Fishery System Research Articles

Real time Cloud based fishes health monitoring using IoT.

This work is based on a prototype model for the Fishery Management System with the help of Internet of Things i.e., IOT. The proposed system works on IOT & provides real-time monitoring of the fishery system. With the help of various hardware & software devices like Sensors & the Arduino Cloud, data from the fishery system can be collected and analysed using the Cloud which also helps in maintenance of the fishes from time to time. This also helps in creating awareness about the fish whenever necessary. Along with IOT, Water Level Sensor, Temperature Sensor & pH Sensor is also used to measure the water level, temperature level and get the pH values in the system. The system can be made automatic as well as configured according to the requirement for the survival of the fishes. The Node MCU ESP8266 helps in collecting the information through the sensors & display it in the Cloud which can be accessed from Smartphones, PCs, and Tablets etc.

Connectivity of the social-ecological system of the blue swimming crab fisheries in Rembang

Abstract The management of blue swimming crabs requires several aspects to be considered, such as social and ecological aspects for the sustainability of small crab fisheries. Fishery management is currently still focused on economic interests, so if this is allowed to continue, it will result in ecosystem degradation. This study aims to determine the components of the social-ecological system of the blue swimming crab fishery and the interrelationships of the crab management factors in Lasem District, especially in Gedongmulyo Village, Rembang from March to June 2023 using a purposive sampling method, including socio-economic data and fishermen’s interviews. Analysis of social-ecological connectivity including resource systems (RG), resource units (RU), resource actors (RA), and resource governance (RG) subsystems, and analyzes management variables using the participatory prospective analysis (PPA) method. The results show the connectivity of the social ecological system of the blue swimming crab fishery in Lasem between Resource Actors and Resource Systems, Resource Units, and Resource Governance. While Resource Governance is negatively related to the Resource System. Re-education about the regulations for the use of non-environmentally friendly fishing gear, the impact on the environment, and fishermen’s awareness of the need to comply with these regulations needs to be carried out.

Social-ecological system (SES) mapping of spiny lobster (Panulirus sp.) fisheries in Nasal Coastal Water, Bengkulu

Abstract Nasal coast is one of the areas with a fishing sector that includes lobster fishing and falls under the Indonesian Fisheries Management Area 572 (IFMA 572). However, little information on lobster fishery system in this area. This research aims to map the social-ecological system (SES) for the pronghorn spiny lobster (Panulirus penicillatus) in Nasal District, Kaur Regency, Bengkulu. This study conducted from November 2022 to February 2023 using a social-ecological system (SES) approach. The study refers that there are 34 nodes and 55 edges in the lobster fisheries connectivity parameter. The main elements in the lobster fisheries network are fishermen, fishing activity, weather, cost, fishing season, water quality, lobster, catch per unit effort, macro collectors, revenue, and catch. Those components are important in the dynamics of the SES lobster fisheries network (Panulirus spp.) in the coastal waters of Nasal District.

A bioeconomic model for a multispecies small-scale fishery system

A fishery encompasses various interconnected systems, including ecological, socioeconomic, and governing systems. Managing fisheries requires the simultaneous consideration of all these systems, making it a challenging endeavor. To address these challenges, fisheries bioeconomic models have emerged as a crucial tool. They are particularly valuable in the context of small-scale fisheries, which are often complex, overlooked and poorly understood. Thus, this paper presents a dynamic multispecies and multigear bioeconomic model that can illuminate the ecological, economic, and social dimensions of small-scale fisheries under different management scenarios. The model was applied to a small-scale fisheries system in Southern Brazil that has as a notable feature a cooperative fishing behavior between dolphins and fishers. Three scenarios were explored: the base scenario (status quo), the optimal management scenario, and the constrained optimal management scenario. The model outputs demonstrated a clear tradeoff between labour effort, species conservation, and economic rent. Shifting from the base to an optimal management scenario would result in a labour employment reduction within the system but concurrently yield higher stock levels, economic rent, and wages. These results illustrate how our model can explore critical management scenarios across the multiple dimensions of fisheries systems. In essence, this research offers a novel contribution in the form of a bioeconomic model tailored for small-scale fisheries involving multiple species.

