Trends In Fisheries Research Articles

Marine recreational fishery trends in total catch, catch per unit effort, and release rates in Delaware during 1981–2021

AbstractThe impact of recreational fisheries on marine ecosystems is often overshadowed by commercial fisheries, although recreational fishing harvest can be substantial, especially for species that are either overfished or experiencing overfishing. Delaware is a small coastal state with ~1,000,000 residents and nearly 272,000 resident and non‐resident anglers. We used publicly available data for Delaware's recreational fisheries during 1981–2021 to determine the nine most caught fish species and to evaluate trends in total numbers caught, harvested, released, and catch per unit effort (CPUE). The top nine most frequently captured fish by recreational anglers were Summer Flounder (Paralichthys dentatus), Atlantic Croaker (Micropogonias undulatus), Bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix), Black Sea Bass (Centropristis striata), Weakfish (Cynoscion regalis), White Perch (Morone americana), Tautog (Tautoga onitis), Striped Bass (Morone saxatilis), and Spot (Leiostomus xanthurus). The proportion of fish released increased through time for all nine species, suggesting that the recreational fishery in Delaware is transitioning from a harvest‐oriented to a catch‐and‐release‐oriented fishery. Observations of higher release rates in recreational fisheries of Delaware are consistent with the findings elsewhere in the world for freshwater and marine systems.

Computational approaches improve evidence synthesis and inform broad fisheries trends

AbstractAddressing ecological impacts with effective conservation actions requires information on the links between human pressures and localized responses. Understanding links is a priority for many conservation contexts, including the world's fresh waters, which face intensifying threats to disproportionately high species diversity, including more than half of the world's fish species. Literature synthesis can uncover links and highlight potential research gaps, yet can be very cumbersome and time consuming. Emerging tools like text mining can improve efficiency in extracting relevant information from vast scientific outputs. This study synthesizes evidence of direct anthropogenic threats to major inland fisheries and examines driver‐impact‐response patterns using coupled automated and manual text classification methods. We screened 9336 abstracts from 45 river basins of high importance to inland fish production; 1152 abstracts contained evidence of direct threats to fish. The most common documented drivers were pollution, dams, and fishing pressure, which were most strongly linked to decreased fitness, altered reproduction, and mortality, respectively. Strong impact‐response links to pollution signal potential bias toward documenting acute threats that generate more visible and immediate impacts. The use of machine learning‐based text classification performed best in classifying extraneous information. Results can inform the development of inland fisheries indicators and threat‐based metrics, highlight possible evidence gaps in linking global drivers to fishery‐level responses, and illustrate the application of a coupled synthesis approach for improved efficiency and extraction of information relevant to conservation outcomes. The associated user and interpretation guides address accessibility and technical barriers faced by conservation scientists to improve efficiency in evidence synthesis.

Data-Driven Approach: A Critical Analysis of Biological, Ecological and Economic Trends in Muara Kintap's Ponyfish Fishery

Data-Driven Approach: A Critical Analysis of Biological, Ecological and Economic Trends in Muara Kintap's Ponyfish Fishery

Fisheries Impact Pathway: Making Global and Regionalised Impacts on Marine Ecosystem Quality Accessible in Life Cycle Impact Assessment

Fisheries Impact Pathway: Making Global and Regionalised Impacts on Marine Ecosystem Quality Accessible in Life Cycle Impact Assessment

Data-Driven Approach: A Critical Analysis of Biological, Ecological and Economic Trends in Muara Kintap's Ponyfish Fishery

Data-Driven Approach: A Critical Analysis of Biological, Ecological and Economic Trends in Muara Kintap's Ponyfish Fishery

Stable mean trophic level and decreasing fish size in Central Amazonian fishery landings

AbstractEvaluating trends in fisheries, especially data‐limited small‐scale fisheries, is challenging. We used fish landings to evaluate changes in composition of fish landings in rivers of the Central Amazon, from a discontinuous historical 28‐year series of landings from different data collection systems in main ports of the city of Manaus, the largest consumer market in the region. Annual mean trophic level (MTL), fishing‐in‐balance index (FiB), and mean landed size (MSL) were estimated. MTL did not decline, FiB was positive in most years, and MSL declined. Relative catches of certain fish species were replaced by others at a similar trophic level, but mean body size declined over time. We conclude that fishing in the Central Amazon is not sustainable and would benefit from better management strategies.

