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A focus of sea turtle management has been reducing bycatch in commercial fisheries, but sustainable harvest for consumption is also an important objective in many nations. Identifying how much different fisheries contribute to turtle mortality could help focus limited management resources. We estimated national scale turtle catches for two fisheries in the Solomon Islands: a small‐scale reef fishery where turtles are caught for food and sale, and an offshore longline fishery where turtles are bycatch. The footprint of the longline fishery spanned the entire exclusive economic zone of the Solomon Islands and was 67 times bigger than the footprint of the small‐scale fishery. The median catch summed across both fisheries was ∼12,000 turtles in 2018, with 85%–97% of that catch in the small‐scale fishery. We suggest that turtle management in the Solomon Islands, a nation with globally significant turtle breeding populations, should focus on sustainable management of small‐scale coastal fisheries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gyaros Island (Aegean Sea) is a recently (2019) established MPA in the Mediterranean Sea, allowing spatiotemporal small-scale fishing (SSF) activities with specific access rules. However, due to the inability of the state authorities to establish any fishing permit process, Gyaros MPA initially functioned as a No-Take Zone (NTZ), offering a rare opportunity for scientific monitoring. Significant political pressure by fisher organizations led to the opening of the MPA in June 2022 without any fishing permit restriction. The unprecedented 'race for fish' that followed led to a significant deterioration of the MPA status, as confirmed by scientific monitoring before and after the opening. Outcry from national media, based on concerns raised by the scientific community and NGOs, resulted in lifting access to fishing in September 2022, upgrading Gyaros MPA to a full NTZ. This study aimed to assess if and how the MPA functioning was impacted based on a series of experimental fishing trials and questionnaire surveys conducted with local fishers. Although a substantial part of the fishing community's mindset is embracing MPAs, our results also suggest that the self-interests of a fishers' minority, along with non-science-based policy by the national authorities, have led to overfishing and deterioration of MPA status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cold-Water Corals play a paramount role in marine benthic ecosystems, increasing their complexity and providing spawning and nursery habitats to many species. However, due to their sessile lifestyle and ramified shape they are commonly entangled in nets and even by-caught during the practice of bottom-contact fishing, which includes impacts from both large-scale activities such as trawling and small-scale fishing (e.g., trammel nets or pots). In this context, passive and active restoration measures are crucial to avoid their damage and disappearance, which might cause the consequent loss of complexity and biodiversity of marine benthic communities. With the aim of modifying these fishing practices in the Marine Protected Area of Cap de Creus (North-Western Mediterranean), small-scale fishers and scientists (marine biologists) started a Participatory Process in which they agreed to develop a joint marine conservation program combining two distinct projects: a restoration project of the Cold-Water Corals incidentally captured on fishing nets for their subsequent reintroduction at sea (RESCAP project) and also a project on mitigation of fishing impacts on marine benthic communities (MITICAP project). Collaborative actions were carried out including interviews and exchanges of information with the purpose of collecting all the knowledge required for conducting the actions of the projects. This study shows the results of the assessment throughout five years (2017-2022) of cooperative work and highlights how crucial it is to develop long-term and revisable ocean literacy strategies for ensuring a sustainable ocean governance. An ocean literacy test evaluated the scientific knowledge of fishers at the end of the projects and revealed that despite all the efforts applied, still more work is needed, which reinforces the importance of improving the strategies of knowledge transfer for MPA management. Under the coordination of marine social anthropologists, a Cultural Consensus Analysis was conducted with the fishers. Results revealed a protoculture that should be characterized and considered when developing management strategies in the area. Additionally, the Personal Network Analysis showed that fishers have become agents of change and transmitted the learnings of the projects to their communities, fishers from nearby guilds, local educational centers and even the press. Furthermore, a list of recommendations is provided to optimize the multisector opportunities emerging from collaborative projects with marine scientists and fishers in MPAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aside from environmental goals, the project on coastal resource management aims to promote local economic development through improvement in the socio-economic outcomes. This study aims to evaluate the impact of coastal resource management (CRM) implemented by the Visayas State university (VSU) from 2015 to 2017 in the Cuatro Islas Protected Landscape and Seascape (CIPLS). A quasi-experimental approach was used to evaluate impact of CRM on fish catch, income, and livelihood diversity by comparing the outcomes between project beneficiaries (CIPLS fishers) and non-beneficiaries (Pitogo fishers). Using KOBOCollect, 450 fishers were surveyed (CIPLS=200, Pitogo=250). Descriptive statistics show that most fishers are men, married, and with at least elementary level of education. On average, fishers are 45 years old with four household members and have an average monthly income of PHP 4,581.73. The majority of CIPLS fishers performed solo fishing. Mann-Whitney U test shows a significant difference in travel time, fishing hours, fishing revenue, fishing variable cost, and fishing gross income between CIPLS and Pitogo fishers. The analysis using propensity score matching (PSM) suggests CRM contributed to the increase in fish catch by 2.395kg a day, monthly income by PHP 1,595.50, and livelihood diversity by 0.275 among CIPLS fishers. This study recommended that CRM can be adopted in other coastal areas as a potential strategy to enhance the socio-economic status of the fishers and their families.

