Fishery System Research Articles

Bridging expert knowledge and fishery data to examine changes in nearshore rockfish fisheries in the Gulf of Alaska over fifty years

Rockfishes (Sebastes spp.) and the fisheries they support along the northeastern Pacific Ocean have undergone dynamic changes over the last century. The unique life history traits of rockfishes pose a host of challenges that make them difficult to monitor and susceptible to overfishing. Previous research has demonstrated that fishers’ knowledge and scientific data can help to create a more complete picture of long-term changes in rockfish populations and nearshore ecosystems. In this study, we used a multiple evidence-based approach that draws together expert knowledge of fishers and fisheries agency staff with long-term harvest data to document recent changes in nearshore rockfish populations and fisheries in two regions along the Gulf of Alaska. Using quantitative and qualitative methods, we compiled and analyzed datasets from the Alaska Department of Fish and Game to summarize spatiotemporal trends in commercial and recreational rockfish harvest and interviewed fishers and agency staff about their observations of long-term changes in nearshore rockfish populations and fisheries. We focused on two communities in the eastern and central Gulf of Alaska for which rockfish issues have been at the fore of management in recent years: Sitka and Kodiak, Alaska. We synthesized harvest data and abundance indices from expert knowledge in the context of fishery regulation changes to gain a more holistic perspective on the recent history of Alaska rockfish fisheries. While increases in localized fishing pressure and declines in relative abundance underlie concerns about pelagic and yelloweye rockfish populations and fisheries, stable or high abundance and proactive management for some species and locations also yield an optimistic outlook about their status. Variables such as gear type, sector, time periods fished, regulatory changes, and species targeted influenced experts’ perceptions of rockfish fisheries and populations. Our findings highlight the challenges of bringing together disparate data and the benefits of including multiple knowledge sources to produce a more complete understanding of complex fishery systems.

OPTIMAL PLACEMENT OF MARINE PROTECTED AREAS TO AVOID THE EXTINCTION OF THE FISH STOCK

In this paper, we propose to study a fishery model with variable price. We assume that the price evolves much faster than the rest of the system. Under certain assumptions, this makes it possible to consider the fishery system as a slow–fast system, on two time scales, and to study it with a reduced model of dimension two. Two main cases can occur. The first one which we called catastrophic equilibrium corresponds to over-exploitation leading to fish extinction and a booming price. The second case corresponds to a sustainable fishery equilibrium which is stable. The possible effects of the creation of marine protected areas (MPAs), sites where fishing is prohibited, on the fish stock and fishery are evaluated. We show that MPAs can have a positive effect on the restoration of depleted fish stocks by destabilizing the catastrophic equilibrium and keeping only one positive equilibrium which will be globally asymptotically stable. This problem is addressed by proposing a model with MPA for the fish dynamics. Fish are assumed to move between MPA and fishing area and are subject to harvesting through fishing. We show that to avoid the extinction of the stock and stabilize the fishery in the long term, it is necessary to define a fishing zone such that the ratio of its carrying capacity to its surface is small enough. We further show that with a judicious choice of the surface area of the MPA, it is possible to optimize the total capture.

Impacts of COVID-19 on the value chain of a small-scale fishery system in a tropical metropolitan city

The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the value chain structure and dynamics of a small-scale fishery system within a TURF type marine reserve in the southwestern Atlantic were evaluated between July 2019 and December 2020. A systematic on site monitoring program of fisheries production and sales, and semi-structured questionnaires applied to representatives of the different links in the value chain were used to assess changes comparing pre-pandemic (Normality) and pandemic (Quarantine and Flexibility) periods. Our results revealed that most of the fishermen continued fishing throughout the pandemic period, without compromising local production. General restrictions were imposed by the pandemic to the population and commercial establishments, especially restaurants and snack bars, which remained closed during quarantine period. This scenario increased the demand for fresh seafood by endpoint consumers, and consequently raised the average prices of fish/shellfish commodities. In addition, the adoption of new commercial strategies including direct sales and seafood delivery to endpoint consumers helped to maintain commercial fluxes and cope with the limitations imposed by the pandemic. The auction system arena in which fisheries catches are sold, was an important internal process for maintaining the value chain operating. All of these characteristics reinforce the resilience of the system in the face of extreme conditions such as the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pengelolaan Limbah Industri Pengolahan Hasil Perikanan: Studi Kasus Pada Usaha Mikro Kecil dan Menengah (UMKM) Sambal Ikan Tuna Di Kabupaten Cilacap

