Industrial Fisheries Research Articles

Sharks and batoids (Subclass Elasmobranchii) caught in the industrial fisheries off the Brazilian North coast

The Brazilian North coastline comprises a total area of approximately 223,000 km2, representing one of the world’s most essential fishing grounds. Availability of data on the diversity of fishes caught in the industrial fishery trawlers in the region are usually limited to the commercially important and targeted species. Knowledge gaps on the related marine fish fauna are eminent, which hamper both fisheries and conservation efforts of the local biodiversity. A comprehensive taxonomic list of elasmobranch species captured off the North coast from Brazil through industrial trawl fishery is provided. Trawling operations acting regionally included pink-shrimp and several fish (outrigger trawling) and piramutaba catfish (pair trawlers). Sixty-eigth elasmobranch species belonging to 20 families and nine orders were recorded for this region, according to fish collection, fishery observer and literature data. Thirty-two are by-catch species caught in the local trawl operations, including endemic and rare species as well as four new records and one possible undescribed species of electric ray.

Population estimate and identification of major conservation threats for the river dolphin (Inia geoffrensis humboldtiana) at the Colombian Orinoquia

South American sub-continent, housed the largest diversity of river dolphins on the planet, here there are two species in the genus Sotalia and three species in the genus Inia. Tonina, present on the Orinoco basin, are expose to many different anthropogenic threats, such as: the fragmentation and loss of aquatic ecosystems; acoustic contamination; risk of collision with boats; entanglement; deaths by retaliation, resulting from biological and operational interactions with artisanal and industrial fisheries; biomagnification of heavy metals such as mercury in the aquatic trophic web; capture of individuals for their usage as bait for the fishery of Calophysus macropterus, primarily on borderline localities between Colombia and Venezuela; and finally, the negative effects of climate change. We conducted a study to determine population sizes and anthropogenic threats affecting river dolphins populations during the beginning of high-water season, between November 2018 and February of 2019, along 1,402 km. We calculated the degradation index for streams of continental waters and density of the river dolphins. Water quality, habitat transformation, species exploitation, and the increment in number of human settlements were identified as the main conservation stressor in the analyzed area. We obtained density values by habitat type for different aquatic environments and population sizes for river dolphins and the value in the index of degradation, with a potential increment in value through time. River confluences were identified as priority areas for the conservation of the species. Water quality, habitat modification, and species exploitation were particularly intense. Our results highlight a potential transformation of the ideal conditions that allow for the establishment of the species, explaining its distribution with predicted values between 46.6 % and 70.1 % for the evaluated timeframe due to the effects of climate change on aquatic ecosystems. The Meta River, has the highest value for the index of freshwater ecosystems degradation followed by the Orinoco basin, water quality and species exploitation appear to be the major stressors for dolphins in these areas. Finally, river confluences were identified as conservation hot spots for dolphin populations. We point out on the importance of river dolphins as bioindicator, sentinel species, and one of the most susceptible to the negative effects of climate change.

Catching industrial fishing incursions into inshore waters of Africa from space

AbstractSmall‐scale fisheries contribute substantially to the sustainability of coastal communities by providing livelihood and economic opportunities and ensuring food security. However, their geographic range of operation overlaps with that of industrial fisheries, increasing the resource competition, risk of vessel collision and inter‐sector conflicts, while jeopardizing the sustainability of fish stocks. When industrial vessels venture into waters that are reserved to artisanal fisheries, their operations become illegal. In Africa, the extent of such operations, beyond their legal implications, has resulted in severe economic, food security and maritime safety issues. In this paper, we use automatic identification system data derived from satellite technology to predict fishing operations and find that industrial fleets spend 3%–6% of their time fishing within inshore areas reserved for small‐scale fisheries between 2012 and 2016, of the total 4.2 million industrial fishing hours within the Exclusive Economic Zones of African countries. We assessed the total fishing effort by this form of illegal fishing operations at 166 million kWhours at least out of 4.9 billion kWhours in total. We discuss this dangerous form of illegal fishing, which often results in deadly collisions with small‐scale sector operators, increases competition and conflicts over fisheries access, threatens the sustainability of fish stocks, and calls for better governance, and protection.