Cold-Water Corals play a paramount role in marine benthic ecosystems, increasing their complexity and providing spawning and nursery habitats to many species. However, due to their sessile lifestyle and ramified shape they are commonly entangled in nets and even by-caught during the practice of bottom-contact fishing, which includes impacts from both large-scale activities such as trawling and small-scale fishing (e.g., trammel nets or pots). In this context, passive and active restoration measures are crucial to avoid their damage and disappearance, which might cause the consequent loss of complexity and biodiversity of marine benthic communities. With the aim of modifying these fishing practices in the Marine Protected Area of Cap de Creus (North-Western Mediterranean), small-scale fishers and scientists (marine biologists) started a Participatory Process in which they agreed to develop a joint marine conservation program combining two distinct projects: a restoration project of the Cold-Water Corals incidentally captured on fishing nets for their subsequent reintroduction at sea (RESCAP project) and also a project on mitigation of fishing impacts on marine benthic communities (MITICAP project). Collaborative actions were carried out including interviews and exchanges of information with the purpose of collecting all the knowledge required for conducting the actions of the projects. This study shows the results of the assessment throughout five years (2017-2022) of cooperative work and highlights how crucial it is to develop long-term and revisable ocean literacy strategies for ensuring a sustainable ocean governance. An ocean literacy test evaluated the scientific knowledge of fishers at the end of the projects and revealed that despite all the efforts applied, still more work is needed, which reinforces the importance of improving the strategies of knowledge transfer for MPA management. Under the coordination of marine social anthropologists, a Cultural Consensus Analysis was conducted with the fishers. Results revealed a protoculture that should be characterized and considered when developing management strategies in the area. Additionally, the Personal Network Analysis showed that fishers have become agents of change and transmitted the learnings of the projects to their communities, fishers from nearby guilds, local educational centers and even the press. Furthermore, a list of recommendations is provided to optimize the multisector opportunities emerging from collaborative projects with marine scientists and fishers in MPAs.