The use of conceptual models to structure stock assessments: A tool for collaboration and for “modelling what to model”

Conceptual models are simplified representations of the main components and processes of a dynamic system, the mechanisms by which they are related, and the ways they are observed (i.e., the data generating processes). Constructing a conceptual model (CM) should be the first step when planning a new stock assessment or updating previous assessments, because it can improve the modelling process by guiding the workflow and “modelling what to model”. CMs should be built by summarizing information about a system while also proposing hypotheses or assumptions about the uncertainties and unknown aspects. Several steps are necessary to build a CM: 1) gather known information about the species and the fisheries that interact with it, 2) state the objectives of the stock assessment, 3) define the spatial scale, 4) define the temporal scale, and 5) outline components and processes of the system (biological, fisheries and observation processes) and what drives them. Initial draft CMs should be based on the best available science and constructed using the fundamental principles of ecology, socioecology, fisheries and other relevant sciences. CMs offer a framework for integrating knowledge across domains, and benefit from an elicitation process. The elicitation process is a set of deliberate activities (e.g., workshops) that allow other experts and relevant parties to contribute with their knowledge to enrich draft CMs. CMs are not static entities but rather dynamic constructs that can identify future research directions and evolve to incorporate new insights and knowledge. Fisheries systems for highly migratory pelagic species in the Pacific Ocean (north Pacific Albacore tuna, eastern Pacific Dorado, and south Pacific Swordfish) are used as examples to illustrate how to develop CMs, and demonstrate improvements to the subsequent assessment models following development of the CMs.

Integrating the water-energy-food nexus and LCA + DEA methodology for sustainable fisheries management: A case study of Cantabrian fishing fleets

The fishing sector constitutes an important source of economic revenue in northern Spain. In this context, various research studies have focused on the application of the five-step Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) and Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) methodology to quantify environmental impacts of fishing systems. However, some of them have used environmental indicators that focus on individual environmental issues, hindering the goal of achieving integrated resource management. Therefore, in this study, the Water-Energy-Food (WEF) Nexus is employed as an integrative perspective that considers the synergies and trade-offs between carbon footprint, energy requirements, and water demand.The main objective of this study is to evaluate the operational efficiency and environmental impacts of Cantabrian fishing fleets. To this end, the combined use of LCA and DEA, along with the WEF Nexus, was applied to the Cantabrian purse seine fleet. DEA matrices were generated using the LCA-derived WEF nexus values as inputs to calculate efficiency scores for each vessel. Subsequently, based on the efficiency projections provided by the DEA model, a new impact assessment was performed to understand the eco-efficiency and potential environmental benefits of operating at higher levels of efficiency within this fleet.The average efficiency of the fleet was above 60 %. Inefficient units demonstrated a greater potential to reduce their environmental impacts (up to 65 %) by operating according to efficiency projections. Furthermore, the results revealed a strong dependence of environmental impacts on one of the operational inputs, i.e., fuel consumption. These findings highlight the significance of embracing holistic approaches that combine technical, economic, and social factors to achieve a sustainable balance in fisheries systems. In this regard, the five-step LCA + DEA method applied in conjunction with the WEF Nexus emerged as a suitable tool for measuring operational and environmental objectives.

