Urban Fisheries Research Articles

Description of fish cultivation and production results of fish farming group in Palembang City

Indonesia has enormous fishery potential. The city of Palembang is one area where the government encourages the development of urban fishery businesses through the establishment of fishery groups. Until now, the topic of urban fisheries on cultivation methods and production results and farmers' income has not been studied much. The research aims to · Describe the cultivation process in aquaculture groups in the Palembang City. · Analyzing the production results of fish farming groups in Palembang City · Analyzing the income of fish cultivating groups in Palembang City. The results of this research are useful as a foundation for developing urban fisheries. This research was conducted in Gandus and Sukarami Districts, Palembang City. This study used a survey method with an unbalanced layered random sampling method. The number of samples is 100 people. The method of analysis using the scoring method, Spearman correlation statistical testing. This shows that in the future it is necessary to continue to increase the participation of fish cultivators in groups, improve group work programs to provide increased production capacity and fish cultivating businesses, increase the role of fishery extension workers, establish collaborative programs with stakeholders for fishery development in Palembang City.

Species identification in fish meal from urban fisheries biomass with DNA metabarcoding analysis

AbstractAs demand for ingredients for fish feed has increased, fish meal and fish oil converted from fisheries by‐products have gained importance as ingredients to replace forage fish. It has been demonstrated that high quality fish oil and fish meal made from urban fisheries biomass, which is fisheries by‐products collected downstream in the seafood supply chain, could be produced. However, a problem with this is that traceability is not ensured due to the wide variety of fish used. Here, a DNA metabarcoding method for monitoring biodiversity was applied to fish meal from the fisheries biomass produced in Japan. This method was shown to be able to detect fish species present at more than 0.001% by weight, and quantitatively detect more than 0.01% by weight; we successfully detected 81–122 species in amplicon sequence variants obtained from fish meals collected throughout a 1‐year period. Bray–Curtis similarity classified the samples into two clusters: one in spring to autumn and one in winter, indicating a considerable influence of skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis) on the fish constituting the fisheries biomass. Among the detected fish species present at more than 0.01% in fish meal, southern bluefin tuna (Thunnus maccoyii) and Japanese eel (Anguilla japonica) might be of concern for their stock and illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishery risks. However, from the food recycling perspective, fish oil and fish meal from the fisheries biomass should be utilized, as long as these fish comprised in the biomass are not caught for feed purposes.

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.

Relative Catchability of Channel Catfish and Blue Catfish × Channel Catfish Hybrids by Anglers in Put‐and‐Take Urban Fisheries

AbstractTexas’ Neighborhood Fishin’ Program provides close‐to‐home angling opportunities within nine large metropolitan areas to increase angling participation among urban constituents. Water bodies (0.4–2.4 ha) are typically stocked with harvestable (≈305 mm TL) Channel Catfish (CCF) Ictalurus punctatus to provide high‐catch, successful fishing experiences. However, fish producers have been increasingly rearing and stocking lower‐maintenance, faster‐growing CCF × Blue Catfish I. furcatus hybrids to reduce costs. Although recent research in put–grow–take fisheries has suggested no differences in catchability, a number of Texas anglers utilizing these put‐and‐take fisheries have reported lower catch rates of hybrids. Thus, we evaluated relative catchability between the two fish types by stocking equal numbers of uniquely marked CCF and hybrids simultaneously into four Neighborhood Fishin’ Program water bodies on three occasions during 2018. Harvest of each type was measured during five systematic daily creel surveys across a 2‐week period, with the first interviews occurring during the day of each stocking event. Nearly five times more CCF were harvested than hybrids during the first daily creel survey after each stocking event, but harvest of CCF declined significantly by the second daily creel survey. There were no significant differences in harvest between types among subsequent daily creels (surveys 2–5) over the 2‐week creel periods. Few uniquely marked fish of either type were harvested in daily creel surveys 4 and 5. Despite the varying harvest rates, anglers remained satisfied or extremely satisfied throughout the 2‐week creel periods. Our results indicate that CCF are more accessible to anglers than hybrids immediately after stocking. Managers’ choice of which type to stock should depend on relevant fishery objectives. Although CCF will likely produce higher initial catch rates, stocking a mixture of CCF and hybrids may provide a longer‐term fishery that still produces catch rates high enough to maintain or enhance angler satisfaction.