The current state of fishing and extracting the living aquatic resources in the Black Sea region of Ukraine

The development of open spaces and resources of the Black Sea is one of the main directions of the Black Sea region (the Odessa, Mykolaiv and Kherson regions). The essence of the region policy allows to cooperate with the most countries of the world community and brings an income both to the budget of the regions and to the state budget. Industrial fisheries is an extractive branch of the fishing industry that uses the natural resources of the oceans, seas, lakes, rivers, reservoirs: various species of fish, marine mammals, shellfish, crustaceans and aquatic vegetation. Fisheries can be considered as one type of nature using which consists in the extraction of fish and other sea products (fish, invertebrates, algae, etc.). The purpose of the work was to find out a current state of fishing and extracting the living aquatic resources in the Black Sea region, namely in the Odessa, Mykolaiv and Kherson regions. An assessment of a current state of extracting the aquatic bioresources in general and in the inland water bodies in the Black Sea region, namely in the Odessa, Mykolaiv and Kherson regions for the period from 2010 to 2018, was carried out on the basis of specialized literature. The state of extracting the aquatic bioresources in general and in the inland water bodies from 2010 to 2018; the amount of caught fish in this region; the state of fisheries of the studied region were investigated. Fish farming is a branch of the national economy that is engaged in farming, increasing and improving a quality of the fish stocks in the water bodies and filling the fish resources. In order to maintain and increase the stocks of valuable industrial fish in our country the extensive measures for artificial fish farming, improving the conditions of natural reproduction of fish, as well as the development of lake and pond fisheries for the commercial fish production are being taken. Much work is being done to acclimatize valuable industrial fish species and other fishing objects, aimed at expanding a fish species composition and increasing the fish stocks. It was found that according to the statistics of the State Statistics Committee of Ukraine, the analysis of the exraction of fish and aquatic biological resources in the Black Sea region (Odesa, Mykolaiv and Kherson regions) showed that an increase in the volume of fish catching and extracting the living aquatic resources occurred only due to inland waters.

Disentangling environmental from individual factors in isotopic ecology: A 17-year longitudinal study in a long-lived seabird exploiting the Canary Current

Abstract Despite its importance for ecology and conservation, we are still far from understanding how environmental variability interacts with intrinsic factors and individual specialization to determine trophic strategies of long-lived taxa, mostly due to difficulties in studying the same animals over extended periods. Here, by yearly consistently sampling the first primary feather of 99 Cory’s shearwaters (Calonectris borealis) foraging in the Canary Current (CC) upwelling ecosystem, we provide robust evidence on the individual changes of isotopic ratios of carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) over 17 years. We reported a slight longitudinal decline of δ13C values throughout 2001–2017, even after being adjusted for the marine Suess effect (linked to the increasing CO2 emissions). Although CC is often considered to be overexploited by industrial fisheries, we could not detect a decline in Cory’s shearwater trophic level indicating a change in the trophic web structuring, as revealed by δ15N. We found negative correlations of δ13C and δ15N with the CC upwelling intensity, indicating annual variability in baseline isotopic levels propagates through the food chain and it integrates in predators’ tissues. Low individual repeatabilities among years at population level indicates low long-term specialization, suggesting long-lived individuals foraging on highly productive areas can adjust their foraging strategies and diet according to environmental variability. However, individual-level repeatabilities in isotopic values showed a range of individual specialization within the population, indicating most individuals are generalist and a few of them highly specialized. First, although we found a clear influence of the upwelling intensity on the trophic ecology of birds, we could not detect any temporal trend in the trophic level of the Cory’s shearwater population, suggesting a stability in the structure of the pelagic food web of the CC over the last two decades despite the fishing pressure. Second, the existence of individual specialization highlights the importance of considering the repeated sampling of individuals to detect small changes in the trophic ecology of a population. Finally, the coexistence of individuals with different degree of specialization (from extremely flexible [generalists] to highly consistent individuals [specialists]) within a population can have deep implications on the capacity of populations to cope with environmental change.