One of the fisheries and marine potentials in Cilacap Regency is tuna fisheries. Catch tuna that landed at the Cilacap Ocean Fishery Port (PPSC) is high. Based on the analysis of the needs of actors in the tuna fisheries system in Cilacap, one of the components included in the system is the tuna fish processing industry. This is because there is only one tuna fishing company in Cilacap in 2009. The existence of these problems causes an increase in the growth of the micro-industry in the tuna fish processing business in Cilacap. This increase certainly has an impact on increasing the waste generated. This study aims to identify the type of waste generated and the waste management efforts of micro-industry players (MSMEs) processing tuna chili sauce in Cilacap and analyze the appropriate management design to be applied in the tuna fish sauce processing industry. The research data collection method was carried out by direct observation by conducting interviews with the owners of MSMEs. The results of field observations on MSMEs that produce tuna fish sauce produce organic and non-organic waste and the waste is simply thrown into the environment without any treatment first. Efforts to manage waste produced by MSMEs with tuna sauce have not yet been carried out due to limited human resources in knowledge about waste management. Based on the characteristics of the waste produced, several types of designs can be carried out by MSMEs, namely the management of organic and non-organic wastes to minimize the waste generated both in terms of quality and quantity as not to pollute the environment.

Global insights on managing fishery systems for the three pillars of sustainability

AbstractThere is growing recognition that fisheries should be managed for all three pillars of sustainability: economic, social and environmental sustainability. Limited quantitative evidence exists on factors supporting social sustainability, much less factors that contribute to multiple dimensions of sustainability. To develop a broader understanding of the factors that influence the performance of fishery management systems in environmental, economic and social pillars, we examine 11 input factors conjectured to contribute to successful fisheries using a global dataset of 145 fisheries case studies. The analysis indicates that management approaches are cross‐cutting and contribute to multiple dimensions of sustainability to varying extents. Importantly, factors exogenous to fisheries management can be as important as fisheries management, suggesting collaboration of fisheries institutions with other public and private institutions is important for sustainable fisheries development.

Multidimensional Evaluation of Brown Shrimp Trawling Fisheries on the Amazon Continental Shelf

Brown shrimp (Penaeus subtilis) trawling in the northern coastal waters of Brazil is an industrial fishing activity with a share in the international market and an important resource in the fishery market. Due to the scarcity of updated information on this practice and owing to its complexity, it is difficult to have a measurement of all dimensions of the development of this fishery, whether they are ecological, economic, or social-institutional. The present paper uses an assessment tool focused on data-poor fishery systems, the Fishery Performance Indicators (FPIs), to assess the multidimensional conditions of this fishery. The indicators were assessed between 2019 and 2020, and the metrics were based on public official data, scientific publications, in loco consultations with production agents, and databases of research projects. Results showed that the critical points of this activity are primarily related to the ecological indicator (1.75), which obtained a lower score compared to other fisheries assessed using the same methodology. This is due to its low selectivity, which results in high by-catch volumes and discards. The limited participation of productive chain actors also restrains the efficacy of management measures, which hampers successful resource management. This issue maximizes other setbacks throughout the productive chain, such as economic and social factors.

The Circular Economy Approach to Improving CNP Ratio in Inland Fishery Wastewater for Increasing Algal Biomass Production

In this work, the capacity of wastewater from an inland fishery system in Colombia (Norte de Santander) was tested as culture medium for Chlorella sp. and Scenedesmus sp. Due to insufficient N and P concentrations for successful algae growth, the effect of wastewater replenishment with NO3, PO4, and Na2CO3 or NaHCO3 as a carbon source was analyzed using a three-factor nonfactorial response surface design. The results showed that the addition of NaNO3 (0.125 g/L), K2HPO4 (0.075 g/L), KH2PO4 (0.75 g/L), and NaHCO3 (0.5 and 2 g/L for Chlorella sp. and Scenedesmus sp. respectively) significantly increased the biomass of Chlorella sp. (0.87 g/L) and Scenedesmus sp. (0.83 g/L). Although these results show that the addition of other nutrients is not necessary (Na, Mg, SO4, Ca, etc.), it is still essential to determine the quality of the biomass produced in terms of its application as a feed supplement for fish production.