Blue transition for sustainable marine fisheries: Critical drivers and evidence from China

Achieving blue transition-sustainable fishery development has become one of the most important concerns for China's blue economy. Blue transition is defined as the transition from fish biomass reduction to biomass recovery of exploited fishery resources through the development of alternative seafood production from aquaculture. Our study examines the “blue transition” between marine fisheries captures and aquaculture production in China and probes the future development trends of China's fisheries under socioeconomic drivers. The results indicate that the resource displacement of the blue transition is not currently underway in China. It predicts a future decline in China's fish production after around 2030, while marine aquaculture products will remain a major component of fish production in the future. Our study adopts an integrated methodology to assess the critical timing of China's blue transition for the first time, and predicts future trends in marine capture fisheries transitions, which can provide recommendations for sustainable transition pathways to achieve SDG14.

Consumption-Production Patterns of Fish and Trends in Fisheries in India: An Inter-State Study with Special Reference to West Bengal

Consumption-Production Patterns of Fish and Trends in Fisheries in India: An Inter-State Study with Special Reference to West Bengal

Local ecological knowledge can support improved management of small-scale fisheries in the Bay of Bengal

Fishers’ local ecological knowledge (LEK) can be used to reconstruct or supplement long-term trends in heavily exploited population or poorly assessed species with low biomass. We used historical memories of small-scale fishers to understand their perceptions of changes in catch trends in marine fisheries over the last 20 years. The study aimed at evaluating how fishers could provide consistent and reliable data on major fish species/groups comparable with official catch data and to explore the potential of increasing their participation in fishery management. We conducted focus group discussions (FGDs) and key informant interviews with experienced fishers and stakeholders, using a structured template related to the catch and effort data. Using FGD data, we systematically compared changes in fish catch rates and effort over time and space. Data were collected on major groups of species that had reasonable landing over time. Overall, the analysis revealed changes in catch rate, monthly landings per landing center, factors that likely influence the catch trends, and the spatial expansion of fisheries. Our study provides insight into species’ abundance over time. Fishers’ LEK shows declining catch rates for major species and groups, but monthly harvests at landing centers have increased over two decades because of increased fishing efforts. Small-scale fishers are catching more fish from deeper waters over time, indicating a geographical expansion and/or development of fisheries beyond traditionally exploited areas. Such expansions of nearshore fisheries may result from the overfishing of nearby areas. On the contrary, this could be viewed as a positive indication of the potential for growth and development of small-scale fisheries in the region, especially in the context of the blue economy. The agreement between official statistics and fishers’ data on species catch trends over time suggests that fishers have a good understanding of their fishing system. This indicates that fishers’ knowledge could be invaluable, especially in data-poor areas. LEK integration into policy and management is thus expected to facilitate the efficient management of small-scale fisheries.

Identifying social thresholds and measuring social achievement in social-ecological systems: A cross-regional comparison of fisheries in the United States

In marine social-ecological systems (SESs), environmental and human-induced stressors can push ecosystems from a high-functioning state into a new, often undesirable state (i.e., regime shift) with limited delivery of ecological goods and services (e.g., high to low fisheries production). While ecological regime shifts are well studied, social regime shifts within SESs are underexplored. Socioeconomic indicators were used to identify thresholds and trends in fisheries and coastal employment for six marine SESs around the U.S. These study sites represent coastal regions delineated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for which periodic monitoring and data collection occur. We first used Generalized Additive Modeling to identify periods of change, then linked them to potential regional and national drivers. Social outcomes were ranked using composite social and environmental indices for each region, constructed using Data Envelopment Analysis. Technological innovation and national regulatory changes (e.g., Magnuson Stevens Act) co-occurred with detected nationwide shifts in fisheries productivity, while engagement in specific fisheries determined local regional shifts. Our study demonstrates the effectiveness of the complementary threshold analysis and outcome ranking methods in identifying regimes and assessing performance. Together, they provide management information and insight into possibilities for preventing unfavorable shifts and to assess society’s ability to adapt to those shifts.

The American Lobster Settlement Index: History, lessons, and future of a long-term, transboundary monitoring collaborative

