costs and benefits on males and females. We tested the hypothesis that female fishers (Pekania pennanti) avoid competition from both males and female conspecifics whereas male fishers avoid competition only from other males. We reintroduced fishers onto our study site in the presence or absence of competitors’ home ranges during late 2009 through 2011. Using satellite transmitters (Argos) and land-based (VHF) telemetry, we monitored fishers and estimated their locations, movements and use of the surrounding landscape during their first 500 days after release. All fishers settled in relatively high-quality habitat but females that encountered the home ranges of conspecifics moved farther, explored larger areas, and settled farther from their release locations than did females that did not encounter a conspecific’s home range. Male fishers exhibited diverse responses upon encountering the home ranges of conspecifics. Thus, female fishers avoid conspecific competition from all fishers, but males tolerate, or impose, competition with females, apparently to increase mating opportunities. These observations are consistent with the movements and strategies of other solitary carnivores.

Landscape of stress: Tree mortality influences physiological stress and survival in a native mesocarnivore.

Climate change and anthropogenic modifications to the landscape can have both positive and negative effects on an animal. Linking landscape change to physiological stress and fitness of an animal is a fundamental tenet to be examined in applied ecology. Cortisol is a glucocorticoid hormone that can be used to indicate an animal’s physiological stress response. In the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California, fishers (Pekania pennanti) are a threatened mesocarnivore that have been subjected to rapid landscape changes due to anthropogenic modifications and tree mortality related to a 4-year drought. We measured cortisol concentrations in the hair of 64 fishers (41 females, 23 males) captured and radio-collared in the Sierra National Forest, California. We addressed two main questions: (1) Is the physiological stress response of fishers influenced by anthropogenic factors, habitat type, canopy cover, and tree mortality due to drought in their home range? (2) Does the physiological stress response influence survival, reproduction, or body condition? We examined these factors within a fisher home range at 3 scales (30, 60, 95% isopleths). Using model selection, we found that tree mortality was the principle driver influencing stress levels among individual fishers with female and male fishers having increasing cortisol levels in home ranges with increasing tree mortality. Most importantly, we also found a link between physiological stress and demography where female fishers with low cortisol levels had the highest annual survival rate (0.94), whereas females with medium and high cortisol had lower annual survival rates, 0.78 and 0.81, respectively. We found no significant relationships between cortisol levels and body condition, male survival, or litter size. We concluded that tree mortality related to a 4-year drought has created a “landscape of stress” for this small, isolated fisher population.

O TRABALHO DA MULHER PESCADORA: UM ESTUDO DE CASO NO ESTADO DO PARÁ

This study aimed to review the literature on studies carried out with women fishers in the state of Pará, namely their socioeconomic conditions and the role they play in artisanal fishing. The data search was performed on two platforms Google Scholar and BDTD, using exclusion and inclusion criteria and using logical operators. The inclusion criteria used were: i) works only with female fishers that were developed in the state of Pará; ii) works that were published in the last twenty years; iii) original works, which may be articles, dissertations and/or theses; iv) works that show the socioeconomic profile of female fishers in Pará; v) works that show the role of women in artisanal fishing. Exclusion criteria were: i) works published before 2001; ii) bibliographic review works and iii) works on fisherwomen, but which were not developed in the state of Pará, available on Google Scholar. The surveys were carried out mainly in the northeast of Pará and there are few works that show the economic and social profile of female fishermen. Despite playing an important role in artisanal fishing, especially in fish processing, the work of women fishers is still not recognized and they are still invisible to society.

