Fishers' Ecological Knowledge Research Articles

Mapping essential juvenile habitats of exploited marine fish: Complementary insights from a scientific survey-based model, fishers’ knowledge and fisheries-dependent data

In the Bay of Biscay (BoB, Northeast Atlantic), a preexisting habitat suitability model (HSM) fitted on ecological scientific trawl survey data with restricted partial coverage revealed the concentration of Young of the Year (YoY) common sole (Solea solea) on restricted coastal and estuarine nurseries. To extend the nursery map of sole in the BoB to zones where survey data are lacking and fit with the sole population and stock management extent, we crossed HSM, fishers’ ecological knowledge (FEK) and fisheries-based (FB) data. FB and FEK data also complemented knowledge on juvenile sole habitat and seasonal migration. Thirteen fishers with potential knowledge about the YoY sole distribution were directly interviewed. Direct interviews included both information about the location of juveniles and YoY distribution mapping. With good consensus among fishers, FEK allowed the identification of four new areas hosting essential juvenile habitat for the common sole, revealed the accuracy of the HSM model outside the spatial coverage of the ecological survey, and provided spatial refinement. The FB observation data confirmed the locations of the essential juvenile habitats given by FEK and the spatial distributions of YoY densities predicted from the scientific data. In addition, FB confirmed the seasonal migration of YoY sole, which was preliminarily hypothesized from a local and short-term survey-based study. Our results emphasized the local accuracy of FEK. These findings also underlined the interest in combining several sources of data and methods to map essential fish habitats outside areas well covered by ecological scientific surveys, on order to inform future spatial management measures.

Fishers' ecological knowledge points to fishing-induced changes in the Peruvian Amazon.

Scientists increasingly draw on fishers' ecological knowledge (FEK) to gain a better understanding of fish biology and ecology,and inform options for fisheries management. We report on a study of FEK among fishers along the Lower Ucayali River in Peru, a region of exceptional productivity and diversity, which is also a major supplier of fish to the largest city in the Peruvian Amazon. Given a lack of available scientific information on stock status, we sought to identify temporal changes in the composition and size of exploited species by interviewing fishers from 18 communities who vary in years of fishing experience since the mid-1950s. We develop four FEK-based indicators to assess changes in the fish assemblage and compare findings with landings data. We find an intensification of fishing gear deployed over time and spatiotemporal shifts in the fish assemblage and reported declines in species weight, which point to a fishing-down process with declines across multiple species. This finding is reflected in a shifting baseline among our participants, whereby younger generations of fishers have different expectations regarding the distribution and size of species. Our study points to the importance of spillover effects from the nearby Pacaya-Samira National Reserve and community initiatives to support the regional fishery. Reference to fishers' knowledge also suggests that species decline is likely underreported in aggregated landings data. Despite the dynamism and diversity of Amazonian floodplain fisheries, simple FEK-based indicators can provide useful information for understanding fishing-induced changes in the fish assemblage. Fishers hold valuable knowledge for fishery management and conservation initiatives in the region.

Unraveling the Story of the Black Scorpionfish (Scorpaena porcus Linnaeus, 1758): Exploring Local Ecological Knowledge and the Exploitative History of a Marine Species

In the Mediterranean Sea, and in marine areas worldwide, for most locations, data on species presence and abundance are generally poor or non-existent. When available, these data are generally reported only at small scale and/or for short temporal series. In this study, the investigation of abundance and size trends, along with some ecological aspects of the data-poor species Scorpaena porcus, commonly known as the Black Scorpionfish, was undertaken using FEK (Fishers’ Ecological Knowledge). The results clearly indicated a sharp reduction in both abundance and size over the last 21 years (2001–2021) of this species in the central Mediterranean Sea. The causes of this decline, and the importance of FEK, as well as Local Ecological Knowledge (LEK), in research and the assessment and management of biological resources are discussed.