Understanding the processes that influence recruitment variability in marine populations has been a long-standing challenge for resource management. Quantifying abundance at early life stages for marine fish and invertebrates with complex life histories can be difficult and require unconventional sampling approaches. However, the benefit of developing appropriate tools to sample early life stages is that, together with associated demographic and environmental information, the data can provide insights into the causes and consequences of recruitment variability, allowing prediction of older life stage abundance. Before the 1980s, the earliest benthic life stages of the American lobster (Homarus americanus) eluded quantitative field surveys. With the development of diver-based and vessel-deployed sampling methods over the past three decades, the American Lobster Settlement Index (ALSI) program has expanded into a regional, transboundary commitment to better understand lobster settlement processes and forecast future fishery trends for what has become the most valuable single-species fishery in North America. In this context, “settlement” is a shorthand for the annual recruitment of young-of-year lobster to coastal nurseries, as postlarvae settle to the seabed at the end of larval development. Here, we review the development and products of the ALSI program, first outlining the goals, methods, and data products of the program. We then highlight how the program has advanced the scientific knowledge on pre- and post-settlement processes that influence the fate of a cohort from egg hatch to harvest, which provides insight into the spawner-recruit relationship. Lastly, we provide guidance for future research recommendations building on the ALSI science to-date, some major elements of the program that have allowed for its success, and considerations for maintaining the ALSI program. By highlighting the uniqueness and contributions of the ALSI program, we hope it serves as a model for other scientists, managers, and industry collaborators aiming to understand recruitment processes for species over a broad geographic area.

Permit (Trachinotus falcatus) Fishing Quality and Conservation Threats in the Florida Keys: A Recreational Angler and Fishing Guide Survey

Permit (Trachinotus falcatus) support recreational fisheries in South Florida, and there is limited monitoring to assess population trends. To address this knowledge deficiency, we conducted a survey of Permit anglers and fishing guides to collect local ecological knowledge (LEK) on fisheries trends, focused mainly on the Florida Keys. Respondents indicated a significant decline in Permit fishing quality starting in 1995 and through 2019, with greater declines in the Upper Florida Keys and Biscayne Bay. Further, declines in Permit fishing quality were more pronounced on flats habitats compared to nearshore reefs and shipwrecks. Reduction in Permit body size, an indicator of fisheries overexploitation, was not reported. Specifically, there were no significant reported differences in Permit size across time and regions. Respondents indicated the greatest potential drivers of changes in fishing quality were water quality, boat traffic, and habitat quality. As a species that aggregates on reefs and shipwrecks to spawn but also relies on nearshore flats for foraging, Permit are potentially vulnerable to a wide range of stressors that need to be included in intervention and local fisheries management plans. Given the inherent challenges with implementing biological surveys for Permit, LEK derived from the recreational fishing sector represents an important source of knowledge, notwithstanding the biases that are associated with such approaches.

Trends in Indian Ocean marine fisheries since 1950: synthesis of reconstructed catch and effort data

Context Contrary to other ocean basins, Indian Ocean catches have increased consistently since 1950, although reported data are known to be incomplete. Fish is a crucial food source in the Indian Ocean; however, ineffective management often empowers over-exploitation. Aims We synthesised and reviewed Indian Ocean reconstructed catch and effort data by fishing sector and fishing country at the ocean-basin scale. Methods We aggregated reported and reconstructed unreported catch and effort data for the Indian Ocean and derived catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE) time-series by sector. Key results Indian Ocean rim country catches dominated in the Indian Ocean. Small-scale catches in the Indian Ocean have grown continuously by over 300% from 1.9 × 106 tonnes (Mg) year−1 in 1950 to 6.5 × 106 tonnes year−1 by 2018. By contrast, total industrial catches from the Indian Ocean have reached a plateau at ~8.5 × 106 tonnes year−1 since the late 1990s, after having steadily risen from very low levels in the early 1960s. Unreported catches declined from 45 to 25% of total catches. Total fishing effort, driven by the industrial sector, has increased 30-fold since 1950 from 0.4 × 109 to 11 × 109 kW-days by 2010, whereas CPUE has declined 78%, with steeper declines in the small-scale (>80% since 1950) than in the industrial sector (65% from its 1981 peak). Conclusions The different sectoral patterns in the Indian Ocean compared with other ocean basins are likely to be due to the region’s high dependence on small-scale fisheries and the later onset but swift growth of industrial fishing. The declining CPUE suggests strong decreases in stock biomass caused by strongly increasing fishing effort, especially in the industrial sector. Implications Indian Ocean countries should prioritise lower-impact well-managed domestic small-scale fisheries to maximise long-term, sustainable nutrient supply for local livelihoods.

Catch per Unit Effort, Density and Size Distribution of the Oysters Pinctada capensis and Saccostrea cucullata (Class Bivalvea) on Inhaca Island, Southern Mozambique.

