scholarly journals Evaluating the bio-economic performance of a Callo de hacha (Atrina maura, Atrina tuberculosa & Pinna rugosa) fishery restoration plan in La Paz, Mexico

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Juliano Palacios-Abrantes ◽  
Salvador Rodríguez ◽  
Juliana Herrera-Correal ◽  
Jacy Brunkow ◽  
Renato Molina
Keyword(s):  
Management Strategies ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Regional Economies ◽  
Fishing Community ◽  
Active Monitoring ◽  
La Paz ◽  
Governmental Organization ◽  
Small Scale Fisheries ◽  
Pen Shell ◽  
Shell Fishery

mall-scale fisheries are large contributors to regional economies and livelihoods in coastal communities of Latin America. While Mexico is one of the cases where small-scale fisheries play an important role, overfishing and poor management strategies have led to the collapse of many of its fisheries. The callo de hacha scallop fishery of the Ensenada de La Paz in Baja California Sur is an example of such a fishery which, after years of mismanagement, was closed by the Mexican authorities in 2009. The present study evaluated the recovery efforts in the cove and the potential outcomes of a collaboration between a non-governmental organization and a fishing community working towards the restoration of this pen-shell fishery. After more than four years of closure and active monitoring of the recovering process, the callo de hacha population has shown a significant population recovery, with potential solvency for reopening fishing activities. Four scenarios of uncertainty are evaluated with two of them providing positive net present values from reopening the fishery. We also document the involvement of a non-governmental organization with a fishing community, which created social capital and, in our opinion, was essential for a successful restoration. Having an actively involved community helped raise funds for the fishing closure so fishers were able to comply with Mexican legislation; it also fostered community building and self-organization that will be crucial to maintaining the sustainability of the fishery.

scholarly journals A Framework for Simulating Ecosystem Effects in Data-Poor Small-Scale Fisheries Using Science-Based and Local Ecological Knowledge-Based Models

2022 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manuel J. Zetina-Rejón ◽  
Gladis A. López-Ibarra ◽  
Lorena Rocha-Tejeda ◽  
Alesa Flores-Guzmán ◽  
Inés López-Ercilla ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Local Ecological Knowledge ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Ecological Indicators ◽  
Marine Ecosystems ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Ecological Knowledge ◽  
Quantitative Models ◽  
Small Scale Fisheries ◽  
Qualitative Models ◽  
Species Removal

The constant demand for seafood products and the undeniable effects of fishing on marine ecosystems make it urgent to implement an ecosystem approach, even in data-poor scenarios such as small-scale fisheries. Understanding the impacts of fishing is essential for promoting management strategies that prevent irreversible damage to marine ecosystems. Thus, ecosystem quantitative science-based models have been frequently used to evaluate the effects of fishing, although fishers’ local ecological knowledge (LEK) can aid the implementation of qualitative models, particularly in data-poor conditions. Here, we present a framework for simulating and assessing the effects of fishing following two strategies: (1) for both types of models, we simulated species removal scenarios, and (2) for quantitative science-based models, we fitted time series to dynamically assessed impacts. The impacts were analyzed through ecological indicators commonly used for quantitative models, and because these indicators cannot be easily estimated for qualitative models, we propose the use of topological indicators in both types of models. The approach was applied to three case studies of small-scale finfish fisheries in northwestern Mexico. We found that the ecosystem response to species removal was different in each case study and that the target species can play an important role in ecosystems, but their removal does not generate abrupt changes in the ecosystem structure. The quantitative science-based models were able to reproduce the historical catch trends, which allowed us to reveal that changes in ecosystems are indeed influenced by fishing effort but also by underlying primary productivity. Furthermore, topological and ecological indicators showed similar trends in the quantitative models, which suggests that the former could be useful when data-poor conditions allow only qualitative models. This result confirms the relevance of the participation of fishers in generating qualitative models and their decisive role in the discussion of co-management strategies and risk scenarios in a better-informed manner.

Using stakeholder’s perspectives of ‘Managed Access’ to guide management efforts in small-scale fisheries

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-10
Author(s):  
Chad A Bowman ◽  
Stephen C Mangi ◽  
Hazel A Oxenford
Keyword(s):  
Q Methodology ◽  
Scientific Information ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Fishing Effort ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Financial Investment ◽  
Small Scale Fisheries ◽  
Stakeholder Groups ◽  
Systems Implementation ◽  
Financial Investments

Summary Controlling and monitoring fishing effort and understanding human perspectives on fisheries management strategies are paramount to the successful management and sustainability of fisheries. Open-access fishing, which is commonplace in the small-scale fisheries (SSFs) of developing countries, poses severe challenges to management, and to address many of these challenges, Belize implemented a country-wide rights-based fishery (RBF) management strategy known as Managed Access (MA). This study uses Q methodology to explore the perspectives of four key stakeholder groups on the early impacts of the strategy, revealing five distinct perspectives. Perspective 1 supported MA but believed some components needed revision. Perspective 2 had high confidence in MA and expected improvements with financial investments. Perspective 3 did not believe in the strategy and expressed frustration with it not protecting fishers’ rights. Perspective 4 captured the biological concerns not addressed by the strategy, while Perspective 5 focused on the strategy’s inability to make the fisheries more profitable thus far. The different perspectives indicate that MA will be unlikely to meet its objectives without more financial investment in enforcement and stakeholder engagement, research and the strengthening of institutional capacity. This study contributes to the scarce scientific information on the early stages of RBF systems implementation in SSFs.