A climate vulnerability assessment of the fish community in the Western Baltic Sea

Marine fisheries are increasingly impacted by climate change, affecting species distribution and productivity, and necessitating urgent adaptation efforts. Climate vulnerability assessments (CVA), integrating expert knowledge, are vital for identifying species that could thrive or suffer under changing environmental conditions. This study presents a first CVA for the Western Baltic Sea's fish community, a crucial fishing area for Denmark and Germany. Characterized by a unique mix of marine, brackish, and freshwater species, this coastal ecosystem faces significant changes due to the combined effects of overfishing, eutrophication and climate change. Our CVA involved a qualitative expert scoring of 22 fish species, assessing their sensitivity and exposure to climate change. Our study revealed a dichotomy in climate change vulnerability within the fish community of the Western Baltic Sea because traditional fishing targets cod and herring as well as other species with complex life histories are considered to face increased risks, whereas invasive or better adaptable species might thrive under changing conditions. Our findings hence demonstrate the complex interplay between life-history traits and climate change vulnerability in marine fish communities. Eventually, our study provides critical knowledge for the urgent development of tailored adaptation efforts addressing existing but especially future effects of climate change on fish and fisheries in the Western Baltic Sea, to navigate this endangered fisheries systems into a sustainable future.

Social sustainability in Bangladesh marine fisheries management: A case from Hatiya fishing community

Social sustainability in fisheries focuses on retaining or improving societal welfare in the fishery system without threatening its long-term financial benefits and socio-cultural welfare. However, often social sustainability issues are ignored while implementing any fisheries management actions rather than only focusing on economic and environmental sustainability issues. This study assesses the social sustainability in Bangladesh marine fisheries management gaining insights from the coastal and marine fisheries-dependent communities of Hatiya Upazila in 2021–2022 using a mixed method approach especially focusing on the social issues during the marine fishing ban. Results have shown positive effects on fish production but negative implications on the socio-economic circumstances of the reliant households after the implementation of the marine fishing ban. During the ban, the ability of around 33 % of fisher households to have 3 meals a day has drastically reduced to 2 or 1 meal per day. Households' average fish intake has reduced from 7 kg to 4 kg per week during the ban. Similarly, there have been detrimental effects on family relationships, healthcare access and children's education during the ban. Moreover, pregnant women and children have suffered greatly from protein deficiencies as fishers could not buy protein-rich foods for their families during the ban. Due to the shortage of alternate income-generating activities (AIGAs), almost 71 % of fishers became indebted during the ban. To assist the fishers during the ban, the government has implemented several measures, such as offering incentives (40 kg of rice per registered fisherman per month) and/or AIGA but those are too scant to recompense for the loss that is incurred due to the fishing ban. Finally, this study provides some way forward to bring social sustainability that is affected due to the marine fishing ban as well as to partly meet the targets of Sustainable Development Goals 1, 2, 14 and 15.

Smart measurement and monitoring system for aquaculture fisheries with IoT-based telemetry system

The instrumentation design of an online monitoring device for aquaculture media is discussed in this article. The main processor in this internet of things (IoT) real-time telemetry system is an ESP32 board. Temperature, acidity level, conductivity level, dissolved oxygen (DO) level, and degree of oxygen reduction in the water were the aquaculture parameters measured. The ESP32 collects data from each sensor, groups it into a dataset, displays it on the LCD, saves it to the SD card, and then uploads it to the real-time database. In addition, an Android application is being developed for users. This device has been tested to ensure that each measured parameter is accurate and precise. The accuracy test, one of the major results of laboratory scale tests, demonstrates that each parameter has a different measurement error that represents with average error absolute. Six tested sensors/instruments were subjected to the test. Average absolute error for temperature sensor is +0.76%, pH sensor is +1.52%, electrical conductivity (EC) sensor is +10.8%, oxidation reduction potential (ORP) sensor is +14.6%, DO sensor is +9.3%, and total dissolve solids (TDS) sensor is +13.2%. This device is very dependable and convenient for monitoring the condition of aquaculture media in real-time and accurately.

