Local Ecological Knowledge Of Fishers Research Articles

Artisanal fisher knowledge on the impacts of destructive and illegal practices on the Southern Coast of Bahia, Brazil

Destructive fishing practices (DFP) and illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) activities result in significant marine ecosystem effects, such as habitat destruction, biomass reduction, bycatch, and waste of resources. They also generate socioeconomic impacts on artisanal fisher coastal populations. Both DFP and IUU are linked to fisheries management system failures and the impossibility of marine surveillance. In this context, from an Ethnoecological approach, the aim of this study was to analyze the local ecological knowledge of fishers from Ilhéus (Bahia), Northeastern Brazil, regarding DFP and IUU fisheries. A total of 59 interviewees pointed to decreased resource catches in recent years, citing increasing fishing efforts and certain types of gear as the main reasons. They also claim that local fishers and fishers from other Brazilian regions have been using banned equipment, such as compressors and lobster nets. In turn, although permitted by law, shrimp trawling and gillnet fishing were reported as being excessively applied and identified as destructive fisheries. Surprisingly, longline fishing was one of the most reported as responsible for excessive catches and for causing decreases in Common dolphinfish catches. This study reinforces the importance of including the knowledge of local fishers and their participation to contribute to fisheries management and resource conservation. In this context, some recommendations are highlighted to reduce the impacts of harmful practices and improve regional fisheries management, summarized as: (i) policy improvement; (ii) fishing monitoring; (iii) incentives; and (iv) enforcement.

Using Local Ecological Knowledge of Fishers to Identify the Presence and Habitats of Angelsharks in Albanian Waters

Abstract The Mediterranean Sea is a hotspot for shark and ray extinctions and is home to the following three angelshark species: sawback angelshark Squatina aculeata, smoothback angelshark Squatina oculata, and common angelshark Squatina squatina. We conducted a questionnaire-based survey in four coastal regions of Albania, Shëngjin (Lezhë), Vlorë, Himarë (Sarandë) and Durrës, with the aim of collecting historical and current data on angelshark catches in the Albanian seas (Adriatic and Ionian Seas). Although the occurrence of common angelshark was reported by Croatian fishermen in the Adriatic Sea, we included the other two species in our study. The number of observations was minimal, although this is the first study of angelshark species sightings in Albania. It will establish a baseline study that will allow further work on the conservation of these regionally extinct and highly endangered species.

Local fishers’ knowledge on the ecology, economic importance, and threats faced by populations of African snakehead fish, Parachanna obscura, within Côte d'Ivoire freshwater ecosystems

AbstractTraditionally, population sizes, ecology, and threats to species and their habitats have been obtained by empirical scientific studies. However, the knowledge of local and indigenous communities worldwide has been acknowledged as an extremely rich and underused source of information on how the environment, biodiversity, and local conditions are changing over time. In this view, the objective of the study was to investigate local fishers’ knowledge of local names, habitats, uses, market price, change in population abundance, and threats faced by the snakehead fish (Parachanna obscura) in Ivorian freshwaters. The study was conducted using face‐to‐face interviews and a structured questionnaire with 381 fishers during the period from October 2020 to February 2021. The results show that this fish species is strongly appreciated for the good taste of its flesh, with market prices varying between 1.5 and 3€ on average. All respondents confirmed that the species is not yet produced in aquaculture and mentioned their willingness to support its introduction into aquaculture. Several local names of P. obscura fish were recorded, with ‘Sounôgô‐djêguê’ (used in 36% of fishers’ ethnic groups), ‘Pino’ (21%), and ‘Édjoué‐bile’ (21%) being the most popular names used in Ivorian fishers’ communities. All respondents agreed that P. obscura is a potamodromous fish species living preferably in wetlands, rivers, lakes, and streams. A significant decrease in the abundance of this fish was observed by 71% of fishers, perceived mainly due to overfishing, deforestation around watersheds, habitat destruction/modification, obnoxious fishing practices, pesticide use in farms close to watersheds, and climate change, especially lack of rainfall. The study clearly demonstrated the importance of local ecological knowledge of fishers in identifying threats to fish populations, habitat types used by the species, and other relevant information; therefore, this ecological knowledge has to be integrated into biomonitoring and conservation policy of aquatic biodiversity. The information obtained from this study is also helpful for future studies on the management and cultivation of this species.

Local ecological knowledge of fishers from southern and southeastern Brazil about the franciscana dolphin Pontoporia blainvillei: Strategies for conservation.