The Socio-ecological System of Urban Fisheries in Estuaries

Fisheries and urban marine ecology meet within the world’s densely populated estuaries and coasts, where the imperative of dredging, construction and catchment modification occurs alongside the socio-economic characteristics of urban communities. Estuarine fisheries in urban areas have often shifted away from commercial harvest towards recreational fishing, fuelled by a diverse range of motivational factors. These systems are thus often dominated by recreational and subsistence fisheries, with the fisheries system variously impacted by eutrophication, contamination and pollution, altered trophic structure, habitat loss and hard structure. Urban marine ecosystems may be distinguished by the absence of spawning by exploited finfish, coupled with the gradual loss of environmental signals for recruitment, reduced larval supply and loss of nursery habitats for juveniles, but alongside an abundance of hard structure habitats for adults. The shift from commercial fishing to preferential harvest of more predatory “sportfish” means that the historical trophic structure has shifted towards lower trophic levels (e.g. prawns, detritivores, planktivores). We outline urban estuarine fisheries ecology as a developing paradigm defined by the unique ecological attributes of urbanised estuaries, the socio-economic objectives of fishers therein, and bottlenecks to productivity of the species they exploit. We identify goals for future research and management and illustrate these concepts through discussion of stock enhancement with a large estuarine predatory fish.

Modeling recreational fishing intensity in a complex urbanised estuary

Urbanised estuaries, ports and harbours are often utilised for recreational purposes, notably recreational angling. Yet there has been little quantitative assessment of the footprint and intensity of these activities at scales suitable for spatial management. Urban and industrialised estuaries have previously been considered as having low conservation value, perhaps due to issues with contamination and disturbance. Studies in recent decades have demonstrated that many of these systems are still highly biodiverse and of high value to local residents. As a response, urbanised estuaries are now being considered by coastal spatial management initiatives, where assessments of recreational use in these areas can help avoid ‘user-environmental’ and ‘user-user’ conflict. The models of these activities need to be developed at a scale relevant to governments and regulatory authorities, but the few human-use models that do exist integrate fishing intensity to a regional or even continental scale; too large to capture the fine scale variation inherent in complex urban fisheries. Species Distribution Modeling (SDM) is a tool commonly used to assess drivers of species range, but can be applied to models of recreational fishing in complex environments, at a scale relevant to regulatory bodies. Using point-data from 573 visual surveys with recently developed Poisson point process models, we examine the recreational fishery in Australia's busiest estuarine port, Sydney Harbour. We demonstrate the utility of these models for understanding the distribution of boat and shore-based fishers, and the effects of a range of temporally static (geographical) and dynamic (weather) predictors on these distributions.

How diverse are preferences for urban fisheries? Evidence from a choice experiment

ABSTRACT We used a choice experiment to learn about preference heterogeneity in the demand for urban fishing areas. The experiment featured a pair of small city lakes with catfish and sunfish, as well as several non-catch attributes, in a dual-response design that allowed subjects to rank their preferences for the two lakes and a no-fishing alternative. Based on responses from anglers living in the Oklahoma City metropolitan area, we found evidence of heterogeneity in the desirability of catfish and sunfish, including between male and female anglers. We did not find strong evidence that preferences for catfish and sunfish associate with race, although compared to white anglers, racial minority anglers significantly preferred fishing rather than the stay-home alternative in the experiment. We estimate that, on average, anglers are willing to pay approximately $2 to catch a catfish and $0.50 to catch a sunfish at small city lakes.

Fish Oil and Fish Meal Production from Urban Fisheries Biomass in Japan

Finding an alternative feed source for the replacement of fish oil (FO) and fish meal (FM) produced from whole fish has been an important issue for realizing sustainable aquaculture. In this study, fishery by-products generated in the distribution phase, known as urban fisheries biomass (UFB), were focused on. The quality parameter and nutrient components of FO and FM from UFB were analyzed. Although crude FO produced from UFB showed relatively poor quality properties, the refinement process made an improvement of the quality to make it comparable to commercially available FO. There is no big variation in several samples in fatty acid profiles of FO and amino acid profiles of FM, and they seem to be able to replace FO and FM from whole fish in the diet for cultured fish. The utilization of UFB should be promoted in economic and ecologic aspects; however, in use of the FM, there remains a risk of intra-species recycling that might lead to transmissible spongiform encephalopathy. Furthermore, we must take into consideration the possibility of contamination of fishery products from at-risk species and illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fisheries due to the lack of regulations in Japan.

