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European coastline has undergone a transformation in becoming a significant sector of the economy. The economic importance of aquaculture, coastal and maritime tourism, and industry based on oceanic energy is crucial for explaining that transformation. The European “blue growth” generates employment and economic opportunities but could have major environmental effects on coastal zones. This could become inimical to small-scale fishing and those communities that depend heavily on fishing. This paper studies the Spanish fishers’ perceptions to the linkages between the Blue Growth and small-scale fishing. Results show a significantly positive attitude toward potential contribution of blue growth to socioeconomic development and a significantly negative perception on environmental impact of such activities. Interactions are identified as well as possible opportunities that Blue Growth could offer to small-scale fishing. Recommendations for Blue Growth strategy are provided.Keywords: Perceptions and attitudes, Environmental-economic synergies, Blue economy, Small-scale fishing, Coastal management.JEL: C13, Q01, Q56.

La filière pêche bretonne est souvent considérée comme homogène alors qu’elle recèle de rapports de force, reflets d’une diversité de tailles d’entreprises, d’intérêts économiques ou politiques et de sensibilités écologiques. Nous avançons dans cet article l’hypothèse d’une lutte de classe originale au secteur, opposant non seulement les gros armements, concentrant actuellement les capitaux et les droits de pêche, à leurs ouvriers matelots exploités sur les ponts hauturiers, mais aussi aux petits artisans qu’ils concurrencent sur zone de pêche. Matelots et artisans ont en commun la subalternité vis-à-vis de ces armements industriels, ainsi que la recherche d’une capacité d’action qui s’exprime souvent de manière infra-politique. L’article montre comment s’organisent ces rapports de force : une naturalisation des rapports de pouvoir s’opère et il convient d’en analyser les effets. The Breton fishing industry is often considered homogeneous, even though it conceals power relations that reflect a diversity of company sizes, economic and political interests and ecological sensitivities. This article is based upon the hypothesis of a particular class struggle in the sector, opposing the large corporations that concentrate capital and fishing rights not only to their workers on the deep-sea decks, but also to small-scale artisanal fishermen. Independent sailors and industrial deckhands have in common their subalternity towards these industrial corporations, as well as the search for an agency that is often expressed infra-politically. The article aims at deconstructing the naturalization of power relations, and analysing its effects.

The predicted future shortfall in seafood production from tropical small-scale fisheries demands support to help diversify income streams and food production for coastal communities. Livelihood diversification can comprise the enhancement or addition of components to existing fisheries, yet the likely socioeconomic impacts are unclear. With a long history of nondeleterious introductions, the marine snail "trochus" (Rochia nilotica) was introduced to Samoa from 2003 to 2006 to offer a new artisanal fishery resource. Some 15 years later, we surveyed 303 fishers using structured questionnaires and mixed effects models to evaluate how the fishery has contributed to fisher well-being and what factors have influenced the socioeconomic impacts. Most fishers consumed part of their catch and both fisherwomen and fishermen shared harvests informally within communities, thereby bolstering resilience of the social-ecological systems at the community level. More than one-quarter of fishers sold part of their catch and the new earnings represented 17% of their gross income from all sources. Fishing incomes were gender equitable and influenced by fishing frequency and capital assets (boats). Most fishers were satisfied with income from the relatively new fishery and improved income was reported by a majority of fishers, especially those younger and less experienced. Additional money from the fishery was most often spent on food, church tithing, and school fees. This relatively new fishery fostered positive well-being outcomes that were gender inclusive. Extrapolations of annual incomes across the fishery reveal a rapid return on investment from foreign-aid funded development. The study reveals that certain coastal artisanal fisheries can be gender equitable and that benefits are likely underestimated because of subsistence consumption and informal distribution networks. Diversifying the marine resources accessible to small-scale fishers offers a promising strategy to support coastal livelihoods and strengthen resilience of social-ecological systems.

Small-scale fishermen, in contrast to industrial fishing boats, develop a sustainable relationship with their activity from three perspectives: social, economic, and environmental. From this hypothesis, we analyze the ethnographic material obtained in extensive fieldwork (in-depth interviews and participant observation) developed in the four main ports of the region of Murcia (Spain). From this field work the existence of two other types of fishermen (life-modes) besides small-scale fishermen is derived: small entrepreneurs and wage-earners. In different proportions, all three share the consequences of the various reforms to the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP). Despite the similarities, this paper shows different strategies, in each of the cases, that justify their permanence in their activity, taking into account the labor modality, as well as their relationship with the idea of sustainability. Conclusions show that because small-scale self-employed fishermen are involved much more than the two other life-modes in the totality of tasks related to their profession in that they own both the means and relations of production (simple commodity production), they are best placed to achieve social, economic, and environmental sustainability.