This study compares local ecological knowledge (LEK) of fishers from the Southwest Atlantic Ocean (SWAO), Brazil, related to the franciscana dolphin (Pontoporia blainvillei). We conducted 330 ethnographic interviews in ten fishing communities in southern and southeastern Brazil between 2012 and 2018. Boolean or Classic Logic was used to identify 95 fishers who were able to recognize the franciscana dolphin accordingly to the taxonomic entity P. blainvillei: 23 in northern Espírito Santo state, one in southern Espírito Santo, 20 in northern Rio de Janeiro state, and 51 in northern Paraná state. Among these 95 fishers, 87.4% (n = 83) reported incidental captures in fishing nets. Among these, 52 (54.7%) did not know any solution to this problem. Interviews revealed that the fishers usually discard carcasses in the sea after fat and muscle tissue are removed so that they can be used as bait for shark fishing or as food. In Southeastern Brazil, fishers LEK related to their ability to identify franciscana dolphin varied from 'no identification' and 'extremely low identification' to 'partial' and 'good identification,' while in southern Brazil, fishers mainly presented a 'good identification' of the dolphins. We propose comanagement actions to conserve the franciscana dolphin in the SWAO.

Using local ecological knowledge to inform semi-quantitative fishery surveillance indicators: an example in marine recreational angling

AbstractSmall scale and recreational fisheries often lack quantitative monitoring, highlighting potential for other reproducible ways of understanding state. The Fisher's Local Ecological Knowledge Surveillance Indicator (FLEKSI) method was developed here to express user's LEK as semi-quantitative fishery SI. FLEKSI was tested using an online questionnaire disseminated in 2021 to capture angler's knowledge of changing marine recreational fisheries around Ireland (Celtic Seas ecoregion). Sets of Likert questions evaluated four fishery descriptors (species, community, catch, and effort). Respondents were asked to report the subregion (Irish Sea, Celtic Sea, or West Coast) in which they usually fish, and the duration (y) of their angling “career.” Likert scores were reported as diverging bar charts, providing SI values that could be evaluated at different spatial or temporal scales. Respondents (N = 657) reported careers of up to > 41 years. ICES assessments of Celtic Seas demersal fish stocks targeted by anglers provide series of SSB/SSBBtrigger against which the FLEKSI SI were compared. FLEKSI suggested long term decline in all four fishery descriptors, and statistical analysis showed that this trend matched ICES assessment outputs averaged across target stocks of cod, pollack, whiting, and sea bass. FLEKSI provides a standardized framework for integrating user's ways of knowing into fishery monitoring.

Distribution and Fishery of the Invasive Blue Crab (Callinectes sapidus) in Turkey Based on Local Ecological Knowledge of Fishers

This study provides information on the distribution and ecology of Callinectes sapidus in Turkey, as well as its maximum daily catch in set nets (trammel nets and gillnets), and its commercial fishery in lagoons. Data were collected in 2020 by utilizing a telephone based questionnaire survey. Responses were gathered from fishers (n = 6) who fish in the lagoons and the head of fishery cooperatives or its members (n = 104) in 28 cities, including the coastal regions of the Mediterranean Sea (Levantine), Aegean Sea, Sea of Marmara and the Black Sea in Turkey. Results indicated that C. sapidus is commonly distributed along the Levantine and Southern Aegean coasts of Turkey, whilst it is rarely observed in the Sea of Marmara and the Black Sea. It has been reported by fishers that this species has been seen in the Black Sea for the last decade. The maximum daily catch of blue crab in set nets showed a significant difference in the Levantine and Aegean coasts. The species is mainly produced in the lagoons, whereas many coastal fishers returned it as discard and 79% of fishers emphasized that C. sapidus shred the nets and caused an economic loss. Ovigerous females have been observed between March and October and we have discussed related management issues including current fishery season.