THE FOOD HABITS OF FISHERS (PEKANIA PENNANTI) IN THE CASCADE RANGE OF SOUTHERN OREGON

The Fisher (Pekania pennanti) is a mesocarnivore of conservation concern in the Pacific coastal region of North America with a diverse but poorly understood diet. From 1995 to 2001, we collected 297 scats from 11 radio-collared females and 83 scats from 8 radio-collared males, and used frequency of occurrence (percentage of scats containing a particular food item) to investigate their diets. Mammals were the most frequently occurring food item in the diets of both female and male Fishers (84.8 and 77.1 % of scats, respectively); however, the prevalence of small (≤166 g) mammalian prey was relatively low (<13% of female and <9% of male scats). Medium (191–579 g) and large (643–1710 g) mammalian prey were 6.6 and 2 times more prevalent, respectively, in the diet of females compared to males, and very large prey (≥2085 g) were almost 26 times more prevalent in the diet of males. Female Fishers are about 50% smaller than males and may be less effective than males at capturing very large prey. However, in the diet of females raising kits, leporids (large prey) and ground squirrels (medium prey) were 3 and almost 2 times more prevalent, respectively, than they were among females with no kits. Focusing on such prey would provide more metabolic energy per capture than mice, voles, and other small mammals, and require fewer hunting forays away from kits. Thus, our findings show that sexual dimorphism and female reproductive condition influence the diet of Fishers in the Cascade Range of southern Oregon. Studies that use molecular techniques to identify food items in scats that were collected with a rigorous sampling design that enables researchers to link Fisher diets with correlates of fitness are needed to determine the extent to which food habits influence Fisher population dynamics in this region.

Immediate impact of COVID-19 across tropical small-scale fishing communities

The volume and value of fish catches by Indonesia's small-scale fisheries have declined significantly since national government restrictions on travel and social distancing were imposed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Using a digital data collection system (OurFish), that records purchases by fish traders from small-scale fishers, data was collected across 82 coastal communities in Southeast Sulawesi. We found that the number of active fishers and traders declined by more than 90% after the onset of the pandemic and the average weight of catch per fishing trip increased across fishers. Although the average price per kilogram of fish declined after the pandemic began, fishers that were able to maintain fishing had on average higher catches and therefore daily catch value was maintained. High value fisheries that usually enter export supply chains were more negatively impacted compared with lower value species that are commonly sold to local markets. We interviewed 185 small scale fishers and fish traders across 20 of the 82 communities in Southeast Sulawesi province, recording the perceived level of impact on local fisheries and the fish trade, causes of this impact and proposed coping strategies. Over 50% of both fishers and fish traders believed low demand for fish from traders and a decline in the price received for fish were disrupting their lives. Approximately 75% of both male and female fishers are coping by continuing to fish, highlighting that there were few alternative livelihoods available at the time of the interviews. Our results provide key insights into the vulnerability of small-scale fishing communities to impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The role of local cavity tree density in the selection of den sites by female fishers (Pekania pennanti) in northern Minnesota

Although several studies have evaluated fisher (Pekania pennanti (Erxleben, 1777)) selection of den structures across their natural range, the role of other nearby trees with suitable cavities that can be used by female fishers for subsequent maternal dens has not been explored. We used conditional logistic regression to describe selection of natal and maternal dens by female fishers in northern Minnesota, United States, and to determine if the density of other cavity trees surrounding a specific tree influences this selection. Our results indicate that cavity density was an important predictor of whether a tree was used as a den site by female fishers. The apparent condition (i.e., live, declining, or dead) and diameter at breast height of the cavity tree itself were also important for selection. These results affirm the need to retain large-diameter cavity trees, illustrate the potential benefits of retaining them in high-density patches, and caution against creating a landscape with highly dispersed denning options.

Poverty and Women Status among the Fishers Community in Contemporary Era

There is a significant change in how people see fishers these days, as previously this particular profession was tightly related to poverty, and had the tendency to be subsistence. This includes the role of female fishers. Now they do not necessarily have to stay at home waiting for the return of their husband from fishing, but actually, participate in the act of fishing on the sea along with their husband. Today, women already acknowledged by the government. There is even a success story of female fishers in Juwana, Pati, Central Java. In the eighties, fishers in that area lived in poverty. Now they thrive and leading life in prosperity. Does this mean poverty is not so tightly related to the fishers anymore? How fishers of Juwana answer the question? How is the fate of female fishers now that their status is already acknowledged as a legit profession?