An (Urban) Political Ecology approach to Small-Scale Fisheries in the Global South

This article applies an (Urban) Political Ecology lens to an urban fishing community in India to understand how people are affected by coastal transformations involving intertwined socio-economic and biophysical processes. Despite urbanization proceeding swiftly across most of the world, the literature on Small-Scale Fisheries has only partially included urbanization processes in its analysis. This is unfortunate, we argue, since urban fisheries can enrich the field by providing insights into complex settings of emerging economic opportunity colliding with traditional livelihoods and community belonging. In such settings rapid biophysical shifts, including those of built nature, become intimately entangled with social transformations under intensifying, politically contested, economic activities. To capture these dynamics, we construct a framework consisting of three theoretical concepts from Political Ecology and Urban Political Ecology; the assemblage of the social and the natural, contested urban landscapes, and identity politics. We conclude that theoretical insights from (Urban) Political Ecology can help Small-Scale Fisheries research understand the inter-relatedness of human and biophysical environments in co-constituting contested coastal transformations. This is since fishing lives and livelihoods do not only depend on the ability to access and control marine resources, but also on the possibilities to stake claims over dynamic coastal spaces, under the influence of wider political and economic transitions like those generated by urbanisation.

More than Just Fishing: The Formation of Livelihood Strategies in an Urban Fishing Community in Mangaluru, India

This article examines livelihood strategies of fishers and youth in an urban fishing community in India. Situated next to the busiest fishing harbour in Karnataka, I show how proximity to the city provides fishers and youth broader occupational choices to diversify their livelihoods by intensifying or taking on several fisheries-based activities, moving into the service sector, or getting urban jobs. Urban conditions have largely influenced how fishers and youth decide their livelihood strategy. The article shows how the fishers and youth have employed livelihood diversification via both accumulation and risk management strategies. Due to the lack of analysis drawing on urban fisheries case studies, the narratives of small-scale fisheries have largely been based on rural contexts, which often portrait small-scale fishers as either inefficient or vulnerable. This study, however, allows us to open up existing small-scale fisheries narratives to view fishers as active agents. Therefore, this study calls for more systematic emphasis on studying urban implications in small-scale fishing communities with important repercussions for urban fishers and their livelihood strategies.

Understanding the relationships between water quality, recreational fishing practices, and human health in Phoenix, Arizona

Across the United States, recreational freshwater fisheries are not only an important leisure activity, but can also provide a relatively inexpensive source of protein in local diets. However, recreational freshwater fisheries are generally not well-monitored in terms of fish consumption vs. catch and release, nor are all recreational surface waters regularly monitored for the presence of potentially harmful contaminants in water or fishes. In six urban lakes that support recreational fisheries in Phoenix, Arizona, a majority of surveyed anglers reported eating recreationally caught fishes, even though they thought the water might be polluted. Surface water samples collected from the six urban recreational fishery lakes showed varying levels of organic contaminants, including pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and phthalates. As many Phoenix urban recreational fisheries lakes and ponds are located in low income and high minority neighborhoods, the results of this pilot study could be used to inform urban fisheries management and other agencies of the potential need for fish consumption advisories, inform actions to improve water quality in urban lakes and ponds that support urban fisheries, and support further research and monitoring, in order to reduce potential risks to public health.

Urban Recreational Fisheries in the Australian Coastal Zone: The Sustainability Challenge

Recreational fishing is an important wildlife harvesting activity in urban coastal areas, and recreational harvest in these areas can frequently exceed the commercial harvest. Recreational fishing is a key way that many members of the public experience the environment. The activity enhances social capital, promotes respect for nature, provides health benefits and can provide economic benefits to coastal communities. It is also an important driver of the science on aquatic animals and habitats, and an important tangible reason for many members of the public to conserve and protect aquatic resources. Overall, there has been little specific consideration of urban recreational fisheries management in Australia, despite the paramount importance of urban areas as a focus of recreational fishing activity. This paper identifies that in order to maximize individual and societal benefits from recreational fishing, there needs to be a refocussing of management with the aim of being more holistic. Historically, fisheries management in Australia has focused on maximum sustainable yield (MSY) or maximum economic yield (MEY) which is relevant for the commercial fishing sector, but neither of these is directly relevant to recreational fisheries. This paper identifies that Urban Fisheries Management Plans are required that recognize the specific issues associated with urban recreational fisheries. These plans need to coordinate within and between levels of government and have clear management objectives relevant to urban recreational fisheries. Enhanced opportunities for meaningful citizen science can be incorporated at multiple levels within these plans and this can engender public support for environmental stewardship, as well as fill a very important gap in the knowledge base necessary for managing the activity. As urban recreational fisheries are often occurring in highly modified or degraded habitats, a central element of these plans needs to be habitat restoration and this can have broader benefits for aquatic health. Other management tools include habitat creation (e.g., artificial reefs), optimization of coastal infrastructure as fisheries habitat, and stock enhancement. Overall, Urban Fisheries Management Plans represent a necessary evolution of fisheries management to better address the specific challenges of urban recreational fisheries management, and to best ensure that benefits are optimised.

