Subsistence Fisheries Research Articles

Factors influencing harvest success for an Arctic under-ice subsistence fishery

Long-term fisheries datasets are particularly rare in Arctic environments and are essential to understanding the variability in harvest rates. We analyzed 30 years of harvest monitoring data and compared results to fish monitoring data from nearshore waters of Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, to determine the importance of age-0 recruitment and intra-annual factors on subsequent harvests of Arctic cisco in the Colville River delta (CRD), Alaska. While age-0 recruitment to Prudhoe Bay was positively associated with annual harvest success in the CRD, wind and salinity patterns and subsistence fishing location and timing also contributed significantly in explaining adult harvest variability. Harvest rates were highest closest to the river mouth and early in the season. Harvest rates increased with increasing salinity up to 25 ppt, then declined. As the climate changes in the region, we may see shifts in nearshore ocean and river conditions which will impact recruitment and fishing activity. These long-term monitoring efforts will continue to inform sustainable fisheries management in the face of a rapidly changing climate, and with ongoing infrastructure development in the region.

In-season monitoring of harvest and effort from a large-scale subsistence salmon fishery in western Alaska

In-season management of salmon harvest requires real-time data. Specifically, following a brief period of open fishing, knowledge of harvest outcomes is useful when deciding the nature of subsequent fishing periods. This in-season management strategy is relatively new to the lower Kuskokwim River of western Alaska, where depressed salmon runs have caused restrictions to the subsistence fishery. We have developed an in-season monitoring program to rapidly inform managers about fishery outcomes from short-duration (6-24 hours) fishery openings. Completed trip information and one or more aerial surveys are combined to estimate daily effort and harvest from drift gillnet fishers spanning 11 communities and ~130 river kilometers. We present a re-analysis of the 40 monitored openers in June-July 2016-2023, and validate harvest estimates of Chinook, chum, and sockeye salmon by comparing them to post-season estimates derived from an independent long-term monitoring program. Our results indicate that the program has produced estimates of sufficient quality to inform in-season managers, although it will likely need alterations to be successful in years with less restricted fishing.

Navigating Nunatsiavut’s Arctic Charr: A Simultaneous Commercial and Subsistence Fishery with Many Unknowns

Navigating Nunatsiavut’s Arctic Charr: A Simultaneous Commercial and Subsistence Fishery with Many Unknowns

Impacts of climate change on mangrove subsistence fisheries: a global review

AbstractClimate change will impact coastal ecosystems, threatening subsistence fisheries including those in mangrove forests. Despite their global contributions and roles in nutrition and cultural identity, mangrove subsistence fisheries are poorly studied. Here, we offer a foundation for improving the management of mangrove subsistence fisheries to deal with the impending effects of climate change. This multidisciplinary review—drawing on organismal biology, ecology, fisheries, and social science—focuses on the climate impacts relevant to mangrove ecosystems: heat waves, low-category, and high-category typhoons. First, we provide an overview of the mangroves, their harvestable stocks (fish, crustaceans, molluscs), and the fishers, offering an understanding of how they may be affected by relevant environmental variables; i.e., shifts in temperature, salinity, oxygen, flooding, and sediments. Then, we examine the potential effects of climate change on mangrove stocks and fishers, indicating the scope of impending changes. By combining the above information, we develop a simple model that forecasts the number of “fishing-days” lost by fishers due to climate change over the next decade (between 11 and 21 days will be lost per year per fisher). This indicates which aspects of climate change will have the greatest impacts on stocks and fishers. We found that high-category typhoons had more impacts than heat waves, which in turn had a greater impact than low-category typhoons). Finally, recognising gaps in our knowledge and understanding, we offer recommendations for approaches for future work to improve our predictions.