Overexploitation and behavioral changes of the largest South Atlantic parrotfish (Scarus trispinosus): Evidence from fishers' knowledge

Assessing species conservation status and population trends is challenging especially on low and low-middle income countries mostly due to high costs. Therefore, long-term information about species gained through local ecological knowledge, can reveal threatening and overexploitation scenarios aiming to generate information for extinction risk reduction and conservation priority targets. The greenbeak parrotfish, Scarus trispinosus, is an endemic and endangered Brazilian species with records of local extinction along its distribution, however limited data on its fisheries is available. We investigated fisher's local ecological knowledge on S. trispinosus on the largest Brazilian coastal multiple-use marine protected area. We interviewed small-scale fishers regarding catches to verify temporal changes in abundance and body size. Additionally, we verified if S. trispinosus flight initiation distance, proxy of tolerance from fisher's approximation has changed over different fishers' generations. Our results revealed that the number of individuals decreased 64% over time from 1980s to 2010s with a constant decrease through time. The weight of the largest individual ever caught also decreased 67% over time. Flight initiation distance, when fishers firstly engaged on fishing activity, was smaller for more experienced fishers. Implementation of small-scale co-management strategies, together with creation and enforcement of no-take zones are essential to safeguard the remaining populations and allow the greenbeak parrotfish recovery. Our study demonstrated that local ecological knowledge on species population and behavioral changes can be used as an alternative and inexpensive approach for assessing impact on threatened species and could be applied on conservation strategies for several species and ecosystems worldwide.

Goliath grouper Epinephelus itajara oral history, use, and conservation status in the Mexican Caribbean and Campeche Bank

The Atlantic goliath grouperEpinephelus itajarais highly vulnerable to overfishing, yet little is known of its population status in Campeche Bank (southern Gulf of Mexico) and the Mexican Caribbean. By reviewing landings records, historical literature, and the local ecological knowledge of fishers, we documented historical practices, uses, and changes in the abundance and distribution of the goliath grouper in these regions. In both the Mexican Caribbean and Campeche Bank, goliath grouper populations were notably impacted by commercial fishing activities in the 1970s and 1980s. The catches during this period could only be sustained for a few years, after which the fishery collapsed. Our results from Campeche Bank indicate that populations persist in an area currently occupied by oil platforms. In the Mexican Caribbean, the extirpation of the goliath grouper may be close at hand, with local exceptions like that of Chetumal Bay. The results of our study indicate that the local goliath grouper populations are in critical danger of extinction, which must be taken into account during the next IUCN Red List regional assessment. In addition, the goliath grouper should be included in the Mexican list for endangered species (NOM-059-SEMARNAT).

Using local ecological knowledge of Fishers to infer the impact of climate variability in Galápagos’ small-scale fisheries

Galápagos has been characterized with great abundance of marine life and high levels of endemism. Due to its geographical position, this archipelago experiences tremendous climate variability during El Niño events, which disturb the entire marine food web, and ultimately affect the artisanal fishing activity. In this study, we explored the main impacts of El Niño events on artisanal fishing and marine life using the local ecological knowledge provided by four generations of fishers on the most populated islands in Galápagos. Anecdotal information and perceptions coincided with the current scientific literature and provided novel insights about: (i) the positive and negative effects of the El Niño years on artisanal fisheries and marine animals, (ii) differences in species caught during warm and cold seasons and (iii) current interactions among artisanal fisheries, tourism and unauthorized industrial fisheries activities within the 40 nautical miles that surround the Galápagos Marine Reserve. In addition, fishers provided valuable information for governing resources under anomalously warm years, by identifying sites that function as natural refuges for fish and invertebrates during El Niño events. Data derived from these interviews highlight an urgent need for a novel, bottom-up and collaborative fisheries governance, between the artisanal fishing sector and decision and policy makers in Galápagos. Collaborative initiatives, involving one of the sectors that first inhabited the archipelago, is essential to achieve sustainable and long-term use of marine resources and to increase and anticipate human and environmental resilience under continued long-term global warming.

Using Local Ecological Knowledge of Fishers to Reconstruct Abundance Trends of Elasmobranch Populations in the Strait of Sicily

Fishers “local ecological knowledge” (LEK) can be used to reconstruct long-term trends of species that are at very low biomass due to overfishing. In this study, we used historical memories of Sicilian fishers to understand their perception of change in abundance of cartilaginous fish in the Strait of Sicily over the last decades. We conducted interviews with 27 retired fishers from Mazara del Vallo harbour (SW Sicily) working in demersal fisheries, using a pre-defined questionnaire with a series of open and fixed questions related to the abundance of sharks and rays. The questionnaire included specific questions about the trends they perceived in catch or by-catch of cartilaginous fish abundance between the 1940s and 2000s compared to the present. Information was gathered for 18 species, including Carcharhinidae, mesopredatory demersal sharks (Squalidae, Hexanchidae, Centrophoridae, Oxynotidae, Triakidae, Scyliorhinidae and Squatinidae) and batoids. Overall shark catches were perceived to have diminished since the early 1940s: about 95% of fishers reported the decline of commercially important species (e.g. Mustelus spp.) and indicated species that could have been depleted or locally extinced (e.g. Squatina spp., Sphyrna lewini, Mustelus asterias, etc.). Our study shows that LEK of fishers can be beneficial for reconstructing long-term population trends of exploited species when traditional standard data on fisheries catch or species relative abundance from surveys is limited or only available for recent periods. The results obtained clearly indicate the rapid and alarming decline of elasmobranchs in the Strait of Sicily highlighting the need for urgent conservation measures to be adopted.