Control system for aquatic biological resources in the northern fisheries basin of Russia

The study of the Russian fishery management system aims to determine the degree of readiness of the fishing industry to implement economic processes of access to aquatic biological resources in the country’s Northern fishery basin. A comparative analysis of fishery management systems in a market economy (fishery complex of Russia) and a planned economy of the USSR has been presented. It has been determined that the allocation of aquatic biological resources for industrial fishing is managed on the basis of Russian regulatory legal acts, and the implementation of the tasks of developing the fishery sector and ensuring the country’s food security is consistent with the implementation of the Basic State Policy of Russia. Key performance indicators of the fishing industry, the system of allocation of fishing (catch) quotas for aquatic biological resources based on the “historical principle” and the “auction system” have been presented. The aim of the study is to assess the being implemented plans for the total allowable catch development, and the desire of the fishery management system and business to increase the economic potential of the Russian fishery sector.

The role played by the Umba fish hatchery in artificial reproduction and conservation of water biological resources in the Murmansk region

The article provides information on the need for artificial reproduction of water biological resources. It is shown that the conservation of biological diversity of fish, maintaining stocks of valuable fish species, preserving the natural habitat is impossible without effective measures in the field of artificial reproduction. A brief description of the activities of the Murmansk branch «Glavrybvod» is given. The greatest attention is paid to the oldest enterprise in the Murmansk region – the Umba fish hatchery. The historical information about the activity of this enterprise is given. An assessment of the current state of the Atlantic salmon stocks in the Umba River basin is given. The main problems of the fish-breeding enterprise are identified and analyzed: a high level of illegal fishing, the consequences of molten timber rafting and the influence of the activities of enterprises of the mining complex. Measures aimed at solving these problems are proposed. It has been proved that thanks to the fish breeders of the Umba fish hatchery, the stocks of the Atlantic salmon population of the Umba River are replenished. It is shown that a promising direction of the plant's activity is the cultivation of other valuable fish species (whitefish, pink salmon, brown trout), which will significantly contribute to the replenishment of valuable fish stocks in the water bodies of the Murmansk region. The role and importance of artificial reproduction and conservation of water biological resources will increase more and more as the anthropogenic impact on the environment intensifies. This type of activity will be the only way to preserve the commercial value of valuable species of fish and other biological resources, which makes artificial reproduction artificial reproduction one of the highest priorities in development of fishery system of the Russian Federation.

Stakeholders´ Normative Notions of Sustainability. A Survey for the Co-Design of a Sustainable Future of the Western Baltic Fishery System

Stakeholders´ Normative Notions of Sustainability. A Survey for the Co-Design of a Sustainable Future of the Western Baltic Fishery System

Hidden benefits and risks of partial protection for coral reef fisheries

Partially protected areas are now the dominant global form of spatial management aimed at preserving ecosystem integrity and managing human use. However, most evaluations of their efficacy use only a narrow set of conservation indicators that reflect a fraction of ways in which protection can succeed or fail. In this paper, we examine three case studies of partially protected coral reef fishery systems to evaluate benefits and risks of their use as a management tool. We use data from community-based management arrangements in three Pacific Island countries to demonstrate three vignettes of how partial protection can boost fisheries production, enhance the ease with which fishers catch their prey, and alter the composition of fisheries yields. These changes in fisheries productivity, catchability, and vulnerability under partial protection carry substantial benefits for fishers. However, they also carry significant risks for ecosystems and fisheries livelihoods unless adaptively managed so as to confer the short to medium term benefits in resource performance without risking longer term sustainability.