Fisheries and conservation assessment of sharks in Pacific Panama

Abstract In Panama, shark fisheries were initially developed in the 1980s and progressively increased in production in the 1990s mainly due to the high demand for shark fins and meat from the international Asian market. Since then, and despite the exploitation rate (average 3,514 t year–1) and endangered status of some species, shark fisheries have seldom been studied, and official statistics are general or incomplete and not suitable for the development of appropriate conservation and management strategies. To understand the dynamics of shark fisheries in Panama, field surveys were conducted between 2007 and 2009 at several landing ports of small‐scale and industrial fisheries, at fish processing plants and on‐board fishing vessels in Pacific Panama, where most of the fishing vessels of the country operate. In general, it was found that the artisanal and industrial fisheries of the Pacific coast of Panama regularly exploit at least 18 species of sharks, which are also being exploited by neighbouring countries in the eastern Pacific, suggesting the importance of coordinated conservation initiatives across the multiple jurisdictions. A large number of the individuals caught were immature, implying a certain level of impact on recruitment rates. This pattern was particularly evident in species such as Sphyrna lewini, for which immature individuals represented at least 99% and 63% of the total catch by small‐scale and industrial fisheries, respectively. Catch per unit of effort analyses showed that Carcharhinus and Sphyrna species were the most exploited (representing ~80% of the catches) by industrial fisheries in Panama between 2006 and 2009, suggesting that fishery management should provide special attention to these groups. It is expected that the information presented here provides a baseline to develop new regulations, including the implementation of annual quotas and fishing seasons and the protection of nursery areas, for the long‐term sustainability and conservation of sharks in Panama.

Features of puberty in female African Clary catfish in high-tech industrial aquaculture

There is a growing interest in African Clary catfish as a perspective object of industrial fishery in the Russian aquaculture in the last decade. This interest is due to the high growth rate of Clary catfish, its delicious meat and valuable caviar. This species has multiport spawning, so it is possible to get caviar from catfish several times a year. However, in high-tech industrial system of fish breeding, biology of fishes is modified, so that the African Clary catfish loses the ability to reproduce and produce full roe. For reproduction and production of full roe in industrial aquaculture, artificial spawning technologies are used with the use of hormonal drugs that induce the maturation of reproductive cells. The study is devoted to the dynamics of puberty in female African Clary catfish to identify the starting age of its possible use in the reproductive process and in the production of caviar. The results showed that at the age of 8 months, the reproductive system of females reached maturity, females were able to reproduce posterity. However, its reproductive performance in this period, in particular caviar productivity, was very low. The age of 12 months can be considered the starting age for caviar production. Caviar productivity continued to grow, reaching a maximum at the age of 18-24 months, and depended on the weight of females. Working fertility of females and gonadosomatic index at the age of 12-24 months were characterized by increasing dynamics. The size and weight of oocytes during this period reached definitive sizes.

High genetic connectivity among pink shrimp Farfantepenaeus paulensis (Pérez-Farfante, 1967) groups along the south-southeastern coast of Brazil

The pink shrimp Farfantepenaeus paulensis is one of the most important fishing resources along the south-southeast coast of Brazil. Its fishing zone includes two main reproductive stocks, located at the coasts of Santa Catarina and São Paulo states. The species life cycle includes an offshore reproductive stage and juvenile recruitment to estuarine areas; therefore, adults are caught in oceanic areas by industrial fisheries and juveniles in estuarine areas by artisanal fisheries. The unrestricted growth of the industrial fleet, along with the increase of artisanal fishing in estuarine areas and the low effectiveness of fishery legislation, led to a collapse of the pink shrimp fishery in the late 1990s. The present work aimed to assess the population genetics of the pink shrimp F. paulensis throughout its main distribution in the Southwestern Atlantic (SWA), to verify whether different fishing stocks also represent different genetic stocks. Based on the evaluation of the mtDNA control region (D-loop), we detected high connectivity and absence of genetic structure among F. paulensis groups in the SWA. Fixation indexes, Analysis of Molecular Variance and a haplotype network also showed no significant genetic differences, with individuals sharing haplotypes among more than one region. Mismatch analysis showed unimodal distributions for all the sampled populations with high haplotype diversity and low nucleotide diversity, showing a pattern of recent demographic expansion, which was corroborated by the Tajima's D and Fu's Fs neutrality tests. Estimates of migration rates indicated high gene flow, with a large number of migrants exchanged between regions. All obtained results are consistent with a panmitic population of F. paulensis. This scenario is a result of a complex interaction of several factors, from the influence of currents on larval dispersal to the effect of overfishing. The knowledge on the diversity and genetic structure of F. paulensis is a fundamental part of the scientific basis necessary for decision makers to elaborate adequate management strategies for pink shrimp stocks.

