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Abstract European policy-makers are increasingly aware of the ecological and socioeconomic relevance of marine recreational fisheries (MRF), but there are still gaps in the information needed to achieve sustainable management. How is the current management of European MRF performed? Is it promoting the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries (EAF)? The management of MRF in Europe was reviewed by analyzing how different European regulations align with the EAF in different geographic and administrative scales. Text mining tools were used to identify key concepts and analyze the text of legal regulations on MRF in the European Union (EU), Portugal, Spain and the United Kingdom (UK). Also, the Ecosystem Fisheries Legal Assessment (EFLA) framework was used to assess the alignment of the regulations with the EAF. The number of regulations about MRF in Spain and Portugal is higher than in the UK and the EU, probably because the relative higher importance of regional regulations in Spain and Portugal, and the limitations imposed to recreational fishers in marine protected areas (MPAs). The lack of specific regulations on MRF in the EU, and open-access in the UK for recreational fishers, except for Atlantic salmon Salmo salar , explain their lower number of regulations. The EFLA framework showed that the European public policies on MRF follow the EAF principles. Enough attention is payed to ecological components, but socio-economic sustainability could be improved. However, policy efficiency could be lower than expected because potential institutional misfits derived from the eventual confluence of different spatial scales. Highlights • The management of marine recreational fisheries (MRF) in Europe was analyzed. • There are not specific regulations on MRF in the EU. • Legal frameworks are bigger in southern countries, like Spain and Portugal. • European public policies on MRF follow Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries principles. • Socio-economic sustainability of MRF could be improved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Worldwide, commercial small-scale fisheries are under increasing pressure. The study examines trends in a commercial Baltic Sea fishery with a special focus on the German small-scale fishery (both part-time and full-time fishery) over a period of 21 years (2000–2021) against the background of the declines in the two main target species of the fishery, namely western Baltic spring-spawning herring (Clupea harengus) and western Baltic cod (Gadus morhua). Landings, revenues, and the number of fishing businesses and vessels of the commercial fishery decreased over the past 21 years although the decline of the number of vessels was less pronounced for the small-scale fishery. The proportion of part-time fishers slightly increased locally. Fishers less dependent on cod and herring responded to declining revenues by diversifying their catches, and the proportion of revenues from flatfish, freshwater and diadromous fish species increased. The study was supplemented by a questionnaire sent to part-time fishers and excerpts from in-depth interviews with full-time fishers to add context to the study. The interviews indicated that family tradition, self-actualization, and nature experience but also a lack of alternatives due to the old age of fishers caused them to continue fishing despite poor economic prospects. A realistic assessment of the challenges and opportunities facing small-scale fisheries and the inclusion of social dimensions in fisheries policies are necessary, not least to develop incentives for small-scale fishers at the regional and local level to promote sustainable fisheries and facilitate fisher's diversification. • Landings, revenues and the number of fishing vessels and businesses of the German Baltic Sea small-scale fishery declined over the past 21 years. • Diversification of catches and income sources have partly compensated income losses from fisheries. • Non-monetary motives and the old age of fishers may have contributed to the fact that fishers continue fishing despite bad economic prospects. • Objectives such as ensuring fishers' livelihood diversification within fisheries policy are crucial for sustainable fisheries management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite recent progress in the study of the German Baltic Small-Scale Fishery (SSF), there is still a lack of relevant data and quantitative assessments of the SSF sector's key characteristics (e.g. fleet, catch). Moreover, little insight exists on the impacts of past environmental and management changes on the German Baltic SSF. Using a spatial database developed specifically for the German Baltic SSF sector, we assess the sector's key structural and operational characteristics (vessel numbers, gears, landings and target species) to review its development during the period between 2000-09. We link exhibited trends with changes that took place in the wider Baltic Sea region in fisheries' resource abundance and management, in order to provide insights in the sector's adaptation potential to past changes. Results suggest that the SSF was affected by changes in the abundance and allocation of fishing opportunities (TACs) of major target species (herring and cod) and technical measures for fishing gear. There is also evidence to suggest that the SSF was affected by measures directed to the activity of the Large-Scale Fishery (LSF). We argue that such an approach can provide new insights on the impacts of future management changes or incidents of environmental variability on the SSF sector and is crucial in order to effectively integrate SSFs within policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bycatch of seabirds and marine mammals in gillnet fisheries is a major hazard for conservation globally. Measures for bycatch mitigation in fisheries management mostly base on technological and ecological findings and they generally assume fishers as a homogenous group that is supposed to apply new technology or act according to the latest ecological insights. There is often a lack of knowledge about the heterogeneity of fishers′ actions and drivers, despite its importance for effective fisheries management. For the specific case of the German gillnet fleet in the Baltic Sea a qualitative social-science research approach was chosen to generate knowledge that can inform management. In applying the concept of agency , three types of fishers′ actions are distinguished: projective (future-oriented), evaluative (present-oriented) and iterational (past-oriented). Fishers′ attitude towards incidental bycatch differed between viewing bycatch as a normal part of the daily routine or as a disturbing event. These findings are discussed in the context of management instruments, such as closed fishing zones and seasons, brought up during an expert workshop. It is concluded that considering fishers′ agency may be an important contribution to design effective management instruments to mitigate bycatch of seabirds and marine mammals in gillnet fisheries. • The documentary method is used to identify different types of fishers′ agency. • German gillnet fishers can act projective, evaluative or iterational. • Fishers′ discourse on bycatch differed between normalizing and non-normalizing. • This can help develop informed management instruments to mitigate bycatch. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European eel ( Anguilla anguilla ) is a commercially and recreationally important fishery target species. In the last decades, the eel has experienced dramatic stock declines and has been listed as critically endangered. To reduce fishing mortality, several European countries have closed the fishery or introduced stricter management measures which increase the likelihood of catch-and-release in the recreational fishery. This study investigated hook shedding mechanisms of deep-hooked, line-cut eels via radiography, and quantified hook shedding rates, post-release mortality and sub-lethal effects in captivity. Eels were caught with four different hook treatments, monitored in a tank for 23 weeks, and radiographed 0, 1, 3, 10, 24, 54, 115 and 163 days after capture. After 163 days, total hook shedding rate was significantly higher for smaller hooks (41.2%) compared to larger hooks (0.0%), and increased with fish length. Post-release mortality rates ranged between 27.3% and 50.0% after 23 weeks (not adjusted for handling and holding) and did not differ significantly between hook treatments. The majority of dead eels showed gastric perforations caused by the hooks leading to internal haemorrhaging and the intrusion of digestive fluids into the body cavity inducing lethal degradation and inflammation of vital organs. Anglers are encouraged to minimise bycatch of eel in countries where eel harvest is prohibited. Anglers targeting eel should use selective and appropriate fishing gears, baits and tactics (e.g. very large hooks, immediate hook setting after a bite) to reduce deep hooking and the catch of undersized eels, ultimately promoting the eel's conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]