Corral fishing is one of the most traditional ways of fishing in the coastal zone of Brazilian northern state of Pará. It is a very productive activity, which point out the cultural characteristics, the traditional knowledge and the social profile of the fishermen who perform it. This paper characterizes Corral fishing in the Algodoal-Maindeua Environmental Protection Area (APA Algodoal-Maiandeua), verifying the geographical positions of the corrals and the situation in which they are (active or inactive), considering the type of corral, the vegetal resources used for its construction, its origins, the assembly, the periodicity of the construction and the harvest. The results were obtained through field trips in order to map and define the area of study; identify corral fishermen and apply semi-structured interviews. Based on field surveys, we show that there are 111 corrals in the area, being in greater numbers in the village of Algodoal. The activity is mainly performed by men aged 52 and 85 years. The vegetable resources frequently used for the manufacture of the corrals are bacuri (Platonia insignis), caraipé (Licania sp.), jarana (Lecythis lurida) and buiuçú (Ormosia coutinhoi). The fish species most captured are Gó (Macrodon ancylodon), Piramutaba [Catfish] (Brachyplatystoma vaillantii), Dourada (Brachyplatystoma flavicans; Brachyplatystoma rousseauxii) and Uritinga (Arius proops), whereas species considered scarce in the region are the Mero (Epinephelus itajara), Tainha (Mugil spp.) and Xaréu (Caranx spp.). The research results provide support for the improvement of the management plan of the APA Algodoal-Maiandeua, as instrument capable of promoting the community and sustainable management of fisheries resources in the protected area. La pesca de corral es una de las formas más tradicionales de pesca en la zona costera del estado de Pará, en el norte de Brasil. Es una actividad muy productiva, lo que señala las características culturales, los conocimientos tradicionales y el perfil social de los pescadores que la realizan. El trabajo caracteriza la pesca de corral en el Área de Protección Ambiental Algodoal-Maindeua (APA Algodoal-Maiandeua), verificando las posiciones geográficas de los corrales y la situación en que se encuentran (activos o inactivos), considerando el tipo de corral, los recursos vegetales utilizados por su construcción, sus orígenes, el montaje, la periodicidad de la construcción y la cosecha. Los resultados se obtuvieron a través de trabajos de campo con el fin de mapear y delimitar el área de estudio; identificar a los pescadores de corral y aplicar entrevistas semiestructuradas. Con base en los relevamientos de campo, se ha verificado que existen 111 corrales en el área, estando en mayor número en el corregimiento de Algodoal. La actividad es realizada principalmente por hombres de 52 y 85 años. Los recursos vegetales frecuentemente utilizados para la fabricación de los corrales son el bacuri (Platonia insignis), el caraipé (Licania sp.), la jarana (Lecythis lurida) y el buiuçú (Ormosia coutinhoi). Las especies de peces más capturadas son Gó (Macrodon ancylodon), Piramutaba (Brachyplatystoma vaillantii), Dourada (Brachyplatystoma flavicans; Brachyplatystoma rousseauxii) y Uritinga (Arius proops), mientras que las especies consideradas escasas en la región son el Mero (Epinephelus itajara), Tainha (Mugil spp.) y Xaréu (Caranx spp.). Los resultados de la investigación sirven de apoyo para la mejora del plan de gestión de la APA Algodoal-Maiandeua, como instrumento capaz de promover la gestión comunitaria y sostenible de los recursos pesqueros en el área protegida. A pesca de curral é uma das formas mais tradicionais de pesca na zona costeira do estado do Pará, na Região Norte do Brasil. É uma atividade bastante produtiva, que destaca as características culturais, os saberes tradicionais e o perfil social dos pescadores que a realizam. Este artigo caracteriza a pesca de curral na Área de Proteção Ambiental Algodoal-Maindeua (APA Algodoal-Maiandeua), verificando as posições geográficas dos currais e a situação em que se encontram (ativos ou inativos), considerando o tipo de curral, os recursos vegetais utilizados pela sua construção, as suas origens, a montagem, a periodicidade da construção e a colheita. Os resultados foram obtidos por meio de trabalhos de campo para mapear e definir a área de estudo; identificar pescadores de curral e aplicar entrevistas semiestruturadas. Com base em levantamentos de campo, identificou-se que existem 111 currais na área, sendo em maior número na vila de Algodoal. A atividade é realizada principalmente por homens com idade entre 52 e 85 anos. Os recursos vegetais frequentemente utilizados para a confecção dos currais são o bacuri (Platonia insignis), caraipé (Licania sp.), jarana (Lecythis lurida) e buiuçú (Ormosia coutinhoi). As espécies de peixes mais capturadas são Gó (Macrodon ancylodon), Piramutaba (Brachyplatystoma vaillantii), Dourada (Brachyplatystoma flavicans; Brachyplatystoma rousseauxii) e Uritinga (Arius proops), enquanto as espécies consideradas escassas na região são o Mero (Epinephelus itajara), Tainha (Mugil spp.) e Xaréu (Caranx spp.). Os resultados da pesquisa fornecem subsídios para o aprimoramento do plano de manejo da APA Algodoal-Maiandeua, como instrumento capaz de promover o manejo comunitário e sustentável dos recursos pesqueiros na área protegida.

