A framework for adaptive gear and ecosystem‐based management in the artisanal coral reef fishery of Papua New Guinea

• 1. Artisanal fishing on coral reefs in Papua New Guinea is an important livelihood activity that is managed primarily at the level of local communities. Pockets of overexploitation exist and are expected to increase with plans for increased commercialization.
• 2. This paper provides a current assessment of the artisanal multi‐species coral reef fishery by examining selectivity of the dominant gear, namely line fishing, spearguns, and gill nets. Each gear has its own strengths and weaknesses in terms of use and conservation of resources, with no clear problem gear.
• 3. The three gears utilize different resources but there was moderate overlap in the species caught, particularly between gill nets and line fishing and marginally between lines and spearguns. Gill nets have the disadvantage of being destructive to coral and the advantage of catching commercial species. Line fishing catches an intermediate number of species but mostly large‐bodied and predatory species that could potentially reduce predation and the mean trophic level of the fishery. Spearguns catch the highest numbers of species, including many non‐commercial and herbivorous fish and could reduce the diversity of fish and encourage algal growth.
• 4. This information could be used in combination with scientific monitoring and traditional ecological knowledge to develop an adaptive management framework that uses local restrictions on the various gears to restore or balance the fishery and ecosystem. Restrictions could be selectively imposed: on gill nets when coral cover is low, line fishing when large‐bodied predators are depleted, and spearguns when biodiversity is reduced and algal abundance high.

Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Impacts of fishing,river flow and connectivity loss on the conservation of a migratory fish population

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Fishery benefits from behavioural modification of fishes in periodically harvested fisheries closures

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Comparative analysis of artisanal and recreational fisheries for Dentex dentex in a Marine Protected Area

The common dentex, Dentex dentex (L.), is an iconic marine coastal fish in the Mediterranean Sea. This study was performed in the Bonifacio Strait Natural Reserve (BSNR), (NW Mediterranean Sea). The aims were to: (1) evaluate temporal variation of the artisanal fishing of common dentex (2000–2012); (2) compare and quantify catch rates, fishing techniques and catch composition for artisanal and recreational fisheries, and determine the influence of management measures by both activities; and (3) estimate the production of both artisanal and recreational fisheries. Fishery data were collected from different artisanal fishing surveys (onboard fishing vessels and landings) and recreational fishing surveys (roving). The gears with the highest rates of exploitation were longline (3554 g per 100 hooks) and Trolling (351 g boat^?1 h^?1 ±SE), respectively, for artisanal and recreational fishing. This study showed that catches by both activities were quantitatively higher in partially protected areas than outside them. Production estimations suggest that the recreational fishery contributes significantly to fishing mortality and that it can magnify the negative effects of artisanal fisheries. Specific measures are needed for the sustainable fishery management of common dentex.     

Gear-based management of a tropical artisanal fishery based on species selectivity and capture size

The population density, species composition and lengths of fish landed by artisanal fishermen using six types of gear: large and small traps, gill nets, hand lines, spears and beach seines were studied in the multi‐species fishery of southern Kenya. Selectivity and catch composition among gears were determined by studying the species richness, diversity, size and mean trophic level of the catches for each gear type, to develop gear‐based management recommendations for this artisanal reef lagoon fishery. One hundred and sixty‐three reef and reef‐associated species from 37 families were recorded in the catch. Beach seines and small traps accounted for the highest number of fish landed (34–35 individuals per fisherman per day). These gears also caught smaller fish than big traps, spears and gill nets. Beach seines caught the highest number of species (14 ± 7 species per day) while most other gears caught four to five species per day with no differences between gears. Predatory species with a mean trophic level of 3.6 dominated catches from hand lines, while the mean trophic level of the other gears was low and ranged from 2.6 to 2.9 with no differences between the gears. The high diversity and small size of fish caught in beach seines indicates that its selectivity overlapped most with large traps and gill nets. Spears and small traps also showed high similarity in species selectivity and small traps captured the smaller mean size of fish, indicating that they are likely to pre‐empt the resource of spears. Large traps, hand lines and spears catch the largest individuals and the species composition of the catch differed sufficiently such that their selectivity should overlap the least and may, therefore, be the preferred mix of gears. The elimination or reduction of beach seines and small traps should reduce the catch of small fish and overlap in selectivity among the existing gears.     