Climate change, interspecific competition, and poleward vs. depth distribution shifts: Spatial analyses of the eastern Bering Sea snow and Tanner crab (Chionoecetes opilio and C. bairdi)

Snow crab (Chionoecetes opilio), an arctic species, and Tanner crab (C. bairdi), a subarctic species, support large-scale industrial fisheries in the eastern Bering Sea and are spatially overlapping congeneric species at the opposite boundaries of their distributional ranges in the eastern North Pacific. Using summer bottom trawl survey data from 1982 to 2017, spatial analyses and geostatistical regressions were conducted for each species for three population categories (immature females, oldshell mature females, and oldshell large males) to explore intra and interspecies differences in habitat and spatial distributions as well as interspecific spatial co-occurrence patterns. Variability in depth distributions rather than poleward distributional shifts may be a Tanner crab response to ocean warming, the apparent converse of snow crab. Both temperature and depth have strong effects on the Tanner crab distributions and 2 °C is an approximate minimum temperature threshold for Tanner crab habitat. 2 °C is an important maximum temperature threshold for immature female snow crab but temperature effects are weaker for adult snow crab. Snow crab ontogenetic movement results in loose coupling between settlement and adult habitat and in significant spatial overlap between older snow crab and Tanner crab. The similarity in spatial distributions and habitat of older snow crab with juvenile Tanner crab habitat and the predatory nature of snow suggest a possible regulatory role of snow crab on the northern extent of spatial distributions of Tanner crab, along with other possible factors such as groundfish predation. Snow crab distributions will most probably continue to shift northwards with warming ocean temperatures but a poleward shift for Tanner crab appears more uncertain. The utilities of comparing spatial and non-spatial models and accounting for spatial confounding in spatial regression modeling are also addressed.

Weak genetic structure despite strong genomic signal in lesser sandeel in the North Sea.

Sandeels are an ecologically important group of fishes; they are a key part of the food chain serving as food for marine mammals, seabirds and fish. Sandeels are further targeted by a large industrial fishery, which has led to concern about ecosystem effects. In the North Sea, the lesser sandeel Ammodytes marinus is by far the most prevalent species of sandeel in the fishery. Management of sandeel in the North Sea plus the Kattegat is currently divided into seven geographical areas, based on subtle differences in demography, population dynamics and results from simulations of larval dispersal. However, little is known about the underlying genetic population structure. In this study, we used 2,522 SNPs derived from restriction site‐associated DNA sequencing (RADseq) typed in 429 fish representing four main sandeel management areas. Our main results showed (a) a lack of a clear spatially defined genetic structure across the majority of genetic markers and (b) the existence of a group of at least 13 SNPs under strong linkage disequilibrium which together separate North Sea sandeel into three haplotype clusters, suggestive of one or more structural variants in the genome. Analyses of the spatial distribution of these putative structural variants suggest at least partial reproductive isolation of sandeel in the western management area along the Scottish coast, supporting a separate management. Our results highlight the importance of the application of a large number of markers to be able to detect weak patterns of differentiation. This study contributes to increasing the genetic knowledge of this important exploited species, and results can be used to improve our understanding of population dynamics and stock structure.

An integrated approach for the design of a marine protected area network applied to mainland Portugal

The high degree of marine habitat degradation and the depletion of marine resources has led to numerous calls and initiatives to increase the coverage of marine protected areas (MPAs). Currently, marine reserves (no-take areas) cover approximately 2.2% of the world's oceans whilst most calls and targets suggest protection levels should be between 20% and 30% in order to achieve both conservation and resource management objectives. In this study a systematic conservation planning framework was developed using ecological and socio-economic data. This framework was used to test different protection scenarios in Portugal. The current situation in mainland Portugal is alarming, with 0.2% of the waters under national jurisdiction included in MPAs and only 0.002% being marine reserves. Moreover, ecologically important habitats, such as seagrass beds and mäerl beds, have less than 10% of their area protected. The solutions provided by Marxan, and subsequently improved with MinPatch, revealed that there is a need to considerably increase the area under protection. However, adequate protection could be achieved with a number of MPAs (between 5 and 14) similar to the number of already existing MPAs (n = 8). Different stakeholders (artisanal fisheries, industrial fisheries, and other human uses such as oil and gas, and offshore aquaculture) were considered in different scenarios, with the results of the multivariate analysis indicating that there are several solutions that satisfy all stakeholders. Therefore, the results of this study are a valuable starting point for the ongoing implementation process of an MPA network in Portugal since they integrate the most important stakeholders whilst also taking in consideration the ecological aspects. This framework can be applied elsewhere and can be easily amended whenever new information is available.