Monitoring vessel activity is an important part of managing marine protected areas (MPAs), but small-scale fishing and recreational vessels that do not participate in cooperative vessel traffic systems require additional monitoring strategies. Marine Monitor (M2) is a shore-based, multi-sensor platform that integrates commercially available hardware, primarily X-band marine radar and optical cameras, with custom software to autonomously track and report on vessel activity regardless of participation in other tracking systems. By utilizing established commercial hardware, the radar system is appropriate for supporting the management of coastal, small-scale MPAs. Data collected in the field are transferred to the cloud to provide a continuous record of activity and identify prohibited activities in real-time using behavior characteristics. To support the needs of MPA managers, both hardware and software improvements have been made over time, including ruggedizing equipment for the marine environment and powering systems in remote locations. Case studies are presented comparing data collection by both radar and the Automatic Identification System (AIS) in urban and remote locations. At the South La Jolla State Marine Reserve near San Diego, CA, USA, 93% of vessel activity (defined as the cumulative time vessels spent in the MPA) was identified exclusively by radar from November 2022 through January 2023. At the Caye Bokel Conservation Area, within the Turneffe Atoll Marine Reserve offshore of Belize, 98% was identified exclusively by radar from April through October 2022. Spatial and temporal patterns of radar-detected and AIS activity also differed at both sites. These case study site results together demonstrate the common and persistent presence of small-scale vessel activity near coastal MPAs that is not documented by cooperative systems. Therefore, an integrated radar system can be a useful tool for independent monitoring, supporting a comprehensive understanding of vessel activity in a variety of areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The blue economy concept has drawn global attention to the maritime economy, recognising expanding maritime industries such as shipping as crucial drivers of economic growth. In recent decades, seaports have correspondingly witnessed significant expansion, allowing them to play a substantial role in achieving blue growth. This study examines the challenges faced by small-scale fishing actors in gaining access to fishing livelihoods in coastal fishing communities close to Ghanaian ports. Drawing on political ecology, the study demonstrates how securitisation in port areas and dispossession has resulted in unstable fishing livelihoods in port communities. The study shows that the growth-oriented goals of port expansions and port security measures have restricted fishing communities’ access to coastal fishing spaces and caused congestion in the canoe bays of Ghana’s fishing harbours. In addition, the urbanisation around the ports has impacted fishers’ ability to meet the rising cost of living in fishing communities with fishing incomes. Furthermore, the study discusses how the new Jamestown fishing harbour complex project has displaced small-scale fishing actors and become a site of contestation between a coastal fishing community and local government authorities. In conclusion, as coastal fishing actors lose their only source of livelihood, resistance may escalate into different forms of maritime conflicts in the blue economy. The study recommends addressing the marginalisation and exclusion of traditional coastal fishing livelihoods to ensure a more equitable blue economy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 14, associated with sustainable fishing, are important in the path to be taken to achieve better global well-being, especially due to their affinity with the principles of common good and social and solidarity economy. This study aims to identify the performance of Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) countries in the SDG 14 indicators for sustainable fishing, as well as analyze the relationships between sustainable fishing and food security. Based on the SDG panels, the frequency distribution of countries at different performance levels of the indicators was observed. Furthermore, a canonical correlation analysis was carried out seeking to identify the multivariate effects of sustainable fishing on food security. The results show mediocre progress, with an emphasis on protecting the access rights of small fishermen. Empirical evidence also shows that there is an influence of sustainable fishing on the level of food security, with great emphasis on a better birthweight and greater food security for the general population. Combating illegal, unregistered, and unregulated fishing and a greater proportion of fishing activity in countries' economies are moving towards (the same direction) the improvement in food security. These findings suggest that policymakers should be more supportive of promoting sustainable fishing, especially when based on the principles of common good and the social and solidarity economy. Policy support and the involvement of fishermen in the decision-making process can enhance small-scale fishing as a strategy for sustainable development and, specifically, for the generation of community well-being. • SSF can reconcile the common good and social and solidarity economy principles. • More LAC countries perform better on access rights of small-scale fishermen. • Sustainable fishing has an average positive effect on food security indicators. • There is low availability of data on the SDGs, making their assessment difficult. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Small pelagic fish species contribute substantially to the food security and livelihoods of local communities in developing countries. In West Africa, and particularly in Benin, small pelagic fisheries attract many migrant fishers who are key actors in the sector. This study assessed the characteristics and sociocultural impacts of the small pelagic fishery in Benin using qualitative approaches, including focus group discussions (n = 9), in-depth interviews (n = 35), a literature review, direct observations and secondary data. The findings showed that indigenous fishers from Benin and foreign fishers from Ghana are the two major groups of migrant fishers involved in small pelagic fishing in Benin. These fishers mostly use three categories of fishing gear: gillnets, seine nets, and hooks and lines. Over the period 2014–2018 the annual catch fluctuated between 1 123 and 2 040 tonnes, with the peak catch recorded in 2018, with a commercial value of €3 030 587. Apart from migrant fishers, fishmongers constitute another important pillar of the value chain. Conflicts among migrant fishers in the sector in Benin are related to landing fees and fishing gears. We discuss the urgent need to give attention to the sector through quantitative research and law enforcement to ensure its sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gillnet, stow-net and trawl are the three main fishing gears used by coastal fishers in Soc Trang and Bac Lieu provinces in the lower Mekong Delta, but catches from all three have been declining in recent years. We investigated the species composition of fish stocks along this coastline of Vietnam, and examined the current status of fishers and the gears they use, their fish catches, and the economic returns from each of the three net types. We also assessed the awareness of climate change among fishers, and the actions they take to adapt to its consequences. Annual fish catches were low: 11.9 tboat-1year-1 for stow-netters, 9.3 tboat-1year-1 for trawlers, and 4.4 tboat-1year-1 for gillnetters. Despite its low catch rate, the gillnet fishery provided the highest annual profit (4,364 USDboat-1year-1) because it caught higher value fish due to both their species and size. The rate of return was 0.52 for the gillnet fishery, 0.52 for the stow-net fishery and 0.33 for the trawl fishery. Overall, fishers had a low educational status and poor understanding of climate change, and only about two-thirds of them had short-term solutions to deal with changing weather and sea conditions. Current fishing practices, coupled with climate change are likely to lead to further declines in fish stocks and catches and threaten the livelihoods of near-shore coastal fishers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monitoring vessel activity is an important part of managing marine protected areas (MPAs), but small-scale fishing and recreational vessels that do not participate in cooperative vessel traffic systems require additional monitoring strategies. Marine Monitor (M2) is a shore-based, multi-sensor platform that integrates commercially available hardware, primarily X-band marine radar and optical cameras, with custom software to autonomously track and report on vessel activity regardless of participation in other tracking systems. By utilizing established commercial hardware, the radar system is appropriate for supporting the management of coastal, small-scale MPAs. Data collected in the field are transferred to the cloud to provide a continuous record of activity and identify prohibited activities in real-time using behavior characteristics. To support the needs of MPA managers, both hardware and software improvements have been made over time, including ruggedizing equipment for the marine environment and powering systems in remote locations. Case studies are presented comparing data collection by both radar and the Automatic Identification System (AIS) in urban and remote locations. At the South La Jolla State Marine Reserve near San Diego, CA, USA, 93% of vessel activity (defined as the cumulative time vessels spent in the MPA) was identified exclusively by radar from November 2022 through January 2023. At the Caye Bokel Conservation Area, within the Turneffe Atoll Marine Reserve offshore of Belize, 98% was identified exclusively by radar from April through October 2022. Spatial and temporal patterns of radar-detected and AIS activity also differed at both sites. These case study site results together demonstrate the common and persistent presence of small-scale vessel activity near coastal MPAs that is not documented by cooperative systems. Therefore, an integrated radar system can be a useful tool for independent monitoring, supporting a comprehensive understanding of vessel activity in a variety of areas.

This paper describes the current situation of small-scale fishing in Puerto Madero, Chiapas, based on empirical information collected in situ through ethnographic methods such as observation and interview. First, to give a general characterization of the activity, I briefly contextualize the study area and retrieve discussions from maritime anthropology. Then, I identify the social stakeholders involved in the process from capture to commercialization, and characterize three specific ways for obtaining and distributing fishery products that complement each other to diversify production and markets. Finally, my ethnographic research concludes with the discussion of some problems that, in the perspective of the interlocutors, affect fishing nowadays, which will serve as baseline for further research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Small-scale fishing, characterised by small groups of people working with basic technology and little investment, is an important economic activity in regional and global contexts. In Latin America, inland fisheries play a very important socio-economic role, providing food and income to local families, alleviating poverty, and contributing to social well-being. They are often structured as a social cooperative, as a way to ensure productivity. Cooperatives tend to be sustainable, and their performance can be judged from the impact they have on the social, economic, and environmental spheres. The aim of this study was to measure the sustainability of inland fishing cooperatives in Mexico from these three viewpoints. Though cooperatives generally show a medium-high level of sustainability, on account of their historical background and their contribution to social and economic indicators, our results revealed some