Reproductive den selection and its consequences for fisher neonates, a cavity-obligate mustelid

AbstractSelection of habitat characteristics by reproductive females during neonate development can mediate the influence of adverse environmental conditions on the fitness of offspring. Previous research has suggested that cavities and burrows used for reproduction by cavity-obligate species offer thermoregulatory benefits, access to prey, and can limit predation pressure. As fishers (Pekania pennanti) are secondary cavity-obligate breeders, we hypothesized that they select particular characteristics of reproductive den cavities at discrete stages of offspring development to mediate adverse biotic and environmental effects on their neonates. To test our hypothesis, we located 406 reproductive dens and 154 cavity rest sites used by 65 individual adult female fishers during 11 reproductive seasons (2005–2016) in northwestern California. We counted 53 (27 F, 26 M) kits in 31 litters born to 19 females during six of these reproductive seasons. The weight of kits varied significantly by sex and by age, whereas the length of kits varied only by age, suggesting that adult females in this population might be preferentially investing in male kits. We found that natal and early-maternal dens buffered minimum temperatures significantly more than late-maternal dens and cavities used during the nonreproductive season. A male fisher skull was also less likely to fit through the cavity openings of natal dens than through the openings of cavities used by adult females during the nonreproductive season. Litter survival was significantly lower at natal dens than at late-maternal dens. The age of adult female fishers did not affect the probability of litter survival. Our results emphasize the vulnerability of vertebrate offspring during early developmental periods and how cavity-obligate species select cavities to mediate environmental conditions during reproduction.

Microsites and structures used by fishers (Pekania pennanti) in the southern Sierra Nevada: A comparison of forest elements used for daily resting relative to reproduction

Many wildlife species rely on unique features of trees during daily activities and fundamental parts of their life cycle. The fisher (Pekania pennanti) is a forest-dwelling carnivore of conservation concern in western North America that uses unique habitat elements as refuges during resting bouts and for reproduction. Prior to this study, little was known about the fine-scale habitat used during reproduction at the southernmost extent of the fisher’s range. Between 2007 and 2015, we attached radio-collars to 55 male and 72 female fishers in the southern Sierra Nevada and documented resting locations of males on 216 occasions (196 structures) and females on 824 occasions (737 structures). Beginning in 2008, we also monitored females over 8 reproductive seasons, confirming 45 females at dens and documenting 95 natal dens (83 structures) and 206 maternal dens (192 structures). We established 3 comparisons to guide our assessment of fine-scale habitat: resting males versus resting females, natal dens versus maternal dens, and resting fishers (both sexes) versus denning fishers (all dens). We expected the need for physical security and thermal protection in combination with morphology, predation risk, and aspects of reproductive ecology would influence patterns of use. Both sexes used a variety of microsites for resting, but females selected tree cavities most frequently (47%) while males used branch platforms most often (39%). For resting structures, live conifers were used most often by both sexes (males 44%, females 34%), but live hardwoods (males 16%, females 28%) and conifer snags (males 16%, females 22%) were also important. Comparing natal and maternal dens, we found that cavity microsites used early in the den season tended to be higher than those used later, and large live hardwoods comprised roughly half of all natal (46%) and maternal (51%) den structures. For resting versus denning, we found that large diameter hardwoods were an important source of cavities for both activities, live conifers used for denning were larger than those used for resting, and den structures tended to be on steeper slopes than rest structures. White fir (Abies concolor), California black oak (Quercus kelloggii), and ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) were selected most often by both sexes for resting. In contrast, denning females relied on California black oak (55%), but also used white fir (24%) and incense cedar (Calocedrus decurrens; 12%). As noted in studies further north, our findings highlight the value of large trees with decay to support fisher reproduction and daily refugia.

Activity of fishers at multiple temporal scales

Ecologically relevant multi-temporal-scale frameworks elucidate whether patterns of animal activity (movement) are distinct at different temporal scales. We studied fishers (Pekania pennanti) fitted with transmitter collars that measured activity at high temporal resolution during winter in Wisconsin. A multi-temporal-scale framework with two scales, day (number of activity bouts per 24 h) and decision (time spent exploring a small area), revealed that the best models of fisher activity were different at different temporal scales. At the day scale, the fishers that we studied increased activity when temperatures were warmer and increased activity more when it was windy and cold than when it was windy and warm. At the decision scale, when wind speeds increased, female fishers reduced activity more than male fishers. The role of temperature on activity was only detected at the day scale, and intersexual variation was only detected at the decision scale. Results at both scales supported the prey synchrony hypothesis for activity, but support was mixed at the day scale. Assessing activity using a multi-temporal-scale analysis framework leads to a better understanding of factors that influence activity and biological fitness.