More than ponds amid skyscrapers: Urban fisheries as multiscalar human–natural systems

Abstract Although social-ecological fisheries research is growing, comparatively little attention is paid to fisheries in urban environments. We aim to address this imbalance, because as cities expand worldwide, we expect urban fisheries to become more widespread and important in providing food/nutrition security, recreation, community well-being, and other benefits to fisheries stakeholders and urban dwellers across spatiotemporal scales. This paper contains a first analysis of the economic and sociocultural provisions, trade-offs, and dilemmas associated with urban fisheries to yield insights for sustainable management and planning of urban blue space. To address these objectives, we use the metacoupling framework, a method for assessing human–nature interactions within and across adjacent and distant fisheries systems. We use examples from multiple countries and data from the United States to illustrate how urban fisheries encompass flows of people, money, and information across multiple spatiotemporal scales and provide nutritional, recreational, social, and cultural benefits to fisheries stakeholders. Throughout the world, urban fisheries are influenced by wide-ranging human needs (e.g. food provisioning, recreation, aquatic resource education) that generate social-ecological effects within and beyond cities. Our analysis yields insights for developing holistic, metacoupling-informed management approaches that address the diverse social-ecological objectives and trade-offs involved in sustainable development of urban fisheries.

Exploring Values and Beliefs in a Complex Coastal Social-Ecological System: A Case of Small-Scale Fishery and Dried Fish Production in Sagar Island, Indian Sundarbans

The survivability of the small-scale fishery and dried fish production in Indian Sundarbans, despite increasing threats posed by climate, environmental, economic, and policy drivers, suggests that they possess certain unique strengths and capabilities. One thread of these strengths is connected to the fact that Sundarbans’ fishery system is strongly anchored in the values and beliefs of the local fishing communities. There is, however, limited empirical information available on the prevailing individual and collective attitudes, expectations, traditions, customs, and, above all, values and beliefs that strongly influence local fishing communities of Sundarbans. This manuscript aims to address this gap by drawing on qualitative data to (1) map the nature of values and beliefs associated with the Sundarbans’ Sagar Island fishing communities who are engaged in small-scale fishery and dried fish production; and (2) highlight the contributions of values and beliefs to the small-scale fishery and dried fish production systems of Sagar Island. Our study reveals that historical factors such as the patriarchal and patrilineal system prevalent in the Indian Sundarbans as well as the current drivers, including environmental and social-economic changes, create inconsistent values and beliefs among male and female members of its society. Issues around values and beliefs are heavily influenced by social-ecological realities comprising material, relational and subjective dimensions. They can range from being strictly personal to largely community-oriented as they are shaped by realities of gender, class, power dynamics, and politics. Values and beliefs are fundamental to human perception and cognition but often get neglected in mainstream literature covering human dimensions of resource management. Our research adds weight to the theoretical and place-based understanding of the contributions of values and beliefs to the small-scale fishery and dried fish production systems. We learn from the case study that values and beliefs can act as mirrors, reflecting the current as well as future realities of small-scale fisheries and dried fish production systems and provide important directions for sustainability and viability of the entire social-ecological system that hosts this sector.

Towards Shrimp Resources Investment in Iraq water

The article highlighted the global importance and production of shrimp resources, whether it’s coming from the fisheries or from the aquaculture sector as well as it’s economy attribute in the international trade. Furthermore, it’s recognizing the status of the shrimp fishery in the marine and inland waters of Iraq, and the main negative factors impacted and reducing the shrimp stocks. Apparently no practical attempt has already been undertaken to culture the shrimp in the area, despite the availability of diverse water bodies. In conclusion, there is a great opportunity to developing the shrimp resources sector in Iraq by: (1) introduction and developing shrimp culture, (2) improving better management system for the shrimp fisheries.

Combining Knowledge Systems Helps Understand the Spatial Dynamics of Data-Limited Small-Scale Fisheries Systems in Brazil: A Methods Analysis

Mangrove habitats provide nursery, shelter, and feeding sites for many economically relevant fish, and invertebrates, such as crabs. Given the highly artisanal character and the patchy spatial distribution of small-scale fishing in mangroves, there is often little data available to inform management, potentially threatening the sustainability of this livelihood-supporting activity. This study assesses the combination of different data collection methods and of including published data in the analysis of the spatial dynamics. We examine crab fisheries in two sustainable-use protected areas as a case study to understand use patterns as indicated by a specific combination of mapping methods. Mangrove crab fishing grounds were mapped by overlaying crab gatherers’ tracked routes with maps produced during participatory-mapping-centered interviews. Information from the literature was used to spatialize crab carapace width and relate it to distance traveled by fishers. Results show that crabs tended to be larger if caught farther from the villages where fishers live. In terms of collection methods, even though GPS tracking is relatively time- and resource-consuming, incorporating some GPS tracking into participatory mapping helps overcome a downside of this type of mapping (e.g., lack of geographical precision) and identifies information that can be accessed through participatory techniques. This highlights the importance of linking different approaches in order to understand small-scale fisheries spatial dynamics.