Fishing strategies, effort and harvests of small-scale fishers are important to understand for effective planning of regulatory measures and development programs. Gender differences in fishing can highlight inequities deserving transformative solutions, but might mask other important factors. We examined fishing modes, fishing frequency, catch-per-unit effort (CPUE), resource preferences and perceptions of fishery stock among artisanal gastropod (trochus) fishers in Samoa using structured questionnaires and mixed effects models. The fishery has an extremely modest carbon footprint of 20.4 tonnes of CO2 p.a., as few fishers used motorised boats. Trochus (Rochia nilotica), an introduced gastropod, was the second-most harvested resource, after fish, despite populations only being established in the past decade. Daily catch volume varied according to gender and villages (n = 34), and was also affected by fishing effort, experience, assets (boat), and fishing costs of fishers. Boat users had much higher CPUE than fishers without a boat. Fishers who practiced both gleaning and diving caught a greater diversity of marine resources; effects that explained otherwise seeming gender disparities. Trochus tended to be ranked more important (by catch volume) by women than men, and rank importance varied greatly among villages. Local ecological knowledge of fishers informed the historical colonisation of trochus around Samoa and current trends in population abundance. Fishing efficiency, catch diversity and perspectives about stocks were similar between fishermen and fisherwomen, when accounting for other explanatory variables. Greater importance of these shellfish to women, and gender similarities in many of the fishing responses, underscore the need to ensure equal representation of women in the decision making in small-scale fisheries.

Small-scale fishing is a significant activity from a socioeconomic, environmental and alimentary perspective; and is considered in the goal number 14 of the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development. In this global context, it is relevant to reveal its territorial traits in natural protected areas, which participate in international trade, as in the case of the Los Petenes Biosphere Reserve (282,858 ha). In order to reach this objective, the following aspects are recognized: infrastructure, the organization of the fishermen, the use of the resources and the commercial flows. The investigation, which uses both qualitative and quantitative data, is substantiated by the theory on the spatial organization of the economy. The results show a sector with good access to national and international commercialization channels, but with multiple territorial imbalances. La pesca a pequeña escala tiene una significativa perspectiva socioeconómica, ambiental y alimentaria; está conside­rada en la meta número 14 de la Agenda 2030 de Desarrollo Sostenible. En este marco global, resulta pertinente develar los rasgos territoriales de mencionada actividad en áreas protegidas que participan en el comercio internacional: tal es el caso de la Reserva de la Biosfera Los Petenes (282.858 ha). Para alcanzar dicho objetivo se reconocen: las infraestructuras, la organización de los pescadores, la explotación de los recursos y los flujos comerciales. La teoría de la Organización Espacial de la Economía funda­menta esta investigación que utiliza datos cuantitativos y cualitativos. Los resultados muestran un sector con buen acceso a los canales de comercialización nacional e internacional, pero con múltiples desajustes territoriales.