Governing the global fisheries commons

Despite significant advances in understanding the biophysical and institutional causes of overfishing, we have yet to make progress in addressing the depletion of our global fisheries stock. Investigations of potential solutions tend to be too broad (mischaracterizing global fisheries as a singular commons problem to be addressed at the supranational level) or too narrow (focusing on improving management of small fisheries at the micro level). This article attempts to bridge the gap between our scientific understanding of our collective dilemmas and their pragmatic solutions. Building on insights from Nobel laureate Elinor Ostrom, we frame the depletion of global fisheries as a nested set of diverse and interconnected collective action problems organized at different horizontal and vertical levels, where decisions and actions of one jurisdictional unit reinforce and amplify problems (and solutions) for other units. We examine features of the global fisheries system, such as nonstationarity, nestedness, and prohibitive transaction costs. Then, we explore some potential solutions. The success of our conservation goals depends on our ability to craft institutional rules at the lower levels that are adaptive to local conditions, address incentive misalignment issues, and allow for the transfer of positive externalities to adjacent and higher levels.

Examining the emerging quota transfer system for Japanese Pacific bluefin tuna fisheries through social network analysis

Examining the emerging quota transfer system for Japanese Pacific bluefin tuna fisheries through social network analysis

Ecological implications of unintentional aquaculture escapees: an overview of risks, remediation strategies and knowledge gaps in the aquaculture sector of India and riparian East African countries

The global expansion of aquaculture has driven significant technological advancements, including raceways, Integrated Multitrophic Aquaculture (IMTA) and marine offshore cages. However, unregulated aquaculture escapees pose a severe threat to aquatic biodiversity, acting as a potential time bomb for the entire ecosystem. Addressing this issue requires a comprehensive understanding of the impact of unintentional escapees on aquatic ecosystems, particularly in India and riparian East African countries (Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania). Using an exploratory research design drawing from various peer-reviewed sources, this study outlines the dynamic growth of aquaculture in these countries, identifies high-impact escape incidents, and correlates risks and remedies with global cases, especially in regions such as Norway, Scotland, Ireland, Colombia, and the United States, where serious incidents of aquaculture escapees have been reported. The research categorizes aquaculture development trends, discusses mechanisms of escapee impact, proposes remedies, assesses methods and inferential strength, and highlights gaps in the existing literature. The study revealed complex ecological shifts caused by aquaculture escapees from invasive non-native fish species, affecting predation, competition, and genetic diversity. Escaped fish from aquaculture facilities pose a significant threat to aquatic biodiversity, especially in the study regions. The escalating risk of unintentional escapes was highlighted in India and three East African countries. To mitigate this, the study proposes integrating escapee management into national fisheries systems, amending fisheries laws, holding fish farmers accountable for aquaculture system failure, and developing comprehensive regulations for non-native species in aquaculture within the study regions. It is recommended to standardize the planning for aquaculture facilities and implement emergency plans, training, local mobilization and further research on the impact thresholds of aquaculture escapees in the study regions. Ecological education in aquaculture communities and the recognition of the role of translational scientists are crucial for the dissemination of knowledge. Urgent government action is needed to address unreported aquaculture escapes, preventing further ecosystem degradation and ensuring global aquaculture sustainability.

New directions for Indigenous and local knowledge research and application in fisheries science: Lessons from a systematic review

AbstractSocial‐ecological systems like fisheries provide food, livelihoods and recreation. However, lack of data and its integration into governance hinders their conservation and management. Stakeholders possess site‐specific knowledge crucial for confronting these challenges. There is increasing recognition that Indigenous and local knowledge (ILK) is valuable, but structural differences between ILK and quantitative archetypes have stalled the assimilation of ILK into fisheries management, despite acknowledged bias and uncertainty in scientific methods. Conducting a systematic review of fisheries‐associated ILK research (n = 397 articles), we examined how ILK is accessed, applied, distributed across space and species, and has evolved. We show that ILK has generated qualitative, semi‐quantitative and quantitative information for diverse taxa across 98 countries. Fisheries‐associated ILK research mostly targets small‐scale and artisanal fishers (70% of studies) and typically uses semi‐structured interviews (60%). We revealed large variability in sample size (n = 4–7638), predicted by the approach employed and the data generated (i.e. qualitative studies target smaller groups). Using thematic categorisation, we show that scientists are still exploring techniques, or ‘validating’ ILK through comparisons with quantitative scientific data (20%), and recording qualitative information of what fishers understand (40%). A few researchers are applying quantitative social science methods to derive trends in abundance, catch and effort. Such approaches facilitate recognition of local insight in fisheries management but fall short of accepting ILK as a valid complementary way of knowing about fisheries systems. This synthesis reveals that development and increased opportunities are needed to bridge ILK and quantitative scientific data.