Reproductive parameters of the fisher (Pekania pennanti) in the southern Sierra Nevada, California

Quantifying reproductive parameters is essential for developing effective conservation plans for species of concern; however, studying reproduction in wild settings can be challenging and local data are frequently unavailable. The fisher (Pekania pennanti) is an elusive forest-dwelling carnivore of conservation concern that occurs across much of boreal North America and reaches the southernmost limit of its distribution in the southern Sierra Nevada (SSN) in California. Data on fisher reproduction in this region are limited and applicability of parameters from other areas is uncertain. To clarify how fisher populations in the SSN compare with those elsewhere in North America, we conducted a comprehensive review of available literature on reproduction throughout the species’ range in North America. We then compared findings from the review with data we collected during 7 years in the SSN, focusing on the proportion of females reproducing, litter size, and the parturition date. On average across the fisher’s range, the proportion of adult females that reproduced was 0.71 (range: 0.40–1.00; n = 16 studies), litter size was 2.5 (range: 1–4; n = 16 studies), and parturition occurred on 25 March (range: 3 March–17 April; n = 16 studies). In our study area, we tracked 42 adult female fishers, 35 of which reproduced and used 257 reproductive dens (74 natal, 175 maternal, 8 early failures); 0.86 of our females attempted denning (range: 0.79–1.0; n = 93 opportunities) and 0.75 were successful (range: 0.64–1.0; n = 91 opportunities monitored through the den season). Mean litter size was 1.57 (range: 1–3; n = 75 litters) and mean parturition date was 30 March (range: 17 March–12 April; n = 69 natal dens initiated). Female fishers at the southern limit of their distribution in the SSN reproduced at a rate comparable to or higher than elsewhere in North America, but average litter size was the lowest reported for the species. Female fishers in the SSN gave birth at similar or later dates than elsewhere in their range. We explore factors that might explain patterns of variation in fisher reproductive parameters and discuss conservation implications of our findings.

Timing of translocation influences birth rate and population dynamics in a forest carnivore

AbstractTiming can be critical for many life history events of organisms. Consequently, the timing of management activities may affect individuals and populations in numerous and unforeseen ways. Translocations of organisms are used to restore or expand populations but the timing of translocations is largely unexplored as a factor influencing population success. We hypothesized that the process of translocation negatively influences reproductive rates of individuals that are moved just before their birthing season and, therefore, the timing of releases could influence translocation success. Prior to reintroducing fishers (Pekania pennanti) into northern California and onto the Olympic Peninsula of Washington, we predicted that female fishers released in November and December (early) would have a higher probability of giving birth to kits the following March or April than females released in January, February, and March (late), just prior to or during the period of blastocyst implantation and gestation. Over four winters (2008–2011), we translocated 56 adult female fishers that could have given birth in the spring immediately after release. Denning rates, an index of birth rate, for females released early were 92% in California and 38% in Washington. In contrast, denning rates for females released late were 40% and 11%, in California and Washington, a net reduction in denning rate of 66% across both sites. To understand how releasing females nearer to parturition could influence population establishment and persistence, we used stochastic population simulations using three‐stage Lefkovitch matrices. These simulations showed that translocating female fishers early had long‐term positive influences on the mean population size and on quasi‐extinction thresholds compared to populations where females were released late. The results from both empirical data and simulations show that the timing of translocation, with respect to life history events, should be considered during planning of translocations and implemented before the capture, movement, and release of organisms for translocation.

ROLE PLAYED AND CONSTRAINTS FACED BY FISHER WOMEN IN INLAND FISH MARKETING IN ANAND GUJARAT

Fifty female retailers were selected from different markets of Anand, Gujarat district and responses had been captured through a pretested structured schedule. During analysis, it was found that fisher women were mainly doing segregation, cleaning and collection of cash after selling of the produce whereas selling of fish had been handled by both male and female fishers of the district. During selling of fresh fish, female retailers were facing much real cost and increase infrastructural set up may enhance their retaining and bargaining power. Female retailers may be empowered by proving training in their respective areas. Key words: Real cost, Fish marketing, Fishery Activities