Artisanal fishing is a very important activity for the subsistence of coastal inhabitants in Latin American countries. Increasingly, what has traditionally been a rural activity is being enveloped by urban expansion, resulting in urban-based artisanal fishers. We administered 98 questionnaires to artisanal fishers along the Jalisco coast of the Bahia de Banderas, on the Pacific Coast of Mexico. Approximately half of the participants belonged to each of urban (Puerto Vallarta) or rural collectives. The aim of the study was to understand the differences and similarities between urban and rural fishers with respect to demographics, fishing behaviors, assessments of past, current, and future fishing resources, attitudes towards fisheries management, and perceptions of human-environment relationships. The respondents represented an aging demographic with a low level of education. They reported catching 27 different species of fish, primarily of the Family Lutjanidae, although rural fishers reported a greater variety of species captured. Half of the respondents supplement fishing with a second form of income, a trend that is more prevalent in rural fishers. Fishers indicated that fishing was better in the past and predicted it will be poorer in the future; rural fishers were more negative about fishing conditions. Almost all fishers were concerned about the health of fish populations and three-quarters of them felt that fish populations are disappearing. Specific fishing practices were the highest cited problems facing fishing and making changes to these problems was identified to improve fishing. Half the respondents felt that there is conflict between artisanal and commercial sport fishers, but this is more prevalent in urban fishers. Respondents indicated that fishery managers need to do their job (e.g. resource monitoring, enforcement) and apply fisheries laws in order to help improve regional fisheries. Overall, concerns for a future sustainable fishery are reflected in an ecocentric view of humanity and nature by both groups, although it is often statistically greater in urban fishers. These results provide an insight into differences between urban and rural fishers that can be useful for local fisheries collectives, regional and federal fisheries management agencies, as well as global approaches to small-scale fisheries.

The study looks at the problems facing coastal fishing communities. It highlights the impacts that, in the complex framework of the EU reforms, have manifested themselves on economic activities and on society. The aim of the paper is twofold: to examine small-scale artisanal fishing in an area of Southern Italy in order to develop resilience and diversification and at the same time to outline the profiles of local bluefish buyers to highlight development strategies for the sector. The research carried out through a direct survey by administering a questionnaire to fishermen operating in areas of Southern Italy and the data cross-referenced with the opinions of local consumers. A conjoint experiment, followed by a multiple correspondence analysis and cluster identification, was used to outline the profiles of local bluefish buyers. The results of the analysis reveal that the fish market and the restaurant sector are the main distribution channels preferred by fishermen. Furthermore, fishermen are very sensitive to environmental issues and are willing to collaborate and actively participate in the environmental protection of the sea. Consumers recognise the quality of local bluefish, and they implicitly perceive the sustainability of the method of capture. The results show the need to undertake synergistic actions for the fishing industry, capable of activating marketing strategies adequately to support, promote and develop the sector. The results of the study provide helpful information for food companies in order to better segment their market and target their consumers, as well as to effectively promote their product using brands, certifications and traceability.

We examine decision-making, shared authority, and pluralism as key characteristics for the effective co-management of natural resources. Drawing on the concept of network governance, we complement this approach by studying localized practices of governance that support existing and compensate for missing aspects in the regulation. The regime of territorial use rights for fisheries (TURF) in Chile is a recognized example of large-scale co-management that has given rise to local organizations that manage and exploit benthic resources. Based on multi-sited qualitative fieldwork across five regions, we analyze practices with respect to two governance objects: the deterrence of illegal fishing and the periodic assessment of the fisheries&rsquo, biology fields. Our analysis shows that local fisher organizations have institutionalized informal practices of surveillance and monitoring to fill in the gaps of existing regulations. Although fisher organizations and consultants&mdash, the so-called management and exploitation areas for benthic resources (AMERB)&mdash, have managed to operate the TURF regime, they depend on the government to enforce regulations and receive public subsidies to cover the costs of delegated governance tasks. We suggest that governance effectiveness could benefit from delegating additional authority to the local level. This would enhance the supervision of productive areas and better adaptation of national co-management regulations to the specific geographical context.

Small-scale fishing is a significant activity from a socioeconomic, environmental and alimentary perspective; and is considered in the goal number 14 of the Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development. In this global context, it is relevant to reveal its territorial traits in natural protected areas, which participate in international trade, as in the case of the Los Petenes Biosphere Reserve (282,858 ha). In order to reach this objective, the following aspects are recognized: infrastructure, the organization of the fishermen, the use of the resources and the commercial flows. The investigation, which uses both qualitative and quantitative data, is substantiated by the theory on the spatial organization of the economy. The results show a sector with good access to national and international commercialization channels, but with multiple territorial imbalances., La pesca a pequeña escala tiene una significativa perspectiva socioeconómica, ambiental y alimentaria; está conside­rada en la meta número 14 de la Agenda 2030 de Desarrollo Sostenible. En este marco global, resulta pertinente develar los rasgos territoriales de mencionada actividad en áreas protegidas que participan en el comercio internacional: tal es el caso de la Reserva de la Biosfera Los Petenes (282.858 ha). Para alcanzar dicho objetivo se reconocen: las infraestructuras, la organización de los pescadores, la explotación de los recursos y los flujos comerciales. La teoría de la Organización Espacial de la Economía funda­menta esta investigación que utiliza datos cuantitativos y cualitativos. Los resultados muestran un sector con buen acceso a los canales de comercialización nacional e internacional, pero con múltiples desajustes territoriales.