Bycatch in northeast Atlantic lobster and crab pot fisheries (Irish Sea, Celtic Sea and Bristol Channel)

Bycatch in valuable NE Atlantic baited ‘pot’ fisheries for lobster Homarus gammarus and edible crab Cancer pagurus has not been well documented, potentially limiting evidence-based management. Using onboard observers supplemented by fishers’ ecological knowledge (FEK) we characterised bycatch of fish and larger invertebrates in 10,741 pot hauls around the coast of Wales, UK, over 4 years in all seasons. A total of 1529 fish from 30 species, and around 15 species of invertebrate, were recorded. Bycatch abundance varied seasonally and spatially and was dominated by eight common and widespread taxa comprising six ‘core’ fish (two catsharks: bullhuss (Scyliorhinus stellaris) and smallspotted catshark (S. canicula); ballan wrasse Labrus bergylta, sea scorpions (Myoxocephalus scorpius &Taurulus bubalis combined), three-bearded rockling Gaidropsarus vulgaris, conger eel Conger conger, together 86% of fish abundance), velvet swimming crab Necora puber and spider crab Maja brachydactyla. Commercially important fish species were only caught in low numbers (3.0% of all fish), with cod Gadus morhua the most frequent (1.8% of all fish). Only two species of conservation interest were recorded: the large catshark Scyliorhinus stellaris which is locally abundant (assessed by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as ‘Near Threatened’ and ‘Vulnerable to extinction’ at European and global scales respectively), and a single legally retained spiny lobster Palinurus elephas. Retention or live release status was recorded for nearly all (96%) of the core fish individuals and varied widely with taxa: sea scorpions (never retained), Scyliorhinus stellaris (13% retained), smallspotted catshark, three-bearded rockling, conger eel (44–59% retained), with ballan wrasse having the highest retention (90% of 242 individuals; average of 5.5 individuals retained per trip when present). Observed high spider crab abundance combined with FEK of previous absence or scarcity suggest that this species has increased in northwards range and abundance in recent decades, possibly because of warming seas. No incidents of in-pot mammal or bird entrapment were recorded. The retention of fish for bait is not currently acknowledged in consumer advice or landings data. Possible effects of bait retention on populations of data-poor species which may be vulnerable to overexploitation (e.g., long-lived ballan wrasse) and coastal ecosystems are unknown and warrant further research.

Retrieving records of a rare and threatened shark in a mosaic of marine-protected areas of southeastern Brazil.

In this study the authors use the Fishers ecological knowledge (FEK) from the south coast of the São Paulo State, in southeastern Brazil, to recover records of Atlantic nurse shark (Ginglymostoma cirratum), a threatened with extinction species, in a mosaic of marine-protected areas (MPAs) of the south coast of São Paulo, in southeastern Brazil, in the southernmost distribution of the species in the Southwest Atlantic Ocean. For half a century, in the study area only one male of G. cirratum was officially recorded, in 1967. Retrieving records from artisanal fishers, recreational anglers, fishing guides and spearfishers added 30 more records of G. cirratum, including 2 recent captures (February/2022 and May/2022), especially around coastal islands that are covered by MPAs. Two uncommon fishing techniques, but which provided the highest number of records for the species, were documented. These are fishing nets and small longlines adapted for fishing close to the rocks, being an apparently traditional activity of a few natives of the region. As Brazil has a long history of intense catches of threatened elasmobranchs and problems with fisheries monitoring, the consideration of the FEK in the fisheries monitoring carried out by the authorities can be useful to promote improvements in data collection, especially of rare and endangered species such as G. cirratum. The strengthening of the protection of the MPAs and the articulation of research and management institutions with native people and tourists who use these areas should also be considered.