Building stewardship capacity through fishers’ knowledge and advocacy in fisheries management: a case study from Southeast Alaska

Local environmental stewardship supports resilience of social-ecological systems through a wide range of actions that benefit both environmental and human wellbeing. Stewardship actions of harvesters have been recognized as an important component in building adaptive capacity of coastal fisheries undergoing change. In Southeast Alaska, where commercial fishing plays a key role in cultures and economies, concerns for local fisheries have arisen from declines in salmon returns, high price variability, and barriers to participation, among other issues. Here, we aimed to understand existing and potential pathways for stewardship actions of small-boat commercial fishers in Juneau, Alaska. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 22 commercial fishers, agency staff, and leaders of seafood associations to document fisher-led stewardship actions and ways that small-boat commercial fishers engage formally and informally with local management, explore the role of fishery management agencies in facilitating collaboration and communication with fishers in the Juneau area, and understand local perspectives on how the stewardship capacities of the fishery system can be better supported. We found that multiple pathways for stewardship exist in commercial salmon and shellfish fisheries, including formal and informal interactions with state fishery management staff and decision-makers, participation in fishing associations and advocacy organizations, knowledge sharing among fishers, and taking personal conservation actions to care for fisheries. We identified areas of relatively low social, financial, and institutional capital that may limit the effectiveness of these stewardship actions. Our findings highlight diverse perspectives of fishery participants on how these stewardship actions might be better supported through policy, advocacy, and collaboration.

Charles, A. 2023. Sustainable fishery systems (second edition)

Charles, A. 2023. Sustainable fishery systems (second edition)

Mud Crab Fishery in Hoat Sorbay, Kei Kecil Island, Eastern Indonesia: Traditional management and adjustment to intervening regulations

Local communities who live along the coast and have used marine resources for their livelihoods for generations certainly have a resource management and utilization system that was formed as a result of their interactions with and understanding of their aquatic environment. This research focuses on mud crab fishing among the Evu people occupying the shores of Hoat Sorbay Bay on Kei Kecil Island, and how they deal with market, state, and NGO intervention in their traditional harvesting system. Field data were obtained through observation of crab fishing activities in mangrove areas, interviews with mud crab fishers, and examination of documents regarding crab regulation. The result shows that even though mud crab fishing activities are still carried out following traditional practices and strategies based on knowledge passed down from their elders, the fishers also adjust to external requirements of changing market demands and conservation issues by incorporating them into their fishery system.

A systemic approach to analyzing post-collapse adaptations in the Bay of Biscay anchovy fishery

The Bay of Biscay anchovy fishery system has undergone important transformations following a closure from 2005 to 2010. Through a multidisciplinary and systemic approach, combining analyses of fisheries and market data with interviews with key stakeholders, we analyze adaptive responses of the main system components in France and Spain, considering how the fishing sector and fishery management institutions have adapted to changes. Focusing on the question “what has been lost and gained following the collapse?”, we find that while the anchovy stock has recovered, the fishery system has not returned to its pre-collapse status with important socio-economic features having been lost. We highlight the need for holistic consideration of multiple system components and diverse stakeholders’ perspectives. The perceived losses and gains from the anchovy fishery collapse and aftermath are found to vary across the players in the fishery system, depending as well on the management objectives and scales being considered. Such retrospective analysis can serve as a basis for understanding the long-term responses to social-ecological changes in fisheries and identifying the role of governance mechanisms in supporting adaptations that maintain sustainable fishery systems in the face of future potential shocks.