Metal mobilization from thawing permafrost to aquatic ecosystems is driving rusting of Arctic streams

Climate change in the Arctic is altering watershed hydrologic processes and biogeochemistry. Here, we present an emergent threat to Arctic watersheds based on observations from 75 streams in Alaska’s Brooks Range that recently turned orange, reflecting increased loading of iron and toxic metals. Using remote sensing, we constrain the timing of stream discoloration to the last 10 years, a period of rapid warming and snowfall, suggesting impairment is likely due to permafrost thaw. Thawing permafrost can foster chemical weathering of minerals, microbial reduction of soil iron, and groundwater transport of metals to streams. Compared to clear reference streams, orange streams have lower pH, higher turbidity, and higher sulfate, iron, and trace metal concentrations, supporting sulfide mineral weathering as a primary mobilization process. Stream discoloration was associated with dramatic declines in macroinvertebrate diversity and fish abundance. These findings have considerable implications for drinking water supplies and subsistence fisheries in rural Alaska.

Age and growth of larval Pacific flagfin mojarra (Eucinostomus currani) in coastal Ecuador based on otolith analysis

The flagfin mojarra (Eucinostomus currani) is an important subsistence fishery resource in local Ecuadorian markets; however, very little is known about the early life history and reproductive biology of this species. In 2016 and 2017, E. currani larvae were collected at 3 sandy beaches in the Gulf of Guayaquil, Ecuador, and identified using DNA barcoding. Standard lengths ranged from 4.00–15.78 mm. We also collected otoliths to better understand the early life history of E. currani. Otoliths were used to estimate the age, population growth rate (±SE), hatch dates, and reproductive period. On average, the fish were 16.5 ± 4.5 days old, while the average growth rate was 0.70 ± 0.05 and 0.22 ± 0.16 mm per day in March and May, respectively. In the Gulf of Guayaquil, most hatch dates and the presumed reproductive activity of E. currani occurred during the wet season (December–April) when warmer water prevailed. To our knowledge, this is the first study to estimate the hatch dates and larval growth rate for a species of the family Gerreidae in the Pacific Ocean.

Population genomics, life-history tactics, and mixed-stock subsistence fisheries in the northernmost American Atlantic salmon populations.

While Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) of the northernmost American populations is alimentary, economically, and culturally important for Ungava Inuit communities (Nunavik, Canada) and might play a key role in the persistence of the species in a global warming context, many mysteries remain about those remote and atypical populations. Thus, our first aim was to document the genomic structure of the Nunavik populations. The second objective was to determine whether salmon only migrating to the estuary without reaching the sea, apparently unique to those populations, represent distinct populations from the typical anadromous salmons and subsequently explore the genetic basis of migratory life-history tactics in the species. Finally, the third goal was to quantify the contribution of each genetically distinct population and life-history tactic in the mixed-stock subsistence fishery of the Koksoak R. estuary. We used Genotyping-by-Sequencing to genotype 14,061 single nucleotide polymorphisms in the genome of 248 individuals from 8 source populations and 280 individuals from the Koksoak estuary mixed-stock fishery. Life-history tactics were identified by a visual assessment of scales. Results show a hierarchical structure mainly influenced by isolation-by-distance with 7 populations out of the 8 studied rivers. While no obvious structure was detected between marine and estuarine salmon within the population, we have identified genomic regions putatively associated with those migration tactics. Finally, all salmon captured in the Koksoak estuary originated from the Koksoak drainage and mostly from 2 tributaries, but no inter-annual variation in the contribution of these tributaries was found. Our results indicate, however, that both marine and estuarine salmon contribute substantially to estuarine fisheries and that there is inter-annual variation in this contribution. These findings provide crucial information for the conservation of salmon populations in a rapidly changing ecosystem, as well as for fishery management to improve the food security of Inuit communities.

Identifying perspectives and framing attitudes on spearfishing in The Canary Islands (Spain)

Spearfishing regulation in The Canary Islands (CIs) has been a conflictive subject for years since it restricts the activity in its spatial access to resources, with proponents both for and against these measures. Understanding the range of perceptions between social groups or stakeholders is important when designing and developing successful management strategies for any activity. Q-methodology is used to explore existing perceptions, or lines of thought, towards spearfishing in the CIs of five spearfishing-related key-stakeholder groups. The results show that the main perception is made up of opposing positions, either for or against recreational underwater fishing, and between the spearfishers and the non-governmental organizations (NGOs). The second line of perception, formed basically by the administration and scientists, embodies an environmental aspect. Perception factor 3, mostly represented by the commercial sector emphasizes the damage caused to this sector. Finally, factor 4 identifies a perception that contemplates spearfishing as a subsistence fishery rather than a recreational one. This study contributes to the scarce scientific information within social research on spearfishing in the CIs and concludes that there is a need for dialogue, which, given their positions and vested interests, should not be led by the sectors directly involved.