Understanding Gender and Factors Affecting Fishing in an Artisanal Shellfish Fishery

Fishing strategies, effort and harvests of small-scale fishers are important to understand for effective planning of regulatory measures and development programs. Gender differences in fishing can highlight inequities deserving transformative solutions, but might mask other important factors. We examined fishing modes, fishing frequency, catch-per-unit effort (CPUE), resource preferences and perceptions of fishery stock among artisanal gastropod (trochus) fishers in Samoa using structured questionnaires and mixed effects models. The fishery has an extremely modest carbon footprint of 20.4 tonnes of CO2 p.a., as few fishers used motorised boats. Trochus (Rochia nilotica), an introduced gastropod, was the second-most harvested resource, after fish, despite populations only being established in the past decade. Daily catch volume varied according to gender and villages (n = 34), and was also affected by fishing effort, experience, assets (boat), and fishing costs of fishers. Boat users had much higher CPUE than fishers without a boat. Fishers who practiced both gleaning and diving caught a greater diversity of marine resources; effects that explained otherwise seeming gender disparities. Trochus tended to be ranked more important (by catch volume) by women than men, and rank importance varied greatly among villages. Local ecological knowledge of fishers informed the historical colonisation of trochus around Samoa and current trends in population abundance. Fishing efficiency, catch diversity and perspectives about stocks were similar between fishermen and fisherwomen, when accounting for other explanatory variables. Greater importance of these shellfish to women, and gender similarities in many of the fishing responses, underscore the need to ensure equal representation of women in the decision making in small-scale fisheries.

Portraying fisheries and ecological status of a Mediterranean lake

Background. Gaps of knowledge in lentic systems and discrepancies in official fishery statistics biased fisheries state and inhibits the development of conservation strategies. For that reason the integration of conventional (official data from fisheries landings) and unconventional (fishermen knowledge) sources of data, accompanied with the use of historical archives will outline the framework of the monitoring of freshwater resources.The presently reported study integrated local ecological knowledge of fishers, historical data, field surveys and scientific data to present better management options for a Mediterranean lentic system (Volvi Lake, northern Greece). Materials and methods. On-the-spot interviews were conducted with the professional fishers of Volvi Lake (northern Greece) in parallel with field surveys of environmental parameters during 2014–2015 and complemented with archival freshwater-related information. Results. The results of the presently reported study point to commercial fisheries as a declining activity, with little scope for a future, due to internal and external threats. This diagnostic can probably be generalized beyond the case study to other freshwater ecosystems in Europe, where decreasing fisheries productivity due to overfishing, habitat loss, and pollution, coupled with low economic productivity has led to an increased marginalisation of freshwater fisheries. Conclusion. The reported difficulties of freshwater fisheries could be bypassed through creation of fishers’ typology regarding their dependence on fisheries. Upgrading the methodological approach followed by the official reporting system in freshwaters might also facilitate the fulfilment of the requirements of the EU Water Framework Directive.

Toward marine democracy in Chile: Examining aquaculture ecological impacts through common property local ecological knowledge

The preferential treatment of the aquaculture industry over fisheries and marine protected areas in Chile through the demarcation of the Areas Appropriate for Aquaculture has set it on a collision course with conservation, artisanal fishing and coastal communities. This article shows how marine democratic governance can evolve through the inclusion of artisanal fisher local ecological knowledge. Artisanal fishing communities elicit how contamination from industrial aquaculture is causing natural shellfish banks, fish populations and endangered cold corals to diminish. While fisheries and aquaculture governance are nominally governed by the same body, the ideological concerns of decision makers have not left space for the original users or ecological health. The right to good water quality and ecological health of artisanal fisher, original people and the broader coastal community are highlighted. Using semi structured interviews, participatory cartography and Geographic Information Systems fishers explain how the contamination footprint has expanded across benthic habitats. Diving in the contaminated areas confirmed the impacts using comparison with control sites. The article shows how new laws are need to assess nutrient loading, antibiotics and invasive species introduction. It links these impacts to literature in other countries where harmful algal blooms result from eutrophication from aquaculture contamination. It shows how the privatisation of space has left marine governance unable to take adequate enforcement. Artisanal and indigenous common properties can lead toward participation in marine planning for ecological health, whilst governmental institutions need realignment so that marine ecological planning for conservation can evolve.