18 páginas, 10 figuras, 1 tabla, y 1 suplemento con 1 tabla y 1 figura., A striking occurrence of the gorgonian coral Ellisella paraplexauroides off the Chafarinas Islands (western Mediterranean) requires serious conservation attention owing to considerable damage initiated by small fishing operations. Although this gorgonian is among the largest Atlantic-Mediterranean invertebrates, its biology remains virtually unknown. The studied population, established within an area of regulated fishing, was in unusually shallow waters (12−32 m). Density averaged 0.5 colonies m−2 (max 5 m−2); colony volume averaged 48 ml (max 511 ml), height averaged 76 cm (max 167 cm), and number of branches averaged 16 (max 72). Allometric growth revealed increasing branching and thickening once colonies reached approximately 60 cm in height. Size distribution suggested moderate to low recruitment. Three geographic zones of fishing pressure (A−C) were semi-quantitatively identified, based on the activity of a small-scale fishing fleet: ‘A’ had the highest level of fishing pressure (frequent gillnetting, trolling lines, and occasional trawling); ‘B’ had the lowest level (occasional gillnetting and fishing lines), and ‘C’ an intermediate level. Most fishing gear was tangled in the gorgonians in zones A and C. Mortality and colony damage were significantly higher in zones with intensive and poorly regulated fishing activity and appeared unrelated to predation or disease. In high-pressure zone A, about half (44.6%) of the colonies were dead, while about 82% of the surviving colonies showed significant damage, with a large number of epibionts disrupting colony functioning. The Chafarinas population of E. paraplexauroides is likely a unique Mediterranean relic from a Mauritanian- Senegalese Pleistocene interglacial expansion but is now being seriously impacted by illegal fishing., The work conducted at the Chafarinas Islands was primarily funded by an OAPN research contract, but it also logistically benefited from BFU2008-00227/BMC grant to M.M.

Small scale fishing profits in two communities in the Upper Paraná River floodplain (Porto Rico - PRI and Porto São José - PSJ villages) are assessed based on interviews carried out with professional fishermen. There is a high illiteracy level in both PRI (50%) and PSJ (44.5%). The main contributions to income are "vessel costs" and "fish consumption" by the family. Specific tackle (such as cevadeira) and gear used for fishing close to dams make the gear costs higher at PSJ, emphasising the heterogeneity of the activity. The majority of fishermen in both villages have income complementation activities associated with tourism, because floodplain fishing is not a profitable occupation with any poverty alleviation capacity. Since the ecosystem is seriously disrupted, nowadays fishers are vulnerable to high oscillations in costs and income due to uncertainty in catches aggravated by flood control of the dams. A renda da pesca de pequena escala em duas comunidades na planície de inundação do Alto Rio Paraná (Porto Rico - PRI e Porto São José - PSJ) foi calculada a partir de informações com os pescadores profissionais. Há alto analfabetismo em PRI (50%) e PSJ (44,5%). Os itens que mais contribuem com a formação da renda são "custos com a embarcação" e "consumo do pescado pela família". Estratégias e tralhas específicas (como a cevadeira) são usadas para pescar perto da barragem e fazem os custos maiores em PSJ, destacando a heterogeneidade da atividade. A maioria dos pescadores em ambas as comunidades exercem atividades complementares à renda, como o turismo, já que a pesca não é uma atividade rentável. Uma vez que o ecossistema está seriamente fragmentado, os pescadores são altamente vulneráveis à oscilação em custos e lucros, devido à diminuição nas capturas, ocasionada entre outros fatores pelo controle de inundação exercido pelas barragens.

A standardised survey is used to investigate elasmobranch capture during commercial small-scale fishing operations in the Bijagós Archipelago (West Africa). Data refer to 211 landing episodes attributed to four main gears. Results show that elasmobranchs can constitute up to 10% of total capture. Five orders are identified and catch-per-unit-effort peaks for large-hook long-lines. The presence of both adult and neonate elasmobranch catch suggests fishing may occur inside nursery habitat.