scholarly journals Community Development Quotas and Support of Small-Scale Fisheries as Two Key Concepts for Blue Growth in Fisheries

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erik Sulanke ◽  
Sandra Rybicki
Keyword(s):  
Community Development ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Environmentally Friendly ◽  
Growth Strategy ◽  
Growth Potential ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Full Time ◽  
Growth Strategies ◽  
Small Scale Fisheries ◽  
Blue Growth

Blue Growth has become one of the key topics of ocean management. It is defined as a holistic framework for an environmentally friendly and socio-economically sustainable development of ocean-related activities with a special emphasis on technological innovation. Capture fisheries are widely considered to have no substantial growth potential and consequently are not subject to the European Union’s Blue Growth strategy. In our review, we, however, argue that capture fisheries should play an essential role in national Blue Growth strategies. We identified two interconnected management strategies to foster Blue Growth in fisheries, a) the implementation of Community Development Quota (CDQ) systems and b) the support of small-scale fisheries (SSF). They hold the potential to benefit fishery-dependent coastal communities and therefore counteract consolidations in the fishing sector. Additionally, they provide the possibility to improve quota access for small-scale fishermen. Besides having better access to quota, the future of SSF depends on sources of public funding for technical improvement and innovation as well as increased representation in the management. In this perspective, we present different cases that successfully implemented CDQs (the Alaska pollock fishery) or have considerable potential to implement CDQ programs or improve their current approaches (United Kingdom, Ireland, and Iceland). We further discuss examples for successful management strategies to support SSF directly. If these aspects are considered in a Blue Growth strategy, the survival of fishery-dependent communities could be assured, and SSF could develop from predominantly part-time or subsistence fisheries to a full-time occupation. By those means, they would be part of a fostering Blue Economy and strengthen environmentally friendly and socio-economically sustainable fishing practices in Europe.

scholarly journals Interactions of small-scale fisheries in Mexico’s northwest Pacific

2020 ◽  
Vol 48 (1) ◽  
pp. 94-105
Author(s):  
Francisco Javier Mendoza-Portillo ◽  
Mauricio Ramírez-Rodríguez ◽  
Víctor Vargas-López
Keyword(s):  
Temporal Distribution ◽  
Fishing Effort ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Northwestern Pacific ◽  
Northwest Pacific ◽  
Temporal Complexity ◽  
Small Scale Fisheries ◽  
Management Perspective ◽  
Pen Shell ◽  
Management Schemes

In Mexico, as in other parts of the world, there is limited knowledge regarding the operation of small-scale fisheries. Also, there is an urgent need for the diversity of fisheries and their interactions, and the diversity of species to be analyzed on a regional level. In this study, the dynamics of the small-scale fleet operating in San Ignacio in the northwestern Pacific of the state of Baja California Sur were analyzed, recognizing the fishery’s multi-species and multi-gear character and its effect on the spatial and temporal distribution of the fishing effort. The operative units (OU) approach was applied; OUs are defined as the set of associated vessels that exploit one or more target species using similar fishing gears. The information about species, gears, sites and fishing seasons was obtained from interviews with 74 fishers. The OUs identified included: diving-pen shell scallop; diving-squalid callista; diving-Pismo clam; collection-black ark; trap-barred sand bass; trap-crab; trap-lobster; cast net-shrimp; bottom net-fish; surface net-fish; bottom net-shark. The variation in the activity of each OU is related to the availability of the resources, prices of the products and official restrictions. From a management perspective, this method helps to clarify which OUs adhere to specific rules associated with their métier and others, which are less well defined since their OU characteristics are associated with their fishery level. The definition and characterization of the OU, based on the local knowledge of the fishermen, assist the design of management schemes that consider the spatial and temporal complexity of the small-scale fisheries.

scholarly journals PARTICIPATORY DESIGN OF A MONITORING PROTOCOL FOR THE SMALL-SCALE FISHERIES AT THE COMMUNITY OF TARITUBA, PARATY, RJ, BRAZIL

2019 ◽  
Vol 22 ◽  
Author(s):  
ANA CAROLINA ESTEVES DIAS ◽  
CRISTIANA SIMÃO SEIXAS
Keyword(s):  
Participatory Design ◽  
Coastal Region ◽  
Ecosystem Approach ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Technical Knowledge ◽  
Southern Brazil ◽  
Fishing Community ◽  
Participatory Monitoring ◽  
Small Scale Fisheries ◽  
Monitoring Protocol