A socio-economic perspective on gear-based management in an artisanal fishery in south-west Madagascar

Abstract  Artisanal fisheries are important socially, nutritionally and economically. Poverty is common in communities dependent on such fisheries, making sustainable management difficult. Poverty based on material style of life (MSL) was assessed, livelihoods surveyed and the relationship between these factors and fishery data collected using a fish landing study were examined. Species richness, diversity, size and mean trophic level of catches were determined for six fishing gears in an artisanal fishery in south-west Madagascar. There was little livelihood diversification and respondents were highly dependent on the fishery. No relationship was found between poverty and gear use. This suggests that poverty does not have a major impact on the nature of the fishery; however, this study was dominated by poor households, so it remains possible that communities with more variation in wealth might show differences in fishing methods according to this parameter. The fishery was heavily exploited with a predominance of small fish in the catches. Beach seines caught some of the smallest fish, overlapped in selectivity with gill nets and also had the highest catch per fishers. Thus, a reduction in the number of beach seines could help reduce the catch of small fish and the overlap in selectivity among gears.     

Trap modification opens new gates to achieve sustainable coral reef fisheries

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Projections of the impacts of gear‐modification on the recovery of fish catches and ecosystem function in an impoverished fishery

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Changes in life history and ecological characteristics of coral reef fish catch composition with increasing fishery management

Abstract Length, life history and ecological characteristics of landed fish communities were studied over a 10‐year period to test theories of fishing disturbance during a time of increased gear and closure management in heavily utilised fisheries. It was predicted that with greater management restrictions: (1) the earliest and fastest responses in the fishery will be seen in those species with faster turnovers, or relatively lower vulnerabilities to fishing; (2) the fishery would transition to a landed catch with higher mean trophic levels, and greater mean body lengths. In addition, the removal of a non‐selective, small‐mesh seine nets should benefit the catch of gears that previously had the greatest species selectivity overlap with the seine net. Many predictions were supported, although maximum lengths and lengths at maturity responded more rapidly than anticipated. The response to eliminating the non‐selective seine net was a more rapid increase in sizes caught by gears with a larger overlap in size (hook and lines) than species selectivity (gill nets). The simultaneous comparison of management systems over time indicates that open‐access fishing grounds can benefit from restrictions imposed in adjacent fishing grounds. The study indicated that multi‐species coral reef fisheries management objectives of maximising yields, as well as maintaining the fish community’s life‐history diversity, require management trade‐offs that balance local socio‐economic and biodiversity needs.     

Biological implications of recreational shore angling and harvest in a marine reserve: the case of Cape Creus

• 1. Recreational shore fishing along the coast of the marine reserve of Cap de Creus (NW Mediterranean) was studied in 2007 and 2009 based on roving creel surveys (on‐site angler surveys during which anglers' harvests are examined by the survey clerk). The study aimed to assess the biological impacts of this leisure activity on coastal fish stocks and the potential risks arising from the use of exotic baits.
• 2. Recreational shore fishers employ seven different fishing techniques, of which the bottom fishing rod (a fishing rod whose hooks, together with the bait, lie on the bottom or near it by means of a heavy weight) is by far the most widely used method (nearly 90% of observations). In total, 25 fish species were identified in the catch from the bottom fishing rod.
• 3. The estimated annual shore fishing catches (c.3 tons) are much lower than those obtained by recreational boat and spear fishing (c.20 tons each), and those from commercial (artisanal) fishing (c.50 tons). The weighted mean vulnerability index and trophic level values in the catch from the bottom fishing rod are 52.2 and 4.03, respectively.
• 4. A minimum of 43% of the baits used by the shore anglers were live, non‐native species (mostly polychaetes).
• 5. Overall, results highlight the impact of shore angling on coastal fish communities of a protected area and the increasing environmental risks arising from the use of exotic marine baits, which constitute a potential and unregulated vector of introduction of non‐native species in the Mediterranean. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

     

Eff icacy of angler catch data as a population and conservation monitoring tool for the f lagship Mahseer f ishes (Tor spp.) of Southern India

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Are circle hooks effective management measures in the pelagic longline fishery for sharks in the Gulf of Gabès?