Preliminary microchemical analyses of North-western Persian Gulf hilsa shad otolith trace elements: Indications of complex migratory behavior and stock structure

Hilsa shad (Tenualosa ilisha) is an important anadromous fish species, supporting significant commercial and subsistence fisheries throughout south Asia. Otolith Sr:Ca and Ba:Ca profiles were used along with age data to examine the migratory history of hilsa shad from two major river systems in the northwestern Persian Gulf (Karun and Zohreh). In addition, elemental ratios (Sr:Ca, Ba:Ca, and Li:Ca) were analyzed using principal component analysis to investigate regional population structure. Variation in movement patterns was observed, though all fish analyzed had spent some time in freshwater, and most otolith signatures suggested a double downstream marine/upstream freshwater migration. There were however differences among rivers: the majority of fish from Zohreh River showed a single downstream/upstream migration through their life cycle, while Karun signatures were more complex, with multiple migrations and potential estuarine or freshwater residence. When comparing stock structure during the marine phase, the otolith signatures of Zohreh River fish showed greater separation while others tended to overlap, indicating that Zohreh fish were likely to have reared in a different location than the others. Although comprising a relatively small sample size, our results provide some preliminary insights into the life-history and stock structure of Persian Gulf hilsa shad, informing the management needs of this important fishery, and suggesting further more detailed investigations of migration and stock structure are warranted.

Access to food markets, household wealth and child nutrition in rural Cambodia: Findings from nationally representative data.

Access to informal fresh food markets plays a vital role in household food security and dietary quality in transitioning rural economies. However, it is not well understood if market access also improves child nutrition and if the improvement applies to all socioeconomic groups. In this secondary research study, we combined a national listing of food markets (n = 503) with a national household survey to examine the associations of market access with diet and height across wealth groups in children aged 6 to 23 months in rural Cambodia. All children under two years of age with dietary data (n = 1537) or anthropometry data (n = 989) were selected from the household survey. Food markets were geocoded using Google Maps or villages' geographical coordinates publicly available in the Open Development Mekong data platform. Regression calibration was then used to estimate household distance to the nearest market. Descriptive results indicated a highly uneven distribution of food markets with median household distance to the nearest markets ranging between 4 km (IQR: 3-8 km) in the lowland areas and 9 km (IQR: 4-17 km) in the highland areas. Results from the multivariate linear regressions showed that distance to the nearest market was modestly associated with child dietary diversity score (β: -0.17; 95% CI: -0.29, -0.05) but it was not related to child height-for-age z-score, and that household wealth did not modify the associations between distance to markets and child dietary diversity score. These findings suggest that improving access to food markets alone might not lead to meaningful improvement in child diet. Detailed surveys on household food acquisition are needed to clarify the role of food markets relative to other food sources such as subsistence fisheries, subsistence gardening and mobile food traders.

Embryonic and Early Larval Development of the Pacific Razor Clam (Siliqua patula).