Open Data Kit: Mobile Data Collection Framework For Developing Countries

To evaluate and improve the delivery of health care services and programs; to collect and share information on agro-biodiversity; to fill the gaps in the data of artisanal or industrial fisheries, the use of computer tools of data collection is a major asset. It is now obvious that most of these tools are difficult to use in developing countries. And this is because of the complexity of use, either because they are commercial solutions or simply because these tools require a stable internet connection. This study is the result of thorough research on Open Data Kit (ODK), a suite of tools fully compatible with the context of developing countries and fully open source software. This article traces the research work done for the design, implementation, and improvement of ODK. A description of the different ODK extensions that can be found in the literature is given in addition to the reasons that explain the success of ODK in developing countries. To highlight the utility of ODK, an analysis of the areas of use of ODK has been made. This analysis concludes that ODK is mainly used to improve the intervention effectiveness of health system agents in developing countries.

Status, Institutions, and Prospects for Global Capture Fisheries

We compile global data to examine the current status, trends, threats, and opportunities in the world's wild-capture fisheries. We find that global fisheries have largely diverged—well-managed, often industrial fisheries tend to be in reasonably good health, while coastal fisheries, often from low-governance regions, tend to be in poor health. Good governance seems to play a central role, and we summarize key findings from the literature on how effective fishery management can simultaneously increase food security, livelihoods, and conservation outcomes. Other solutions, such as marine protected areas and big data, can be useful but will not, by themselves, solve the main fishery challenges. We conclude by examining notorious threats, such as climate change and lack of governance on the high seas, and find that these can be largely neutralized with good fishery management, suggesting that overall, the future of wild fisheries can be bright with effective fishery management interventions.

Seasonal and interannual changes in reproductive parameters and eggs biochemical composition of the fishery resource Pleuroncodes monodon (Decapoda: Munididae) from the Humboldt Current System

Environmental variables are key drivers of reproductive traits in marine organisms, which can have significant economic consequences in commercial species. Pleuroncodes monodon is an important resource of the industrial fisheries’ fleet of the Humboldt Current System. This species is subject to seasonal variations in pivotal variables such as temperature and food availability, as well as, climatic events. We herein analyse the variations in reproductive parameters and in the eggs’ biochemical profiles in relation to environmental conditions. Differences in all studied parameters were found between 2014 and 2015. In 2015, fecundity (measured as total number of eggs) and protein content were higher than 2014, but lipid content showed the opposite pattern. Seasonal and interannual variations were also observed in the energy content per egg; whilst the brood energy content did not show seasonal or interannual variation. This information is of utmost importance for integrative management of this commercial good as the data measures dynamic variations in the species populations. Currently, this squat lobster is overexploit and so far, no seasonal nor interannual variations have been considered in its management plan. The present study provides evidences that the female lobsters need different management strategies to maintain sustainable fisheries of Concepcion, Chile.

DEVELOPMENT AND TESTING OF ALGORITHM FOR CALCULATION OF OPERATING PARAMETERS OF TRAWLING SYSTEMS

Numerical model of trawling system is developed on the base of equilibrium principle, using F.I. Baranov’s scheme of its power and geometric parameters interdependence. The model application to bottom trawling takes into account the effect of bottom grounds on the resistance force and expansion force of the trawling system. Algorithm is proposed for calculation of operating parameters of bottom and midwater trawls, with an operation to minimize the error of iteration. The model and the calculation algorithm were tested in MS Office Excel environment, using Visual Basic programming, and showed good convergence of the calculated and experimental data that indicates reliability of the model. This algorithm and the program for calculation of operating parameters could be used for trawl designing, in accounting surveys to determine the trawl opening, and in educational process for training the industrial fishery scholars.

Marine protected areas invaded by floating anthropogenic litter: An example from the South Pacific

Abstract Oceanic marine protected areas (MPAs) that are close to the litter accumulation zones in the subtropical gyres receive large amounts of plastic litter, both as micro‐ and as macroplastics. The macro‐litter accumulating on the islands in the Easter Island Ecoregion (Rapa Nui and Salas y Gómez) can be traced back to the high seas industrial fishery operating in the South Pacific. Seabirds nesting in the MPAs in the South Pacific are affected by both microplastic ingestion and macroplastic in their nests, but there was no evidence of entangled birds. Conservation of seabirds (and other species) in these oceanic MPAs requires efficient measures to reduce plastic contamination in the ocean. Observations made in the South Pacific coincide with those from other oceanic MPAs, calling for global actions.