Abstract This paper aims to describe and analyze the design of the participatory monitoring protocol of Tarituba, a fishing community in Southern Brazil, and to discuss the setbacks for its implementation. The protocol aimed to integrate fishers’ scientific and technical knowledge under the ecosystem approach to fisheries, employing a pioneering method prevalent in the Brazilian coastal region: The Global Socioeconomic Monitoring Initiative for Coastal Management (SocMon). Monitoring goals lie in the socioecological sustainability of local fisheries and seek to solve conflicts resulting from fishing restriction due to the establishment of a Protected Area. SocMon was a useful tool to improve communication between and among fishers and managers. The legitimacy of the process was reinforced by participation of the fishers; however, the long waiting period preceding the implementation of the jointly agreed upon term caused frustration and mistrust amongst fishers, compromising future participation.

scholarly journals Applying bayesian population assessment models to artisanal, multispecies fisheries in the Northern Mokran Sea, Iran

2018 ◽  
Vol 28 ◽  
pp. 61-89
Author(s):  
Abdul Rashid Jamnia ◽  
Ahmad Ali Keikha ◽  
Mahmoud Ahmadpour ◽  
Abdoul Ahad Cissé ◽  
Mohammad Rokouei
Keyword(s):  
Fisheries Management ◽  
Stock Assessment ◽  
Bayesian Models ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Demersal Fish ◽  
Reference Points ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Parameter Estimates ◽  
Multiple Sources ◽  
Small Scale Fisheries

Small-scale fisheries substantially contribute to the reduction of poverty, local economies and food safety in many countries. However, limited and low-quality catches and effort data for small-scale fisheries complicate the stock assessment and management. Bayesian modelling has been advocated when assessing fisheries with limited data. Specifically, Bayesian models can incorporate information of the multiple sources, improve precision in the stock assessments and provide specific levels of uncertainty for estimating the relevant parameters. In this study, therefore, the state-space Bayesian generalised surplus production models will be used in order to estimate the stock status of fourteen Demersal fish species targeted by small-scale fisheries in Sistan and Baluchestan, Iran. The model was estimated using Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) and Gibbs Sampling. Model parameter estimates were evaluated by the formal convergence and stationarity diagnostic tests, indicating convergence and accuracy. They were also aligned with existing parameter estimates for fourteen species of the other locations. This suggests model reliability and demonstrates the utility of Bayesian models. According to estimated fisheries’ management reference points, all assessed fish stocks appear to be overfished. Overfishing considered, the current fisheries management strategies for the small-scale fisheries may need some adjustments to warrant the long-term viability of the fisheries.

scholarly journals Multiple drivers behind mislabeling of fish from artisanal fisheries in La Paz, Mexico

PeerJ ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
pp. e10750
Author(s):  
Adrian Munguia-Vega ◽  
Amy Hudson Weaver ◽  
José F. Domínguez-Contreras ◽  
Hoyt Peckham
Keyword(s):  
Economic Incentives ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Motivating Factors ◽  
La Paz ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Focal Species ◽  
Global Challenge ◽  
Small Scale Fisheries ◽  
Commercial Species ◽  
Preferred Species

Seafood mislabeling has the potential to mask changes in the supply of species due to overfishing, while also preventing consumers from making informed choices about the origin, quality and sustainability of their food. Thus, there is a need to understand mislabeling and analyze the potential causes behind it to propose solutions. We conducted a COI DNA barcoding study in La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico, with 74 samples from fish markets and 50 samples from restaurants. We identified 38 species sold under 19 commercial names, from which at least ∼80% came from local small-scale fisheries. Overall, 49 samples, representing 40% (95% CI [31.4–48.3]) were considered mislabeled in our samples. Based on analyses where species were assigned to three price categories, economic incentives were associated with approximately half of the mislabeling events observed, suggesting that other motivating factors might simultaneously be at play. Using a network approach to describe both mislabeling (when species are mislabeled as the focal species) and substitution (when the focal species is used as substitute for others), we calculated proxies for the net availability of each species in the market. We found that local fish landings were a significant predictor of the net availability of the 10 most important commercial species at retail, but this true availability was masked to the eyes of the final consumer by both mislabeling and substitution. We hypothesize that the level of supply of each species could help explain mislabeling and substitution rates, where species in low supply and high demand could show higher mislabeling rates and rarely be used as substitutes, while species in high supply and low demand could be used as substitutes for the preferred species. Other factors affecting mislabeling include national regulations that restrict the fishing or commercialization of certain species and local and global campaigns that discourage specific patterns of consumption. We discuss how these factors might influence mislabeling and propose some solutions related to communication and education efforts to this local and global challenge.

Values Underlying Preferences for Adaptive Governance in a Chilean Small-Scale Fishing Community

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sarah A. Ebel ◽  
Christine M. Beitl ◽  
Michael P. Torre
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Change ◽  
Environmental Governance ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Adaptive Governance ◽  
Fishing Community ◽  
A Value ◽  
Ways Of Life ◽  
Value Frames

Environmental change requires individuals and institutions to facilitate adaptive governance. However, facilitating adaptive governance may be difficult because resource users’ perceptions of desirable ways of life vary. These perceptions influence preferences related to environmental governance and may stem from the ways individuals subjectively value their work and their connections to their environment. This paper uses a value-based approach to examine individual and institutional preferences for adaptive governance in Carelmapu, Chile. We show that two groups had different value frames rooted in divergent ontologies which influenced their actions related to adaptive governance, creating conflict.

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