What you see isn’t always what you get: On how anglers’ fish stock perceptions are influenced by motivations, satisfaction and engagement

Recreational anglers collectively spend a great amount of time on fishing activities. While being out fishing, these anglers perceive various components of aquatic ecosystems, allowing them to accumulate knowledge of the ecological status of the system and the fish they are targeting in it. Such fishers’ ecological knowledge (FEK) is increasingly being recognized as a valuable source of information in fisheries research and management, but it has also been criticized for a lack of accuracy. People’s perceptions of their environment are shaped by a variety of psychological and environmental factors, and the same is expected for anglers’ perceptions of fish stocks and the resulting FEK. This study assessed anglers’ perceived change in salmon and sea trout stocks at the Mörrum river in Sweden, comparing the year that they first fished there to the present (2019). In addition, effects on these perceptions of the anglers’ motivations to fish, satisfaction with catches, and their engagement with this fishery were examined. The majority of the respondents perceived a negative trend for both species, even when the reported total catches during the year they first fished at Mörrum were lower than the present catches. Binomial regression models indicated significant influences of engagement at Mörrum on the anglers’ stock trend perceptions. The results of this study emphasize the importance of understanding different individual angler characteristics when collecting and interpreting FEK. Moreover, the fact that anglers with a longer history at Mörrum had a more negative perception overall, regardless of actual stock status in their first year in this fishery, suggests the occurrence of the shifting baseline syndrome in recreational fisheries. Therefore, the prevailing narrative on stock trends and its effect on angler perceptions should be considered when using FEK.

Specialist spearfishers’ ecological knowledge provides accurate information that improves the description of the reproduction of a data-deficient species, Oplegnathus conwayi in South Africa

Fishers’ ecological knowledge (FEK) has become a popular method for collecting fisheries data. Yet, standard biological sampling by researchers is still the most commonly used method. South Africa’s recreational fishing sector currently has a wealth of biological and demographic information on species captured with hook and line, while several species targeted in the spearfishery are data limited. The aim of this study was to incorporate specialised spearfisher FEK to improve the understanding of the reproductive biology of Oplegnathus conwayi in South Africa. This was achieved using standard biological sampling and FEK data collected from specialist spearfishers using a questionnaire. A total of 305 O. conwayi were collected along the South African coastline. Fish were dissected, sexed and staged macroscopically and gonad staging was verified histologically. One hundred and three survey responses were received, of which 90 were regarded as being from specialised spearfishers. The combination of both traditional sampling and FEK data complemented each other well, with key reproductive data such as spawning season, length-at-maturity and spawning locality being collected. The combination of these methods is strongly advised for future life history studies, particularly, in countries with data-deficient species and limited research funding.

Knowing through fishing: exploring the connection between fishers’ ecological knowledge and fishing styles

That fishers’ ecological knowledge (FEK) can contribute to the sustainability and legitimacy of environmental planning and management is widely accepted. Nevertheless, despite this broad consensus about its importance, there is uncertainty about the ways in which FEK can be captured methodologically. Here, we present the results of a methodological inquiry aimed to connect FEK to the diversity of work practices within fisheries. Using a sample from a qualitative study of Swedish small-scale fishers, we test to what extent a new combination of concept and method – Fishing Style analysis and the Structure-Dynamic-Function framework – can produce insights into the partiality and diversity of FEK, as well as its embodied and tacit aspects. Results demonstrate how different work practices generate a variety of FEKs. We use this finding to discuss the implications of our work for future study of FEK, and how attention to FEK can inform environmental planning and management.

Fishers' Ecological Knowledge About Sea Turtles in Coastal Waters: A Case Study in Vengurla, India

Five species of sea turtle—the green (Chelonia mydas), hawksbill (Eretmochelys imbricata), leatherback (Dermochelys coriacea), loggerhead (Caretta caretta), and olive ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea)—feed in the coastal waters of India, nest on the mainland and island beaches, and are an important component of India's natural and sociocultural heritage. Sea turtles spend most of their life cycle at sea, so structured studies of the biology of nonnesting populations are challenging. However, fishers' ecological knowledge (FEK) could indicate sea turtle distribution, abundance, and population trends. Structured interviews with 93 male fishers at Sagareshwar Beach, Vengurla, in the Sindhudurg District of Maharashtra revealed observations of all 5 sea turtle species in local waters. Importantly, this was the first known record of loggerhead turtles for the Sindhudurg District of the state coastline and added to infrequent records of leatherback turtles over the previous 20 yrs. Observations were more common at a time when adult turtles are likely to be courting and mating, although this behavior was not observed. Fishers did not contribute ecological knowledge about sea turtle distribution from the waters they fished, potentially because of the method used to collect information on maps or reluctance to indicate areas fished. Estimates of abundance were widely disparate, but perceived decreases in the size of local populations were common among respondents. Outcomes of our study suggest that the FEK of small-scale coastal fishers operating in even a small area is of value in identifying potential areas for focused investigations on in-water populations of sea turtles.