La naturaleza social del conflicto por la competencia del recurso pesquero

<p>Recepción: 25/ 07/ 2019</p>
 <p>Aceptación: 15/ 08/ 2019</p>
 <p>Publicación: 05/ 09/2019</p>
 <p style="text-align: justify;">El documento analiza la afectación del recurso pesquero y los ecosistemas marinos como parte de un conflicto social, de carácter estructural, cuyo detonante son las relaciones sociales de producción de nuestra sociedad. Nuestro interés es aportar al análisis de la situación conflictiva a nivel socio- ambiental que vive el Golfo de Nicoya desde hace dos décadas, sobre todo en la parte relacionada con las formas que adquiere el conflicto desde el punto de vista institucional, cultural y económico. Poder entender esa situación, posibilita comprender cómo pescadores, otrora “artesanales”, han copiado las prácticas destructivas e insostenibles de pesquerías industriales, dejando de ser “artesanales”: el uso de trasmallos “ilegales”, uso de redes de arrastre de camarón, el uso de la técnica del rodeo, entre otros.</p>

The Tonkin weakfish, Cynoscion similis (Sciaenidae, Perciformes), an endemic species of the Amazonas-Orinoco Plume

ABSTRACT Despite its importance in biogeographical, ecological, and commercial terms, the fish fauna of the northern Brazilian coast is still poorly known, representing the least sampled portion of the Brazilian Exclusive Economic Zone. We collected Tonkin weakfish, Cynoscion similis specimens during extensive surveys of the northern Brazilian coast and concluded that C. similis is common in this region. While the species had not previously been reported for the northern Brazilian state of Pará, it may have been recorded in studies of industrial fisheries, being identified only as Cynoscion sp. or by the common name pescada negra. This reinforces the need for the reliable taxonomical identification of species, to guarantee the collection of accurate data on ecology and fisheries, and ultimately, support the development of effective conservation strategies. Here we provide additional morphological and molecular data to distinguish Cynoscion similis from the closely related Cynoscion jamaicensis, and other congeners.

Cameroon's choppy waters: The anatomy of fisheries crime in the maritime fisheries sector

This article removes the lid on fisheries crime in Cameroon by providing empirical evidence of criminal practices along the maritime fisheries value chain. To achieve this, the study relied on both primary and secondary data. Primary data was collected from direct observation, informal group discussions and semi-structured interviews involving state officials, coastal community groups and other civil society organisations in the west maritime district of Southwest Cameroon. The article reveals a plethora of fisheries-related crimes encompassing corruption (i.e. bribery and abuse of office), document and identity fraud, illegal exploitation of fish maws and endangered marine mammals. Other crimes associated to the fisheries sector included: smuggling of contraband goods, arms smuggling, illegal migration, illegal recruitment and abuse of workers' rights. Through these examples, this research empirically demonstrates the interrelationship of the different criminal practices and their organised and transnational dimension. The study also paints a complex picture of criminality perpetuated by a sophisticated network of both local and foreign industrial fisheries stakeholders. Consequently, addressing illicit activities in the maritime fisheries sector requires cooperation from a wide range of both state and non-state actors in investigating and analysing the nature of fisheries crime practices, the agents involved and their modes of operation. This approach is necessary to gain a better understanding of the problem and enable actors design appropriate and targeted management responses.

Small-scale shrimp fisheries bycatch: A multi-criteria approach for data-scarse situations

Bycatch and discards from small-scale fisheries (SSF) are usually ignored when compared with industrial fisheries, not only by policy-makers, but also by scientists. Therefore, SSF social, economic and ecological impacts are poorly known and especially in the context of incidental catches, regardless of whether they become bycatch or discards. Such neglect is worrisome due to the role that SSF play in food security and poverty alleviation, particularly in coastal and rural communities in developing countries. In this study, a combination of sampling data and the fishers' behavior (specifically the basis of their decision on where to fish) were used. Bayesian models were applied to understand which variables affect the bycatch per unit effort (BPUE) variation in the shrimp SSF of the southern coast of the state of Bahia (Brazil). Results highlighted how BPUE variability is affected by a set of factors as well as by the specific fisher behavior. In the case of the shrimp fishery assessed here, economic incentives do not influence the decision to land the bycatch, since landed values decrease when bycatch increases. Shadow subsistence values (i.e. non-market values assigned to the consumption value) and the employ of fish as currency added an economic livelihood component to the complex decision regarding bycatch. Mitigation measures for SSF management strategies should be implemented at multiple stages of the bycatch and discarding process, both in the selection of the fishing grounds and the local economic role of the incidentally caught species.