AbstractThe Pacific razor clam, Siliqua patula (Sugpiaq: Cingtaataq, Dixon, 1789), is vital to commercial, recreational, and subsistence fisheries across the Pacific Northwest Coast of North America. Despite the species' status as one of the most popular shellfish species harvested in the Pacific Northwest, British Columbia, and Alaska, its larval development has never been fully characterized. Generating a developmental times series, and describing development fully, is crucial for guiding targeted management, developing a mariculture strategy for the species, and providing a more pointed avenue for studies examining the response of S. patula to ocean change. This study presents the first photographic documentation of larval development in S. patula, including the timing of key transitions during embryogenesis and early larval development. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that the larval shell forms via a concretion, a process typically documented in early gastropod development. This novel characterization is pertinent, as it conveys the need for the inclusion of alternative bivalve development processes, such as a concretion, in bivalve research. This study also compared development in S. patula to a global assortment of bivalve species, including two other members of the Pharidae family, determining that the timing to D-veliger and trochophore stages was similar to the majority of bivalves surveyed. While bivalve response to climate change is a topic of great interest, not all species of concern have undergone comprehensive developmental assessments, a requisite benchmark for designing climate change studies that examine early life history sensitivity to such changes. This research supports the use of comprehensive developmental studies as prerequisites for designing climate change experimentation, establishes the necessity of high-magnification and high-resolution scanning electron microscopy within developmental assessments, and provides information about the development of a cornerstone bivalve species.

Climate-Change Impacts on Cephalopods: A Meta-Analysis.

Aside from being one of the most fascinating groups of marine organisms, cephalopods play a major role in marine food webs, both as predators and as prey, while representing key living economic assets, namely for artisanal and subsistence fisheries worldwide. Recent research suggests that cephalopods are benefitting from ongoing environmental changes and the overfishing of certain fish stocks (i.e., of their predators and/or competitors), putting forward the hypothesis that this group may be one of the few "winners" of climate change. While many meta-analyses have demonstrated negative and overwhelming consequences of ocean warming (OW), acidification (OA), and their combination for a variety of marine taxa, such a comprehensive analysis is lacking for cephalopod molluscs. In this context, the existing literature was surveyed for peer-reviewed articles featuring the sustained (≥24 h) and controlled exposure of cephalopod species (Cephalopoda class) to these factors, applying a comparative framework of mixed-model meta-analyses (784 control-treatment comparisons, from 47 suitable articles). Impacts on a wide set of biological categories at the individual level (e.g., survival, metabolism, behavior, cell stress, growth) were evaluated and contrasted across different ecological attributes (i.e., taxonomic lineages, climates, and ontogenetic stages). Contrary to what is commonly assumed, OW arises as a clear threat to cephalopods, while OA exhibited more restricted impacts. In fact, OW impacts were ubiquitous across different stages of ontogeny, taxonomical lineages (i.e., octopuses, squids, and cuttlefish). These results challenge the assumption that cephalopods benefit from novel ocean conditions, revealing an overarching negative impact of OW in this group. Importantly, we also identify lingering literature gaps, showing that most studies to date focus on OW and early life stages of mainly temperate species. Our results raise the need to consolidate experimental efforts in a wider variety of taxa, climate regions, life stages, and other key environmental stressors, such as deoxygenation and hypoxia, to better understand how cephalopods will cope with future climate change.

Community structure of macroinvertebrates in protected and exploited areas of Baganga, Davao Oriental, Philippines

Macroinvertebrates are vital in coastal marine environments, which function as ecologically (e.g., food chain) and socio-economically (e.g., income generation for coastal gleaners). Different anthropogenic activities, including unregulated gleaning, pose potential threats to the assemblages of macroinvertebrates. However, studies related to assessing and comparing the community structures of macroinvertebrates in protected and exploited areas are poorly documented in the Philippines. Hence, this study aims to provide valuable information to formulate proper fisheries management, including the protection and conservation of macroinvertebrates and their supporting habitats. Fishery-independent and fishery-dependent surveys were conducted in three coastal barangays of Baganga, Davao Oriental, Philippines: one protected (control site) in Ban-ao and two exploited (gleaning grounds) in San Victor and Kinablangan to determine macroinvertebrate community structure and document local gleaning activities. Seventeen (17) macroinvertebrates were recorded, comprising nine (9) mollusks, three (3) crustaceans, and five (5) echinoderms. Four species (4) were abundant in the study sites: Dardanus sp., Monetaria annulus, Thalamita crenata, and Trochus maculatus. The community structure of macroinvertebrates in both exploited areas was influenced by gleaning of the coastal residents, resulting in lower species richness, density, and diversity compared to the protected area where collection was highly restricted. There is a need to ensure the sustainability of gleaning in these areas by providing protection on the existing macroinvertebrates in the area through a formulation of local subsistence fisheries management.