Participatory mapping and fishers’ knowledge about fish and shrimp migration in a subtropical coastal ecosystem

Fishers’ ecological knowledge (FEK) has contributed to studies on the reproduction and migration of fish and marine invertebrates. With increasing accessibility to information technologies, several surveys have begun to use Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to access FEK through participatory mapping. Scientific knowledge on migration of fishery resources is fundamental to properly support initiatives for fisheries management. However, the technologies available to study migration are usually expensive and require several years of sampling. Our objective was to use GIS to access FEK and to identify the migration patterns of five fishery resources in a subtropical coastal ecosystem of the Southern Atlantic Ocean: the white catfish - Genidens barbus, the fat snook - Centropomus parallelus, the common snook - Centropomus undecimalis, the Atlantic spadefish - Chaetodipterus faber and the white shrimp - Litopenaeus schmitti. We interviewed 132 fishers in the Paranaguá estuarine complex and its adjacent coastal zone, Brazil. Of these fishers, 39 participated in the participatory mapping process. Our results based on FEK indicated that the migration of fishery resources is reproductive and occurs mainly in the later spring and summer when the species enter or exit the estuarine complex from coastal zone. The participatory mapping results indicated that G. barbus and C. faber migrate from the coastal zone to the estuary, while Centropomus species and the shrimp L. schmitti exit the estuary towards the coastal zone. The information generated by FEK and the methods used should be considered in future studies on ethno ecological research and to understand reproductive migration of these species. Furthermore, these observations could support fisheries management and environmental impact assessment of infrastructure projects.

Fishers’ ecological knowledge on the reproduction of fish and shrimp in a subtropical coastal ecosystem

Fishers’ ecological knowledge (FEK) has contributed to a better understanding about the reproduction of fishery resources, especially where biological data are scarce or unavailable. We analyzed FEK on the reproduction of five fishery resources in the Paranagua estuarine complex and adjacent coastal area, Brazil, including fishes (Genidens barbus, Centropomus parallelus, Chaetodipterus faber, Pseudobatos sp.) and shrimp (Litopenaeus schmitti). We also sought to compare FEK with biological data and investigate which characteristics (age, fish evisceration and fishers’ location) influence fishers' knowledge. We interviewed 132 artisanal fishers. FEK indicated reproductive peaks in the spring and summer for the fish species and in late winter and early spring for the shrimp. The maturation sizes according to FEK did not differ from sizes at first maturity (L50) as reported by biological studies for G. barbus and L. schmitti. Fishers’ residence sites and fish evisceration influenced more their knowledge related to species reproduction than age. Fishers showed a detailed ecological knowledge about some reproductive aspects, including size at first maturity of females, site of occurrence and reproductive peaks. Furthermore, fishers were able to identify sexual dimorphism, parental care and ovoviviparity. These results can be applied to improve fisheries management in the context of data poor fisheries.

The Use of Recreational Fishers’ Ecological Knowledge to Assess the Conservation Status of Marine Ecosystems