Tracking interactions: Shifting baseline and fisheries networks in the largest Southwestern Atlantic reef system

Abstract Increasing evidence has revealed that different fisheries have collapsed around the world. This is generally more evident in countries that can maintain long‐term research and fisheries monitoring. When monitoring data are not available, alternative approaches to assess fisheries trends can be used, such as the local ecological knowledge of fishers. To investigate decadal changes in fisheries the local ecological knowledge of small‐scale fishers' was evaluated at four sites in Brazil: Porto Seguro, Prado, Alcobaça, and Caravelas. A fisher–fish network weighted by interaction strength was built to indicate the most relevant resources among fishers. The results suggest the occurrence of the shifting baseline syndrome among generations of fishers regarding commercially important fishes such as groupers and snappers. Handline fishers indicated a decline in catch per unit effort over 5 decades. Fisher–fish networks from Caravelas showed greater stability with stronger interaction strength, while Porto Seguro and Alcobaça networks were more fragile, and Prado network showed intermediate characteristics. Overfishing has affected high trophic level species that act as module hubs across the majority of sites. The fisher–fish network approach can be applied in data limited cases, improving the assessments of fisheries' dynamics (in space and time) and declining species.

Identifying potential causes of fish declines through local ecological knowledge of fishers in the Ganga River, eastern Bihar, India

AbstractLocal ecological knowledge (LEK) can offer insights into fisheries management by describing long‐term changes that are difficult to unravel in data‐poor river‐floodplain fisheries. LEK is derived from complex interactions between fishers’ observations of environmental change and their institutional capacities to manage fisheries. Hence, it is important to understand where and how LEK and formal scientific studies on fish species’ decline could complement each other. In this paper, the causes of decline of 58 fish and two shrimp taxa were identified from LEK data (1999–2019) obtained from river–floodplain fisheries of the Gangetic plains (Bihar, India). Qualitative analyses of LEK were used to generate species‐specific hypotheses and historical insights on their declines. Destructive fishing, overfishing and the Farakka barrage were cited by fishers as the major causes of declines. Potential reasons for these perceptions were explored in relation to fishers’ experiences of conflicts in the region over fishing rights and access.

Feedback between fisher local ecological knowledge and scientific epistemologies in England: building bridges for biodiversity conservation

Fisher local ecological knowledge in England has developed through interaction with research, as well as adding to scientific knowledge. Despite this, fishers and scientists continue to have different epistemic frameworks, and the typical form of communication from science to fisheries remains the ‘catapult’ approach, where knowledge exchange is a one-way form of communication. There are opportunities to develop ‘ferries’ and ‘bridges’ across the epistemologies which are explored through the concept of biodiversity. As more fishers have invested in technologies to improve catch efficiency and impacts on habitats, marine governance has slowly evolved to increase research in order to sustain marine resources. However, the benefits of biodiversity are not always well understood in fisheries communities, and how this conceptually relates to their forms of fishing and their interactions with habitats and conservation zones. The paper identifies that the governmental positivist natural capital approach may not be successful in identifying the intrinsic value of biodiversity, as it cannot register intrinsic value because it is not fungible with goods and services. This is particularly important to address in future marine conservation zone workshops. This paper has involved interviews, participant observation of fishers in government workshops and elicitation. It has been identified that the catapult approach remains dominant in government interactions with fishers. The paper shows examples of where social science approaches have been successful for biodiversity. Where fisher LEK is integrated, fishers’ trust in research and governance is increased making for a more active, participatory, marine democracy. Finally, the paper identifies these themes from the case in England to the need to overcome the general negative perception of the accuracy of non-scientist knowledge. There are opportunities to implement this as new policies such as the Fisheries Bill and the 25YEP Defra policy are implemented. This challenge can be observed across the world against holders of LEK in natural resource governance.

Marine protected area and the spatial distribution of the gill net fishery in Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.