Attributes of climate resilience in fisheries: From theory to practice

AbstractIn a changing climate, there is an imperative to build coupled social‐ecological systems—including fisheries—that can withstand or adapt to climate stressors. Although resilience theory identifies system attributes that supposedly confer resilience, these attributes have rarely been clearly defined, mechanistically explained, nor tested and applied to inform fisheries governance. Here, we develop and apply a comprehensive resilience framework to examine fishery systems across (a) ecological, (b) socio‐economic and (c) governance dimensions using five resilience domains: assets, flexibility, organization, learning and agency. We distil and define 38 attributes that confer climate resilience from a coupled literature‐ and expert‐driven approach, describe how they apply to fisheries and provide illustrative examples of resilience attributes in action. Our synthesis highlights that the directionality and mechanism of these attributes depend on the specific context, capacities, and scale of the focal fishery system and associated stressors, and we find evidence of interdependencies among attributes. Overall, however, we find few studies that test resilience attributes in fisheries across all parts of the system, with most examples focussing on the ecological dimension. As such, meaningful quantification of the attributes’ contributions to resilience remains a challenge. Our synthesis and holistic framework represent a starting point for critical application of resilience concepts to fisheries social‐ecological systems.

Assessing Cephalopods Fisheries in the Strait of Sicily by Using Poor Data Modeling

Cephalopods, including octopuses, squids, and cuttlefishes, are exploited by both bottom trawl and small-scale fisheries (SSF) in most of the Mediterranean areas. Bottom trawl fisheries regard cephalopods as a valuable bycatch, whereas for SSF, they are among the main target species. Cephalopods account for a relatively small proportion of the total landings in the Mediterranean. However, from an economic point of view, four cephalopods, Eledone cirrhosa, Eledone moschata, Octopus vulgaris, and Sepia officinalis, account for approximately 15% of the total landing value. Despite their economic importance, there are very few stock assessments of cephalopods in the Mediterranean because it is difficult to assess them by classical age-based methods, given their short life-cycles, and highly variable growth and recruitment. The production of E. cirrhosa, E. moschata, Illex coindettii, Loligo vulgaris, O. vulgaris, S. officinalis, and Todaropsis eblanae in the waters off the south of Sicily accounts for approximately 8% of the total Mediterranean yield of cephalopods. This study presents the first attempt to assess the state of these cephalopods in the Strait of Sicily by using surplus production models. Since species-wise landing statistics may be unreliable because of their morphological similarity, some octopuses (E. cirrhosa and E. moschata) and ommastrephid squids (I. coindetii and T. eblanae) were assessed combined. Landing data and abundance indices from trawl surveys were used to describe cephalopod stock dynamics through the Bayesian State Space Schaefer model (BSM) and Surplus Production model in Continuous Time (SPiCT) models. As survey data were not considered reliable indicators of their abundance, O. vulgaris, S. officinalis, and L. vulgaris stocks were assessed using the Catch-Maximum Sustainable Yield (CMSY) model. Overall, squid and cuttlefish stocks were observed to be in healthy conditions. However, assessments of octopus stocks indicated that their condition was critical or recovering. Here, we discuss the different stock statuses in the light of evolving fisheries and environmental factors in the area over time. Although cephalopods are not a priority in the current management system of Mediterranean fisheries, the importance of these species in the food web and their relevance for SSF underline their importance and their exploitation status should be periodically evaluated.