Fisheries scientists and marine resource managers are reluctant to incorporate Fishers’ Ecological Knowledge (FEK) into technical advice procedures to guide management decisions on marine ecosystems and fisheries. However, in data-poor scenarios FEK has proved to be useful to provide alternative references of biological changes. Moreover, despite recreational fishers are the main potential source of FEK, they have been scarcely incorporated in scientific investigations. In this study it has been evaluated for the first time the use of recreational FEK to assess the conservation status of marine ecosystems in Galicia (NW Spain), a region characterized by a highly complex marine socioecological system integrated by a worldwide commercial fleet and a powerful recreational sector, among other relevant stakeholders. Active spear fishers and anglers were recruited to provide their perceptions on the conservation status of fish stocks and on the impacts on marine ecosystems. The audio of face to face interviews were transcribed into text and analyzed by using text mining tools. Acknowledged key concepts were used to quantify fishers’ perceptions on changes in the conservation status of their target fish stocks and to identify and quantify the main impacts on marine ecosystems. Overfishing and habitat loss, followed by biodiversity impoverishment, pollution and ocean warming were blamed by the fishers as the main responsible of poor status of conservation of cephalopods and finfish stocks targeted by both commercial and recreational fisheries. Perceived temporal declines in fish stocks were consistent with available biological data, validating the use of recreational FEK to assess long-term ecological changes in the absence of ordinary scientific data. FEK researchers are encouraged to include inputs of different resource users, including fishers following familiar traditions in commercial and/or recreational fisheries because they were more sensible to detect impacts on natural and cultural community heritage. Conservation status of ballan wrasse Labrus bergylta and kelp beds are especially worrying due to their role as key species in coastal ecosystems. The creation of monitoring programs to assess the status of this fish and other commercially and/or recreationally relevant species, including kelps, are urgently needed to ensure the future conservation of marine ecosystems.

Fishers' Ecological Knowledge about Marine Pollution: What Can FEK Contribute to Ecological and Conservation Studies of a Southwestern Atlantic Estuary?

The growth of human populations and industrial activities in the last decades have been the major cause of ecosystem decline, especially due to the inputs of several pollutants in the environment. Estuaries are one of the main concerns in marine governance because they receive potentially toxic substances from many sources that end up in the sea. Despite this, marine policies that aim to protect marine areas have dismissed local fishers' knowledge, although fishers have ecological knowledge that endorses and complements scientific research. Therefore, the aim of this study was to identify sources and indicators of pollution in the Bahia Blanca Estuary (BBE) according to the fishers and to contrast this knowledge with scientific studies. We conducted 20 interviews with the fishers of the BBE, and the results showed that all of them think the estuary is polluted and that there have been changes in the biomass of catches in the past. Most of them think that industries of the petrochemical complex are the major cause of pollution (57%), while marine organisms were the most mentioned items as indicators of pollution (59%), especially the commercial species (41%). We found interesting parallels between fishers' ecological knowledge (FEK) and scientific data. Thus, we conclude that FEK is an invaluable tool that provides data that could help to co-protect and co-manage this estuary and the services it provides.

Engaging Fishers' Ecological Knowledge for Endangered Species Conservation: Four Advantages to Emphasizing Voice in Participatory Action Research

Using social science to integrate local knowledge into conservation science can provide unique insights to conservation challenges. Especially when baseline data of a vulnerable wildlife population is deficient, these methods can help fill critical data gaps. In this study, we integrate the principals from the trinity of voice (TOV) and participatory action research (PAR) to generate baseline data on in-water habitat use of critically endangered hawksbill sea turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata) and to build mutually beneficial relationships with local stakeholders near the hawksbill’s two primary nesting grounds: mangrove estuaries in El Salvador and Nicaragua. Local stakeholders, in this study referred to as fishers, hold expert knowledge they have acquired both experientially and culturally. Using TOV to shape PAR, we invited stakeholders to use their fishers’ ecological knowledge (FEK) to enhance conservation of this at-risk species. Our results demonstrate that in addition to using FEK to produce quantifiable data (e.g., turtle habitat use), there are four advantages to emphasizing voice throughout a PAR project: 1) provides locality-specific information, 2) enhances mutual learning and leadership, 3) incorporates local experience, knowledge, and creativity, and 4) encourages local participation and commitment to the conservation challenge.