MAPPING EFFECTIVE MULTI REGIONAL TREATIES ON BLUE ECONOMY

Indonesia as an archipelago with more than 17,000 islands, has a unique geographical and great potential as a maritime country. Primarily, Indonesia's efforts to realize sustainable fisheries is by promoting and implementing the ASEAN Blue Economy Framework as one of the country's economic deliverables. Furthermore, among the various measures and policies that have been set by the Indonesian government, measurable fishing is a breakthrough in fostering the marine and fisheries sector and specifically regulating the blue economy. In the context of international trade, Indonesia has also made several efforts including the implementation of measured quotas and sustainable certification. Quotas and certification are two ways to resolve the issue of legality. Even so, illegal fishing is still a major challenge in the framework of sustainability. One of the main goals that Indonesia can set to ensure its involvement and leadership in ASEAN maritime connectivity is the construction of a national sustainable fisheries system, that is specifically related to the implementation strategy of sustainability commitment, that serves as a pioneer/pioneer of similar systems in the regional arena.

Adaption planning to climate change in industrial fisheries: Progress in the Basque tropical tuna fishery

Climate change impacts on ocean living organisms and ecosystems have flow-on effects on fisheries and their associated values. Industrial fisheries operate long distance fleets that potentially have the capacity to respond to such impacts by using technology and changing the timing and distribution of fishing effort. However, long-term adaptation to climate change in industrial fisheries entails larger structural changes that include adaptive management and international cooperation, where actors beyond the industry need to be engaged. How industrial fisheries are tackling adaptation to climate change is largely unknown, as is the role that actors in these systems undertake. In this study, we explored the Basque tropical tuna fishery to understand past and projected adaptation actions by each of the main actors in the fishery. We performed in-depth interviews with high-level representatives from 65% of the fishing industry, governments, research bodies, and non-governmental organizations of the Basque tropical tuna freezer purse seine fishery operating in the central-eastern Atlantic Ocean. We found that the fishery system has engaged in adaptation actions that seek to improve fishery sustainability, and that most adaptation actions are undertaken by the fishing industry. We also found that actors promote several types of adaptation actions such as practice change, and capacity building, among others, and that there is a lack of joint adaptation planning. We discuss the challenge in identifying suitable adaptation options to promote resilient and sustainable fisheries and to avoid losing their associated values.

Analysis of carbon emission drivers and peak carbon forecasts for island economies

Sea islands are an essential support for expanding the blue economic space, and the study of the carbon emissions of Changhai County's island economies and their carbon peaking time is of great significance for achieving the goal of building an ecological low-carbon demonstration island with northern characteristics in Changhai County. In this study, the Logarithmic Mean Divisia Index (LMDI) method was used to explore the three main drivers affecting the carbon emissions of the island economies in Changhai County. The carbon emissions of Changhai County in 2012–2019 were estimated through the system dynamics model. The low-carbon development path and possible carbon peak time of Changhai County in 2020–2035 were predicted. The results show that: ①The urban system is the first positive driver of carbon emissions, followed by the residential system, and finally, the fishery system, the energy structure effect is the main positive driving effect affecting carbon emissions, and the population effect always shows a negative inhibitory impact on carbon emissions. ②The activities on the islands of Changhai County in 2012–2019 cumulatively produced 167.53 × 104 t of carbon emissions, 46.83 × 104 t of carbon sinks, and their net carbon emissions were 120.69 × 104 t. The results of the future scenario projections show that neither non-intervention nor a single policy of only adjusting land use and transport can achieve minor carbon emissions and that the best path for future low-carbon development in Changhai County is to develop all kinds of activities in a low-carbon (L) mode. ④Among the future forecast scenarios, Scenario 5 is an ideal model for the fastest way to achieve carbon peak, which generates 318.39 × 104 t of carbon emissions, and the cumulative emission reduction reaches 26.37 × 104 t.