1. This study evaluated the circle hook use as a tool for shark management in the pelagic longline fishery in the Gulf of Gabès.
2. The usual J‐hook No. 2 with 10° offset, which has been traditionally used by the fishery, was compared to the 18/0 non‐offset circle hook in an alternating fashion along the main line. In total, 22 experimental longline sets were deployed through the shark fishing seasons of 2016 and 2017 to examine the effects of hook types on the catch composition, the catch rates, the hooking location, and the status at haulback.
3. The catch composition differed significantly among hook types. Moreover, an overall increase in catch rates for the main species, the sandbar shark Carcharhinus plumbeus, and the shortfin mako shark Isurus oxyrinchus, was observed when using circle hooks.
4. There was no size‐selective effect of circle hooks for the common species. The circle hooks were not effective at reducing at‐haulback mortality of sandbar shark. Conversely, shortfin mako and smooth‐hound shark Mustelus mustelus showed significantly lower relative mortality at haulback with circle hooks than with J‐hooks. Furthermore, circle hooks were more frequently hooked externally than the J‐hooks for the three shark species.
5. Results demonstrated that the use of 18/0 non‐offset circle hooks in the pelagic shark longline fishery can reduce mortality at haulback for some species without any benefit for the dominant species, the sandbar shark.
6. Overall, it is difficult to promote the adoption of the use of circle hooks as a management measure in this specialized fishery. Management measures focusing on fishing effort controls, fishing closures in critical habitats, and size limits could have significant benefits for the conservation of shark species and may help to improve the sustainability of the shark fishery in the Gulf of Gabès.

     

Coral reef fish communities in management systems with unregulated fishing and small fisheries closures compared with lightly fished reefs – Maldives vs. Kenya

• 1. This study presents a comparison of the benthic cover and fish communities in three widely different management systems: (1) a heavily utilized subsistence fishery (yields >5 Mg km^?2 yr^?1); (2) moderately sized and well enforced fisheries closures (～9% of the nearshore area) surrounded by heavy fishing; and (3) a more lightly used management system (yields <5 Mg km^?2 yr^?1).
• 2. The objective was to compare management systems of small to moderate‐sized closures surrounded by heavy use in Kenya with a large‐scale light‐use management system in the Maldives.
• 3. Gross level attributes of the fish community suggest that the Maldives reefs had higher numbers of individuals (30%) and species (15%) than the Kenyan closures.
• 4. Maldivian reefs had higher abundance of some carnivores such as emperors (Lethrinidae), jacks (Carangidae), triggerfish (Balistidae), and trumpetfishes (Aulostomidae). Half the biomass of fish in the Maldives was, however, composed of surgeonfish (Acanthuridae), which resulted in a higher abundance of herbivores/detritivores than found in Kenyan closures.
• 5. Apex predator species were not a large portion of the biomass (<10%) in any system and, if remote reefs of the Pacific are examples of undisturbed ecosystems, then neither management system has fully protected apex species.

Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Fish assemblages of Red Sea backreef biotopes

• 1. Fish assemblages of shallow‐lagoonal biotopes (seagrass beds, coral patches, reef flat and sand) were examined within the Nabq Managed Resource Protected Area (MRPA), South Sinai, Egypt. This protected area supports a small‐scale artisanal Bedouin fishery, managed by gear restrictions and a network of no‐take zones (NTZs).
• 2. Coral patches showed highest species richness and diversity of fish, followed in order by the reef flat, shallow seagrass beds and sandy bottoms.
• 3. There were clear differences in fish assemblages between the biotopes surveyed, little differences between sampling areas and no significant differences in fish assemblages between no‐take and take zones, suggesting species characteristic of these shallow‐water biotopes are dispersed along the coast irrespective of fishing pressure.
• 4. Nine species (Acanthurus nigrofuscus, Asterropteryx semipunctatus, Cryptocentrus caeruleopunctatus, Cheilio inermis, Thalassoma rueppellii, Lethrinus mahsena, Lethrinus nebulosus, Parupeneus forsskali and Pomacentrus trilineatus) had a 95% correlation to the pattern of assemblage distribution, indicating these species are the most important determinants of the fish community.
• 5. Approximately one‐third of fishes recorded appeared to be juveniles, with seagrass beds having a particularly high proportion of juvenile fish, including several commercial species.
• 6. The structure of the fish assemblage and fish size suggests that shallow‐water biotopes in Nabq MRPA may be acting as nursery areas of commercial fish for the Bedouin fishery.

Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Overview of loggerhead turtles coastal nets interactions in the Mediterranean Sea

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Probarbus jullieni and Probarbus labeamajor: the management and conservation of two of the largest fish species in the Mekong River in southern Laos

• 1. Probarbus jullieni and Probarbus labeamajor are two of the largest carps in the Mekong River Basin, each reaching a maximum weight of about 70 kg. P. jullieni is listed in Appendix 1 of the Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species, and both are listed on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, the first as ‘endangered’ and the second as ‘data deficient’.
• 2. Six years of quantitative monitoring of a large‐meshed gill net fishery for Probarbus just below the Khone Falls in Khong district, Champasak province, in southern Laos shows that 78% of the overall catch is comprised of Probarbus, with P. jullieni making up 65% of landings.
• 3. Over the 6‐year period catches of Probarbus declined significantly. However, catch‐per‐unit effort statistics do not indicate that the fishery is in decline, although fishers are convinced that real stock reductions are a large part of the reason for catch declines and decreases in fishing effort.
• 4. A number of ecological and social factors are affecting the number and quality of gill nets in use, the length of fishing seasons, and gill net efficiency, making it difficult to compare catch‐per‐unit effort between years.
• 5. There has been a shift from using large‐meshed gill nets for catching Probarbus to targeting smaller species using gill nets with smaller mesh‐sizes. This is an example of the ‘fishing down’ of a Mekong fish community, in which large long‐lived species are the first to be affected by heavy fishing pressure.

Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The demise of Darwin's fishes: evidence of fishing down and illegal shark finning in the Galápagos Islands

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The commercial exploitation of a protected anadromous species,the river lamprey (Lampetra fluviatilis (L.)), in the tidal River Ouse,north‐east England

• 1. Throughout Europe, populations of anadromous fish and lampreys have declined over the past centuries due to human activities. River lamprey Lampetra fluviatilis are representative of such species and are listed in international conservation agreements.
• 2. Historic (1908–09 to 1913–14) and modern (1995–96 to 2003–04) data were available on commercial catches of river lampreys in the tidal Ouse, north‐east England. During 2003–04, additional traps were operated by the University of Durham, downstream of the commercial fishery.
• 3. Catch per unit effort (CPUE) in the modern commercial fishery showed considerable variation between fishing seasons, ranging from a median CPUE of 0.5 lampreys per trap per day in 2000–01 to a median of 22.3 lampreys per trap per day in 2003–04.
• 4. The estimated catch of adult river lampreys each season in the historic fishery ranged between 25 500 (1913–14) and 54 500 (1910–11). Recent catches tended to be smaller, with a minimum catch of 9083 lampreys (2000–01) and a maximum of 30 992 lampreys (2003–04).
• 5. CPUE increased with discharge, up to a point above which CPUE declined with further increase in discharge. Migratory activity may be reduced at high flows and not stimulated at low flows, although the fishing efficiency of the traps themselves was probably reduced during high flows.
• 6. Samples of river lampreys caught in the university's traps were marked and released. Based upon the number of recaptures, the absolute minimum relative exploitation level of the commercial traps, over the whole fishing season, was estimated as 9.9%. The effect of such a reduction in the spawning population upon future recruitment is at present unknown.
• 7. The population of river lampreys in the tidal Ouse is potentially threatened by an unregulated increase in fishing effort. Current legislation needs to be modified to allow effective fishery management.

Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Artisanal fisheries in urban reservoirs: a case study from Brazil (Billings Reservoir, São Paulo Metropolitan Region)

Billings Reservoir is an urban reservoir located in the São Paulo Metropolitan Region. It supports 101 active artisanal fishermen. To describe this fishery, landings were recorded daily between February 1996 and January 1997 at Colônia (23° 50' 57' S; 46° 40' 02' W). In every landing, a data collector recorded catch, effort, fishing gears and fishing grounds. A total of 147 593 kg of fish were recorded in 3515 fishing trips. The exotic Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (L.), was the main species exploited (81.4% of the annual catches). Five other species were also targeted: the characid Astyanax eigenmaniorum (Cope) (13.0% of the annual catches); the erythrinid Hoplias aff . malabaricus (Block) (2.1%); the exotic cyprinid Cyprinus carpio L. (Campos & Fernández-Yépez) (2.4%); the curimatid Cyphocharax modestus L. (1.1%); and the pimelodid Rhamdia sp. (0.1%). Two main groups of fishermen were discriminated using Principal Components Analysis; these were associated with the type of fishing gear and fishing strategies, i.e. those who exploited Nile tilapia with cast nets and beating gill nets, and those who exploited other species with set gill nets. Management and maintenance of this fishery should consider the positive top-down effects that Nile tilapia could have in controlling eutrophication and also the social benefits.