Describing Urban Artisanal Fisheries in Vietnam's Lower Mekong River: A Student's Ventures into Fisheries Science

Describing Urban Artisanal Fisheries in Vietnam's Lower Mekong River: A Student's Ventures into Fisheries Science

Estimating Demand for Urban Fisheries Management: an Illustration of Conjoint Analysis as a Tool for Fisheries Managers

AbstractThis paper illustrates the use of discrete‐choice analysis, a nonmarket valuation technique, for assessing the effect of different management or fishing site quality variables on demand for urban fisheries. The study was carried out in three fishing ponds that are a part of the Close‐to‐Home Fishing Program in the Oklahoma City metropolitan area. We found that, on average, anglers were willing to pay more for physical infrastructure improvements, such as flush toilets ($3.81/year) and docks ($1.28/year), than for having larger channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus stocked (.23/year for a 4‐in increase). Willingness to pay for improvements to the ponds was less for minority anglers than for other anglers. Having relative values for potential management changes for a fishery helps to inform fisheries managers about what characteristics are valued most by anglers, allowing managers to better serve the anglers' interest and to justify the costs of implementing these changes.

Analysis of Sustainability, Growth, and Development of a Leading Microfinance Institution in Bangladesh-Case Study on TMSS

Analysis of Sustainability, Growth, and Development of a Leading Microfinance Institution in Bangladesh-Case Study on TMSS

Understanding the heterogeneity of recreational anglers across an urban–rural gradient in a metropolitan area (Berlin, Germany), with implications for fisheries management

Increasing urbanization world-wide challenges recreational fisheries management due to its negative impact on angling participation rates. To be prepared to confront this challenge, a better understanding of the human dimensions of urban and rural angler groups is needed. Based on a mail survey, this paper describes the differences in demographics, participation, satisfactions and management preferences among four segments of anglers across an urban–rural gradient of Berlin, Germany. Angler segments included: rural residents, suburban residents, urban residents who fished only in rural areas, and urban residents who also fished in urban areas. Urban residents who fished urban fisheries were the most committed and avid anglers, whereas urban residents who fished rural fisheries were least committed. Urban and rural residents differed in species preferences and catch and harvest levels. Angler satisfaction was related to the catch aspects of the fishing experience irrespective of the place of residence, but individual satisfaction components differently affected angling-year satisfaction in urban and rural anglers. Most anglers perceived stocking to be the most promising approach for improving angling conditions. To promote the fishing experience of urban residents, managers could increase catch opportunities and relax the current ban on night fishing in Berlin. However, given the large out-of-the-city angling effort of urban residents, rural fisheries managers need to consider urban people as important users of rural fisheries. Urban residents who fish exclusively outside the city represent a unique target market for rural fisheries as these anglers are highly mobile and willing to spend large amounts of money, while at the same time catching less fish than rural residents or urban anglers.

The Perspectives on Urban Fisheries Management: Results of a Workshop

Abstract A workshop of 20 urban fisheries specialists convened in December 1991 to discuss the progress and future direction of urban fisheries. The participants agreed there is a need for urban fishing opportunities, and urban fisheries management is sufficiently different from traditional fisheries management as to be recognized as a separate program. The group defined the scope of urban fisheries management as “providing or enhancing public fishing opportunities so people can fish where they live.” Three objectives for urban fisheries programs were identified: increase recreational fishing opportunities, develop and increase environmental awareness and conservation ethics in anglers and nonanglers, and increase participation in recreational fishing. The participants delineated roles (functions and activities) necessary for successful urban fisheries programs and identified the entities responsible for these roles. This workshop emphasized that future urban fisheries programs will require cooperative ef...