Cooperation and conflict in the small-scale fisheries of Puerto Rico

This study aimed to answer the calls to understand where, when, and how fisheries conflict and fisheries cooperation trends emerge in the small-scale fisheries systems for the small-island U.S. territory of Puerto Rico. Exploration of the dynamics between the date, location, drivers, and actors involved in conflict and cooperation interactions related to fisheries resources was achieved by creating a database via media content analysis and a qualitative social network analysis approach. During the timeframe of 2010–2019, a total of 35 fisheries conflicts and 133 fisheries cooperation events were identified. The primary drivers of all fisheries conflict events in Puerto Rico were maritime crime, an actual or perceived decline in fish populations, ecosystem change, cross national actors, poverty, marginalization, and strategic location of fisheries. The primary drivers of all fisheries cooperation events were an actual or perceived decline in fish populations and ecosystem change. Of all the cooperation events coded, nearly three quarters fell under meetings, third-party support, or negotiation requests. While half of the fisheries conflict events fell under fines, permit denials, or negotiations halted. Social network analysis revealed a gap in direct cooperation networks between regional environmental managers and fishers, suggesting an opportunity for stronger co-management agreements; there is potential for these agreements to be incentivized by existing links between fishers and university actors and NGOs.

Evidence of ecosystem overfishing in U.S. large marine ecosystems

AbstractMarine capture fisheries in the U.S. are important from a societal, cultural, economic, and ecological perspective. Although fisheries in the U.S. are generally well-managed, they still face some challenges as do most fisheries around the world. To address these challenges, a broader, more systematic approach is useful. There is a global need to develop measures of ecosystem overfishing (EOF) that detect overfishing of an entire ecosystem using readily available data and based on widely repeatable patterns. These EOF indicators extend the thinking beyond single stock overfishing to an entire ecosystem and are largely based on well-established trophic theory. Moreover, these EOF indicators need to be germane for both data rich and especially data limited situations, easily interpretable, and relatively simple to calculate. Here, I present the results of several of these indicators—the Ryther, Fogarty, and Friedland indices—as well as indices based on cumulative biomass-Trophic Level curve parameters for eight U.S. Large Marine Ecosystems (LMEs). Significantly, all these EOF indicators also have thresholds beyond which EOF is indicated, particularly when coupled with other evidence. Evidence for EOF is suggested for two of the eight U.S. LMEs. Even apart from EOF thresholds, detecting whether EOF is occurring, or how debatable the proposed EOF thresholds are, there are multiple benefits from monitoring these ecosystem-level indicators. Detecting patterns and trends in overall fishing changes for an ecosystem is chief among them. Additionally, EOF indicators detected changes in these LMEs at least 2–3 years, even up to 5 years prior to major impacts that might not be identified by piecing together fishing impacts on a stock-by-stock basis; thus, the EOF indicators could serve as an early warning signal. I propose that instead of starting with the history of which stocks have been assessed or even with what we deem most valuable, we look at the entire system of fisheries in an LME and if EOF is detected, explore means to address excess fishing pressure systematically before delving into the details of specific stocks. I conclude that EOF measures need to be monitored, EOF thresholds refined, and if EOF is detected then the means to mitigate total fishing pressure in an ecosystem should be explored.

Human‐induced evolution: Signatures, processes and mechanisms underneath anthropogenic footprints on natural systems

The impact of human activities on the global environment has increased to such an extent that the current geological era has been coined the Anthropocene. Studies dedicated to understanding the evolutionary consequences of human‐induced selection on all levels of diversity (species, populations, traits, genes) provide direct knowledge about the mechanisms underlying species' responses and their evolutionary potential. A better understanding of the effects of human‐induced selection is needed to leverage evolved mechanisms to develop appropriate conservation programmes to guarantee the maintenance of healthy systems. In this special issue, we focus on different types of human‐mediated selection pressures, from the direct harvesting of individuals (e.g. hunting, fishing), to the more pervasive effects of climate change. Contributions highlight the diversity of human‐induced selection pressures ranging from fisheries, trophy‐hunting, poaching and domestication to climate change, and pollution. With those, we question whether there are parallel evolutionary solutions across fisheries systems, whether hunting pressures alter population dynamics and population structure, and whether climate change is an evolutionary dead‐end. The contributions reflect the direction of travel of the field and the solutions to mitigate the impact of human activities.