Testing fisher-developed alternatives to fishery management tools for community support and regulatory effectiveness

This research develops a methodology to evaluate public support for fishing regulations, comparing existing regulations designed without much public input, to possible alternative regulations based fishers' ecological knowledge (FEK) and preferences. First, a survey and open-ended interview was completed with 42 fishers in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands (33% of the total number of currently registered commercial fishers on island) regarding general matters of fishery health and productivity, with heightened focus on the management of a mutton snapper (Lutjanus analis) spawning aggregation. The interview results suggest that fishers view management tools in terms of spatial and temporal parameters, and how much those regulations influence gear selection. Fishers respond primarily to socioeconomic pressures, but recognize and support ecological goals of regulations, particularly those that provide protections to important stocks throughout their spawning season. A Discrete Choice Model (DCM) was developed based on the results of the fisher surveys and was administered to 182 individuals, including 54 residents of St. Croix and all 42 fishers interviewed. Eight DCM options were presented to respondents who selected their regulatory preference in a pair-wise fashion. In seven of eight pairs, public respondents selected fisher-preferred, FEK-based regulatory frameworks. These results suggest FEK can be used to develop fishery regulations that will meet management goals, and be broadly supported by both members of the fishing community and the general public. In this manner, ecosystem-based management frameworks can be improved by incorporating fishers and their FEK, particularly for small-scale fisheries.

Using a coupled behavior-economic model to reduce uncertainty and assess fishery management in a data-limited, small-scale fishery

This paper examines how fishers' ecological knowledge (FEK) and the analysis of their decision-making process can be used to help managers anticipate fisher behavior and thus be able to efficiently allocate scarce resources for monitoring and enforcement. To examine determinants of fisher behaviors, this study develops a coupled behavior-economic model examining how physical, market, and regulatory forces affect commercial fishers' choice of fishing grounds in a small-scale fishery (SSF) in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. The model estimates that fishing operations land $396±110 per trip (mean±1 SD; n=427 trips), with the highest value in landings arriving from Lang Bank. The model explains 62% of the variation in fishers' choice to fish at Lang Bank, the most productive, yet farthest fishing grounds. The coupled behavioral–economic model is focused on the small temporal and spatial scales of fishing effort and FEK in an SSF. Therefore the model can be used to predict how a range of physical and regulatory conditions and changes in demand will drive overall (fleet) fishing effort allocation in space and time. By illustrating and quantifying these social–ecological causes and effects, the model can assist managers to efficiently allocate limited monitoring and enforcement resources.

Using fishers’ ecological knowledge to assess the status and cultural importance of sawfish in Guinea‐Bissau

Abstract Sawfishes have declined dramatically in West Africa and may be extinct throughout much of their historical range. Guinea‐Bissau is considered to be one of the last remaining places in West Africa where sawfish persist. Fishers’ ecological knowledge (FEK) can provide valuable baseline data, which can be used to direct scientific studies, in situations where information is scarce or lacking and can also provide insight into local attitudes towards species of interest. Interview surveys were used to collect FEK data on the past and current range of sawfishes within Guinea‐Bissau waters, perceived causes of the decline amongst fishermen, and the cultural importance of this species to Bissau‐Guineans. Data were collected from 274 respondents, of whom 85% could identify a sawfish from an image. The majority of respondents reported to have last seen a sawfish in the 1980s, although this varied considerably by region, and 30% of respondents in the south had seen or captured sawfishes in the past decade up to and including 2012. Overfishing or excessive fishing pressure was most frequently cited as a perceived cause for the decline in sawfish, followed by shark finning and overseas fishermen. The sawfish is primarily of cultural importance in the Bijagos Islands, where it is central to many traditional ceremonies. This information provides valuable insight into the cultural importance of sawfish to Bissau‐Guineans and their concerns in relation to the sustainability of their local fishery resources. Information on recent catches will be useful for directing future work to locate and protect remaining sawfish in Guinea‐Bissau. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Proving Fishers Right. Effects of the Integration of Experience-Based Knowledge in Ecosystem-Based Management

This article discusses effects of and drivers behind the current integration of experience-based knowledge in management. The case in point is production and integration of fishers' ecological knowledge (FEK) in coastal zone management in Norway. The article discusses how the principles of social justice and protection of biodiversity drive FEK integration, through analysing a case of conflict between small-scale fishers and cod farming in Storfjord, northern Norway. The case became known for the appearance of deformed “monster cod” which supported the fishers' claims that fish farming was harmful to the environment and thus also to the indigenous Sami culture. Assessing how FEK was judged in terms of its credibility, legitimacy and saliency, the article argues that the criteria by which FEK is judged are different from how other types of policy-relevant knowledge is judged. In addition to being scientifically credible, its quality as age-old knowledge derived from interaction with the environment increases its influence on management decisions in biodiversity conservation controversies where fishers' and managers' interests coincide. The article concludes that integration of FEK in management both fulfils goals of protection of biodiversity and social justice, which makes it harder to ignore in socially and environmentally controversial contexts in the future.