Variability in billfish vertical distribution and fishing interactions driven by environmental conditions in the Eastern Tropical Pacific Ocean

Abstract Blue marlin (Makaira nigricans) and sailfish (Istiophorus platypterus) are ecologically important predators and valuable species throughout the world’s recreational, commercial, and subsistence fisheries. Comparing multi-species vertical habitat use can inform ecological uncertainties such as inter-species competition, as well as relative vulnerabilities to fishing activities. In this study, we identified key differences in both depth use and which environmental variables drive these selections, which highlights the variability in the catchability both as target species in recreational fisheries and bycatch in commercial fisheries. To understand these two species’ vertical habitat use, we examined depth profiles from 26 sailfish and 48 blue marlin tagged with pop-up satellite archival tags deployed in the Eastern Tropical Pacific Ocean. While both species are surface-oriented, we found evidence of vertical niche partitioning where sailfish spend more time at deeper depths than blue marlin. Blue marlin recorded an average mean depth of 18.5 m (±10.8 m) during daytime and 5.2 m (±5.5 m) at nighttime (Figure 31a), while sailfish recorded an average mean depth of 23.6 m (±11.1 m) during daytime and 6.45 m (±4.64 m) at nighttime. Generalized additive mixed models fitted to predict mean and max depth revealed sea level anomaly (SLA), oxygen, sea surface temperature, and mixed layer depth as significant predictors of vertical habitat use for both species. We also examined catch logs from three recreational fishing lodges in Central America to understand the influence of environmental conditions on billfish sightings per unit effort. For blue marlin and sailfish, SLA was a significant predictor in each of the four depth models (mean day, mean night, max day, max night). SLA was the variable with highest percent deviance explained for all four sailfish depth models and three of the four blue marlin depth models and had a positive relationship with all response variables for all four blue marlin depth models and three sailfish depth models (mean daytime, max daytime, max nighttime), where higher positive SLA values were associated with deeper depth responses.

Climate Change Risks to Freshwater Subsistence Fisheries in Arctic Alaska: Insights and Uncertainty from Broad WhitefishCoregonus nasus

Arctic freshwater ecosystems and fish populations are largely shaped by seasonal and long‐term watershed hydrology. In this paper, we hypothesize how changing air temperature and precipitation will alter freeze and thaw processes, hydrology, and instream habitat to assess potential indirect effects, such as the change to the foraging and behavioral ecology, on Arctic fishes, using Broad WhitefishCoregonus nasusas an indicator species. Climate change is expected to continue to alter hydrologic pathways, flow regimes, and, therefore, habitat suitability, connectivity, and availability for fishes. Warming and lengthening of the growing season will likely increase fish growth rates; however, the exceedance of threshold stream temperatures will likely increase physiological stress and alter life histories. We expect these changes to have mixed effects on Arctic subsistence fishes and fisheries. Management and conservation approaches focused on preserving the processes that create heterogeneity in aquatic habitats, genes, and communities will help maintain the resilience of Broad Whitefish and other important subsistence fisheries. Long‐term effects are uncertain, so filling scientific knowledge gaps, such as identifying important habitats or increasing knowledge of abiotic variables in priority watersheds, is key to understanding and potentially mitigating likely impacts to Arctic fishes in a rapidly changing landscape.