Oysters are important resources for the daily diet, a source of economic income for many coastal communities and a delicacy for the tourism industry. In this study, the oysters (Pinctada capensis and Saccostrea cucullata) were investigated with the aim to assess the catch per unit effort, density and size composition. The study was conducted over a three-year period on Inhaca Island, Southern Mozambique. For both species, perception of fishery trends from collectors was carried out through habitat censuses and interviews. Transects, quadrats and daily fisheries catches approaches were used. Results show that P. capensis is the most exploited on the island. A total of 72.1% of respondents pointed that the oyster P. capensis is decreasing, due to excessive catching (75.4%) followed by natural death (24.6%), while 20.9% affirmed that the resource is stable and 7.0% are unaware about the resource trend. Oyster densities, sizes and catches per unit effort were higher in less accessible areas only for P. capensis. The present study provides valuable baseline information to recommend best practices to improve the exploitation, and access the need for introduction of aquaculture, towards the sustainable management and conservation of oysters, and ultimately to ameliorate people's livelihoods.

Lost in translation: understanding divergent perspectives on a depleted fish stock

Fishers commonly disagree with stock assessment results, particularly when a stock declines and strict harvest controls become necessary. Such regulations alter fisher perceptions of stock dynamics, contributing to a divergence in perspectives. Some assessments have inconsistent terminal year values (retrospective patterns) which fuel distrust in scientific advice. When assessment and fishery perspectives disagree, independent surveys can help identify biases and interpret discrepancies. We examine fishery trends and assessment results for Atlantic cod in the Gulf of Maine, a stock which has declined for decades. Trends were compared to a scientific industry cooperative trawl survey and a telephone survey of fisher perceptions. Trawl survey results generally corroborate the assessment perspective on population scale and decline, yet suggest a different view of the age structure. Fisher perceptions were at odds with the assessment and trawl survey and likely resulted from regulations that altered fisher behavior, causing catch rates to increase while the stock declined. Divergent perspectives may be an unavoidable consequence of fishery management, yet acknowledging the underlying mechanisms might help avoid future conflict.

Balancing the asymmetry of knowledge of the transboundary white seabass (Atractoscion nobilis) fishery resource: Landings reconstruction along the west coast of the Baja California Peninsula

The white seabass (Atractoscion nobilis) is an important transboundary fishery resource exploited by the U.S. and Mexico. White seabass commercial landing estimates for the past 100 years have formed the basis of U.S. management regulations. However, species-specific landing records for white seabass are unavailable for Mexico and management efforts based on fishery trends are not possible. To better document the Mexican harvest of white seabass and the factors contributing to annual landing trends in the commercial fishery, we used a six-step process to reconstruct white seabass harvest along the west coast of the Baja California Peninsula from 1949 to 2019. Although historical records obtained from Mexican Fisheries Statistics Year Books and those from Official Catch Landings Reports do not directly align. Both data sources show that overall Mexican white seabass landings has increased over the last 30 years with disparate regional trends. The increase is largely from the small-scale gillnet fleet of Baja California Sur, which accounts for more than 97% of the total catch. Based on the Official Catch Landings Reports, estimated landings show a large increase (228%) over the past 20 years. The landings reconstruction estimates provide baseline information that can be used to better manage and monitor the white seabass in Mexico. Further, given the transboundary nature of the resource, these data may help establish the information needed to explore co-management efforts with the U.S. This work highlights the value of the white seabass to the fisheries off Baja California and supports the need for the continued collection of new and accurate information on catch levels, fishing effort, and stock structure of this transboundary resource.

Spatial and Temporal Characteristics of California Commercial Fisheries from 2005 to 2019 and Potential Overlap with Offshore Wind Energy Development

AbstractAs climate change accelerates and fisheries management continues to evolve, California's commercial fisheries are changing. To improve the understanding of recent California fisheries dynamics, we compiled and analyzed commercial landings receipts to characterize temporal and spatial variation in landing and value of key fisheries groups within the exclusive economic zone across the state from 2005 to 2019. We found that California fisheries continue a shift first observed in the 1980s from higher‐biomass, lower‐value species, such as coastal pelagic species and market squid, toward lower‐biomass, higher‐value species, such as Dungeness crab Cancer magister and groundfish. Over the 15‐year time series analyzed, total landings declined by nearly two‐thirds but total value remained relatively stable, likely due to a focus on higher value species and rising prices. The northern half of the state has become much more economically valuable, accounting for over 50% of total value across the state in 2019. A case study analysis found groundfish to be the dominant fisheries in the two areas that have been identified as priorities for potential offshore wind development in central and northern California. Our results elucidate the most recent status and trends of California's commercial fisheries, over time, across space, and among different fisheries groups, providing valuable information for informing fisheries management and marine spatial planning.