This study characterizes the gill net fishery at Colônia de Pescadores Z13 (CPZ13), in Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro, and its relationship with the marine protected area 'Monumento Natural do Arquipélago das Ilhas Cagarras - MoNa Cagarras', describing the fleet and fishing gears, identifying fishing spots, species and their associations by gillnet type. From June 2012 to May 2013, every Tuesday to Sunday, gill net landings were monitored and fishers interviewed regarding their catch. Small boats (dory whaleboats) are used to set three types of gillnets: "Corvineira" (target species - whitemouth croaker), "linguadeira" (target species - flounders) and "rede-alta" (target species - bluefish). Fifty-nine species within 37 families were captured at 14 fishing spots, showing association with bottom type and distance from shore. The use of fisher's local ecological knowledge defines gear placement at specific sites targeting fisheries resources. All fishing sites are not within the limits of MoNa Cagarras but would benefit from management plans including an MPA buffering zone.

Fishers' knowledge about fish trophic interactions in the southeastern Brazilian coast.

BackgroundData derived from studies of fishers’ local ecological knowledge (LEK) can be invaluable to the proposal of new studies and more appropriate management strategies. This study analyzed the fisher’s LEK about trophic relationships of fishes in the southeastern Brazilian coast, comparing fishers’ LEK with scientific knowledge to provide new hypotheses.MethodsThe initial contacts with fishers were made through informal visits in their residences, to explain the research goals, meet fishers and their families, check the number of resident fishers and ask for fishers’ consent to participate in the research. After this initial contact, fishers were selected to be included in the interviews through the technique of snowball sampling. The fishers indicated by others who attended the criteria to be included in the research were interviewed by using a semi-structured standard questionnaire.ResultsThere were interviewed 26 artisanal fishers from three communities of the Ilhabela: Jabaquara, Fome and Serraria. The interviewed fishers showed a detailed knowledge about the trophic interactions of the studied coastal fishes, as fishers mentioned 17 food items for these fishes and six fish and three mammals as fish predators. The most mentioned food items were small fish, shrimps and crabs, while the most mentioned predators were large reef fishes. Fishers also mentioned some predators, such as sea otters, that have not been reported by the biological literature and are poorly known.ConclusionsThe LEK of the studied fishers showed a high degree of concordance with the scientific literature regarding fish diet. This study evidenced the value of fishers’ LEK to improve fisheries research and management, as well as the needy to increase the collaboration among managers, biologists and fishers.

Local ecological knowledge of fishers about the life cycle and temporal patterns in the migration of mullet (Mugil liza) in Southern Brazil

This research investigates local ecological knowledge of fishers in communities along a latitudinal gradient in the coast of the Santa Catarina State, regarding the life cycle of mullets Mugil liza (migration, feeding, and reproductive behavior). Our sampling encompassed eight Santa Catarina coastal cities (nine artisanal fishing sites) and engaged 45 key informants (28- 86 years of age) through semi-structured interviews from August/2011 to March/2012. This fish species feeds and grows in lagoon and estuarine systems, migrating to the sea for reproduction, and spawning. Fishers acknowledged the Patos Lagoon and the Plata River as the main source of mullet schools. Migration occurs from South to North and the routes vary according to climatic and oceanographic conditions (e.g., low temperatures, south winds, rainfall, currents, salinity). These conditions influence the abundance of mullets (and therefore fisheries success), their migration and stops in locations such as beaches, rocky shores, and islands. According to fishers, mullet spawning occurs throughout the coast of the Santa Catarina State and they feed in lagoons and riverine systems but also out at sea during migration. In conclusion, fishers possess a detailed knowledge about mullet life cycle and they identify intra and interannual variations in migration routes, a pattern that should be considered in managing the fishery.

Using fisher local ecological knowledge to improve management: The Murray crayfish in Australia

The use of data provided by fishers is a contentious topic in fishery management. We compare fisher local ecological knowledge, fisher catch data and scientific data for Murray crayfish ( Euastacus armatus) size and sex ratios in the River Murray, Australia, to determine if these data are consistent and if fisher knowledge can be a reliable input into fisheries management. Data were obtained through field surveys of crayfish populations, face-to-face fisher interviews and catch cards completed by fishers. All data sources indicated that there were higher numbers of crayfish <90 mm OCL compared to ≥90 mm OCL and the sex ratio of larger crayfish (≥90 mm OCL) was skewed towards females. Fisher catch card and scientific survey data showed the size frequencies of male and female crayfish were significantly different. Study results suggest that fisher local ecological knowledge can be a reliable source of information to improve fisheries management.