Coastal connectivity of an abundant inshore fish species: model-data comparison along the southern coast of South Africa

Biophysical models are often used to estimate larval dispersal patterns for the assessment of marine metapopulation spatial structure. However, comparisons of these models with field observations are relatively rare, and the extent to which models reproduce true marine connectivity patterns is unclear. We developed a biophysical model for larvae of the blacktail seabream Diplodus capensis (Sparidae), an abundant recreational and subsistence fishery species along the south-east coast of South Africa, and compared outputs from various configurations of that model to results from a field study conducted in a large regional embayment (Algoa Bay). Seasonal patterns of dispersal and recruitment produced by the model agreed best with field observations when thermal constraints on spawners and larvae were included. Spatial gradients in settling larvae also matched well, with the model capturing observed high settler densities within the lee of a major headland. Nevertheless, stronger spatial gradients were observed in larval densities from the field study when compared with model results, which may be explained by behavioural post-settlement processes. Model-based dispersal patterns revealed up to 5 subpopulations along the southern coast, with barriers to connectivity between subpopulations generally linked to hydrographic features. Overall, our results suggest that thermally mediated spawning behaviour, physical transport and post-settlement processes all play important roles in determining marine connectivity for the blacktail seabream. Refining physiological larval constraints may be an important component that needs to be considered going forward.

Revised estimates of foetal and post-natal growth in young gray whales (Eschrichtius robustus)

Patterns of gray whale growth in body length and weight with age are evaluated using published values of foetal and post-natal body dimensions at reported ages, supplemented with previously unpublished measured lengths of 88 mid-gestation foetuses, 82 first-summer calves and 30 secondsummer whales taken in the summer/autumn Chukotkan native subsistence fishery. Gompertz growth models are fitted to foetal and post-natal lengths at age, predicting mean lengths at birth in mid-January of 4.7m, 7.9m at weaning and 8.7m at one year. The late foetal diapause in growth of length is not supported by the available data. Two equations were derived for estimating body weights from the linear body dimensions of length and maximum girth. For biomass estimates, two equations based on length alone and on both girth and length are derived. A multiple least squares regression equation fit to 14 measurements of the same whale over 14 months of captive rehabilitation predicts mean body weights at birth of 1,100–1,200kg, 5,100–5,200kg at six months (weaning), and 6,700–6,800kg at one year of age.

Adult spawners: A critical period for subarctic Chinook salmon in a changing climate.

Concurrent, distribution-wide abundance declines of some Pacific salmon species, including Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha), highlights the need to understand how vulnerability at different life stages to climate stressors affects population dynamics and fisheries sustainability. Yukon River Chinook salmon stocks are among the largest subarctic populations, near the northernmost extent of the species range. Existing research suggests that Yukon River Chinook salmon population dynamics are largely driven by factors occurring between the adult spawner life stage and their offspring's first summer at sea (second year post-hatching). However, specific mechanisms sustaining chronic poor productivity are unknown, and there is a tremendous sense of urgency to understand causes, as declines of these stocks have taken a serious toll on commercial, recreational, and indigenous subsistence fisheries. Therefore, we leveraged multiple existing datasets spanning parent and juvenile stages of life history in freshwater and marine habitats. We analyzed environmental data in association with the production of offspring that survive to the marine juvenile stage (juveniles per spawner). These analyses suggest more than 45% of the variability in the production of juvenile Chinook salmon is associated with river temperatures or water discharge levels during the parent spawning migration. Over the past two decades, parents that experienced warmer water temperatures and lower discharge in the mainstem Yukon River produced fewer juveniles per spawning adult. We propose the adult spawner life stage as a critical period regulating population dynamics. We also propose a conceptual model that can explain associations between population dynamics and climate stressors using independent data focused on marine nutrition and freshwater heat stress. It is sobering to consider that some of the northernmost Pacific salmon habitats may already be unfavorable to these cold-water species. Our findings have immediate implications, given the common assumption that northern ranges of Pacific salmon offer refugia from climate stressors.