The state of the fish farming industry and its development trends in Ukraine and the world

The article analyzes the current state and trends of fisheries in Ukraine and the world for the period from 1996 till2020. The authors showed the changes in the extraction ofaquatic bioresources, considered the indicators of export-import operations of the industry and also considered how fishproducts were consumed by the population. The article identifies the main prospects and desirable strategies for fisheries development. Measures such as catch regulation, control over the condition of certain industrial facilities, rational ecologically balanced functioning of aquaculture and mariculture farms remain relevant for the stable supply of fish, crustaceans and other seafood to consumers. Analysis of industry trends shows that in the near future most of the world's fish stocks will be caught in steadyvolumes. In that case aquaculture will have to meet the difference between the supply of wild fish and the demand ofthe growing population of the planet. On the other hand, the development of aquaculture raises a number of issues relatedto the resources it needs and the threats posed by externalfactors, including diseases and challenges related to climatechange. The competition of technologies in the framework of sustainable development of aquaculture contributes to theimprovement of closed recirculation systems, the operationof which does not depend on climatic conditions. They alsoensure the receipt fry of fish at an early date and have proven their effectiveness in the cultivation of valuable fish species: sturgeon, catfish, tilapia, salmon. nalysis of world experience shows that the cultivationof fish in mariculture farms is optimal arrangement of largesea cages away from the shore.It is substantiated that today one of the stable ways of obtaining aquatic bioresources in Ukraine is the cultivation ofaquatic organisms in inland waters. It is expected that in thenear future in this sector will be concentrated the potential for increasing fish products and feed use. Key words: aquaculture, fisheries, aquatic biologicalresources, fish, molluscs, crustaceans.

Gulf fisheries supported resilience in the decade following unparalleled oiling

AbstractThe 2010 Deepwater Horizon (DwH) disaster challenged the integrity of the Gulf of Mexico (GOM) large‐marine ecosystem at unprecedented scales, prompting concerns of devastating injury for GOM fisheries in the post‐spill decade. Following the catastrophe, projected economic losses for regional commercial, recreational, and mariculture sectors for the decade after oiling were US$3.7–8.7 billion overall, owing to the vulnerability of economically prized, primarily nearshore taxa that support fishing communities. State and federal fisheries data during 2000–2017 indicated that GOM fishery sectors appeared to serve as remarkable anchors of resilience following the largest accidental marine oil spill in human history. Evidence of post‐disaster impacts on fisheries economies was negligible. Rather, GOM commercial sales during 2010–2017 were US$0.8–1.5 billion above forecasts derived using pre‐spill (2000–2009) trajectories, while pre‐ and post‐spill recreational fishery trends did not differ appreciably. No post‐spill shifts in target species or effort distribution across states were apparent to explain these findings. Unraveling the mechanisms for this unforeseen stability represents an important avenue for understanding the vulnerability or resilience of human–natural systems to future disturbances. Following DwH, the causes for fishery responses are likely multifaceted and complex (including exogenous economic forces that typically affect fisheries‐dependent data), but appear partially explained by the relative ecological stability of coastal fishery assemblages despite widespread oiling, which has been corroborated by multiple fishery‐independent surveys across the northern GOM. Additionally, we hypothesize that damage payments to fishermen led to acquisition or retooling of commercial fisheries infrastructure, and subsequent rises in harvest effort. Combined, these social–ecological dynamics likely aided recovery of stressed coastal GOM communities in the years after DwH, although increased fishing pressure in the post‐spill era may have consequences for future GOM ecosystem structure, function, and resilience.

A BRIEF INFORMATION ON TUNA POLE-AND-LINE LANDINGS AND FISHING EFFORTS IN LARANTUKA, FLORES TIMUR DISTRICT, NUSA TENGGARA TIMUR PROVINCE, INDONESIA

This research examines tuna pole-and-line landings data by focusing on trend and effort levels in Larantuka, Flores Timur District, Nusa Tenggara Timur Province, Indonesia. The analyzed fisheries data indicate trends that might be useful for monitoring and management purposes. The research data used were from the landings, number of trips, and fishing gear data on tuna pole-and-line from 2005 to 2014 provided by local fisheries authority. Data was also sourced from previous publications and field surveys. This research analyzes data on tuna pole-and-line fishery trends, relationships between landings, number of trips, and fishing gears used. Overall, the data on tuna landings from 2005-2014 increased whilst on the contrary there was a decrease in the numbers of trips and fishing gears used. The relationship between landings to trips (slope = -0.0087; p-value = 0.7639) and gears (slope = 8.1285; p-value = 0.2715) can be interpreted as being a unit increase in number of trips, which tended to be linked with a decrease of 0.0087 tons in landings. In contrast, a unit increase in gears tended to be associated with an increase of 8.1285 tons in landings.The research did not show statistically significant relationships among landings, numbers of both trips, and fishing gears.