A method for assessing fishers’ ecological knowledge as a practical tool for ecosystem-based fisheries management: Seeking consensus in Southeastern Brazil

Studies on fishers’ ecological knowledge (FEK) and local ecological knowledge (LEK) have rarely been undertaken for practical application in a management context. Here, we describe a methodology to access FEK that was designed under an ecosystem-based fisheries management framework. The procedure was adapted from the Delphi technique, which seeks experts’ consensus, and focused on several spatial and temporal issues related to the small-scale fisheries of the northern coast of São Paulo, Brazil (particularly, in Ubatuba, between 23°20′ S and 23°35′ S). Experienced fishers, considered as experts, were selected during a pilot phase to participate in two sequential rounds of semi-structured interviews at 3 main landing sites and 12 coastal fishing communities. The issues addressed were: (1) spatial and seasonal occurrence of mature females and juveniles of the main commercial species, (2) fishing grounds and bycatch species for each type of fishing gear, and (3) fishers’ suggestions for local fisheries management (e.g. mesh and size of gillnets, closure seasons, gear restrictions by fishing area). It was possible to identify consensus rates on the spatial and temporal issues, as well as on fishers’ management suggestions. The former allowed the construction of maps representing fishing grounds and the local spatial distribution of different fishery stocks strata. We illustrate the output by focusing on five fishery stocks: the seabob-shrimp Xiphopenaeus kroyeri, the whitemouth croaker Micropogonias furnieri, the inshore squid Loligo spp, the white shrimp Litopenaeus schimitti and the blue runner Caranx crysos. Overall, the results provided new guidelines for future local fisheries management and conservation initiatives. The methodology proved to be useful for the definition of essential fish habitats (EFHs), suggesting their potential application in other locations.

“It's About Seeing What's Actually Out There”: Quantifying fishers' ecological knowledge and biases in a small-scale commercial fishery as a path toward co-management

As fishery science continues to make strides toward stakeholder-inclusive, co-management styles of fishery management, there remain concerns on how the participation of commercial fishers affects the direction of regulations, particularly where perceptions of fisher bias and self-interest dominate. Fishers, particularly in small-scale, artisanal fisheries, possess valuable fishers' ecological knowledge (FEK) on the status and trends of their resources and can provide valuable input during regulatory negotiations. FEK provides a second source of ecosystem information, and can be applied to management where other forms of data may be absent or difficult to regularly obtain through traditional research and monitoring approaches. The Q-Method was used to measure the subjective behaviors and biases of 42 commercial fishers and 54 island residents representing other stakeholder groups in St. Croix, United States Virgin Islands. This research shows that commercial fishers possess a unique, biased perspective that is identifiable against other stakeholder groups when issues of how best to manage the island's fishery resources arise. Within the commercial fishing community, a range of perspectives also exist, from those skeptical of management and discount concerns of unsustainable fishing effort to those who recognize the need for locally-appropriate management and consider their own involvement in management meetings to be instrumental in developing any such measures. By tapping into FEK, fishing behavior, and stakeholder biases, management decisions become more informed and opportunities to develop co-management increase. Such engagement efforts are particularly relevant for data-poor fisheries. FEK provides an alternate path from which to more fully understand fishery health and trends, thereby establishing the foundation from which locally appropriate and supported fishery management can form. FEK can also act as a bridge by managers to more fully invest in relationships and partnerships with the fishing community, thereby strengthening the fishers' sense of “ownership” of an otherwise common-pool resource, and allowing for the development of adaptive co-management opportunities that address the immediate needs of the fishery.