Resilience of a giant clam subsistence fishery in Kiribati to climate change

Changes in sea surface temperature have historically impacted the coral reef habitats of giant clams in Kiribati. However, across many islands of Kiribati, the four species of giant clam have largely withstood these environmental changes. We adopted and applied a comprehensive resilience framework to assess attributes conferring and limiting resilience in the Kiribati giant clam data-limited fishery and used knowledge co-production and the precautionary principle approach to better understand resilience. We found that the resilience of the fishery to climate and anthropogenic impacts, as highlighted by local stake- and rightholders, will depend on the ability of fishery actors to act collectively to implement adaptive governance. We used a gradient of human pressure to identify approaches and pathways for improving and operationalising climate resilience. Climate change, coupled with human impacts, have reduced ecological resilience in the urbanised island of South Tarawa. In South Tarawa, governance and social processes are less flexible, leading to declines in the local subsistence clam fishery. Conversely, on several remote outer islands, where the social-ecological system has shown promise in combating these anthropogenic influences, the ecological resilience has improved through adaptive community-based fisheries management, and the subsistence clam fishery has persisted. Our case study demonstrates the importance of a participatory approach and local knowledge when assessing climate resilience and identifies a pathway of resilience in a data-limited small-scale fishery. I-KIRIBATI ABSTRACT Ni boong ma taai aika a bwakanako ao bibitakin kabuebuen taari ea bon tia n roota maiun te were nte aro are ea karika te ane ba ena mainaina. E ngae n anne ao utun te were aika a aua (4) aika a kuneaki i Kiribati, a tia n aitara ma kangangan korakoran bibitakin te enwaromenta. Rinanon aia konabwai ni waaki ma bitaki ao a tia naba ni kona ni kaaitarai aia mwakuri ni kabarekareka ao ni karawawata te bota n aomata. Bibitakin kanoan boong, n raonaki ma rikiraken te bota n aomata, ea tia ni kataia ni kauarerekea te konabai ni kaitarai kanganga iaon Tarawa Teinainano ni kabotauaki ma aban Kiribati ake tabeua are e a raroa riki. E korakora te kerikaki ni mwaitin te were iaon Tawara Teinainano ngkai e korakora anaakina ba te amwarake ao ni marau ke ni karako te baronga n aron anaakina. N aban Kiribati ake tabeua ao ea tia ni kakoauaaki ba te baaronga ma te katei n aroaro rinanon kaawan abamakoro ea tia ni kaoka rikiraken ao teimatoan te were bwa te amwarake, e ngae ngke e korakora ana urubwai bibitakin kanoan bong. N taraakin aron bibitakin kanoan boong i Kiribati ma akawan te were, ao e kuneaki ba aron te were ni kona ni kaitara kabuebuen taari ma rikiraken kakangin taari ena boboto man oioi irouia naake a kabongana ke n akawa te were. Te kamatebai aei e riki ba te katoto n aron taneiei ni kaaitarai bitakin kanoan bong n irekereke ma akawa aika a uarereke.

Emerging frontiers for blue growth in African Great Lakes: The potential for recreational fishing industry in Lake Victoria, Kenya

AbstractSport fishing for Nile Perch and Tilapia are key attractions to recreational anglers on Lake Victoria. Existing hospitality establishments promote sport fishing with angling as the main form of recreational fishing. Development of this industry is expected to generate accrued benefits of eco-tourism and community empowerment by providing alternative sources of income from the already strangled commercial and subsistence fisheries calling for diversification within the fishing industry. Key informant questionnaires were administered to County tourism and fisheries representatives, hotel directors or managers, and officials of Beach Management Units while questionnaire-led-interviews were conducted at the beaches or community recreation sites. Seven tourist resorts, one yacht club, and seven beaches/fish landing sites were assessed. The study aimed to assess the current status of recreational fishing and identify growth opportunities within the industry. Recreational fishing was concentrated around Mfangano Island targeting Nile Perch using artificial baitfish as a tackle. On average, boat hire charges including fishing tackle were USD 30 per trip (< 3 hours) and USD 100 per day per fishing trip. “Blue tourism” rating was low across the respondents with the 2007 political unrest said to have heavily impacted the number of tourists to the region. Water Hyacinth and poor water quality remain a key challenge within Winam gulf while overfishing posed a major concern in the open lake with the number of longline fishers reported to be on the rise. Resource spatial planning should be instituted to cater for the different players in the Blue Economy. The strict enforcement of the Nile Perch slot size is recommended and cooperation among industry players on access and use of the products from recreational fishing. A national census survey on recreational catches should be conducted if its full potential is to be realized in promoting blue growth.