weaknesses in terms of environmental indicators, which are locked in a negative relationship with economic ones. Social indicators, however, were positively related with the other two. The sustainability of fishing cooperatives today faces various challenges, as political decision-making tends to favour the social and economic dimensions over the environmental one. • Sustainability indicators and index performance applied to fishing cooperatives. • Social dimension was positively related with economic and environmental dimensions. • Fishing cooperatives showed a medium-high level of sustainability. • Environmental indicators contribute weaker for cooperatives sustainability. • Social dimension is the main driver of sustainability for fishing cooperatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a concern regarding the sustainability of current global fishing effort and how to most effectively manage common pool fisheries resources. Without the allocation of appropriate property rights, both industrial and small-scale fisheries are susceptible to the tragedy of the commons due to the open access nature of un-regulated fisheries. To address this risk of fishery overexploitation, some isolated, small-scale fishing communities have formed cooperatives as a management tool to improve livelihood options and provide access to property rights for some fishery resources. The Fish Production Cooperative Society of Punta Abreojos, Baja California Sur, Mexico, is a good example of a highly organized fishing cooperative in existence since 1948. Through the use of interviews, this study uncovers the perceptions and opinions of the cooperative fishers to answer the question of what characteristics are necessary to sustaining a well functioning cooperative. There are many economic and social benefits of being a member, but the highest specific response was the ability to take out loans. The most common perceived threats to the success of the cooperative are the occurrences of natural phenomena. Members realize the importance of following the rules set by the cooperative, but the motivations for doing so change the longer a fisher works in the cooperative. Results indicate that fishers consider protection of resources, economic security, unity, and progress essential for maintaining their cooperative. Punta Abreojos is an example of a community that has worked for generations to become marine stewards while maintaining an economically viable fishery.

The Bay of Jiquilisco in El Salvador is an important region of mangrove forests that serves as a habitat and nursery for many organisms, offers ecological services such as carbon sequestration and erosion control, and provides food and economic opportunity for nearby communities. However, the use of explosives in fishing and other unsustainable practices threaten the bay, its resources, and the people who depend on them. For these reasons, some fishing cooperatives in this region are moving towards more sustainable fishing practices with what they’ve termed “Pesca Limpa”. The Pesca Limpia method discourages the use of explosives and promotes the use of the hook and line method on artificial reefs to support the fishery. The purpose of this project is to explore the feasibility of sustainable artificial reef management in the context of the Bay of Jiquilisco. The social, legal, economic, environmental, and biological conditions of the Bay of Jiquilisco will be discussed to determine the best use of artificial reefs in this region. This study interviewed thirty-seven members of four cooperatives to gain a better understanding of their Pesca Limpia practice and to hear their opinions on the method. During the interviews, all members expressed positive opinions of Pesca Limpia. Cooperative members were well-aware that sustainable fishing practices are better for the environment, better for the fishery, and produce a better quality fish. The interviews also highlighted areas that can be improved upon. From this research and the interviews with fishing cooperatives, we have produced a list of recommendations to promote the sustainable development and management of the artisanal fishery in this region. The recommendations fall into the categories of education and training, collaboration, monitoring, research, policy and regulation, development, planning, and protection.

In Malaysia's northern area, small-scale fishing (SSF) communities in inland open water are among the most vulnerable people. This study looked at the impact of climate change on small-scale fishing communities in Malaysia's northern region from a vulnerability standpoint, using two vulnerability indexes. One is the Livelihood Vulnerability Index' (LVI) and the other is the Vulnerability Framework Approach of IPCC (LVI-IPCC method). The primary purpose of this study is to assess how climate change affects small-scale fishing communities. Data on SSF households were collected at random from three states to suit the research goal: Kedah, Penang, and Perlis. For an interview, a total of 352 SSF families were contacted. According to the Livelihood Vulnerability Index (LVI) research, SSFs in Perlis are more susceptible than those in Kedah and Penang. Adjustments to food policy, health services, informal credit facilities, training, and the establishment of more effective early warning systems are all necessary initiatives that the government must take to enhance the quality of life for SSF communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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.

The Golfo de Santa Clara is a remote town in the Upper Gulf of California, where 50%-80% of the community is actively involved in the small-scale fishing industry. The relationship between market price and fishery yields is crucial to understand because it dictates the revenue for the local fishermen. In this study we examined each fishery dynamics and the relationship between market price and cumulative capture for Blue shrimp (Litopenaeua stylirostris), Gulf corvine (Cynoscion othonopterus), Bigeye croaker (Micropogonias megalops), and Spanish mackerel (Scomberomorus spp.). We discovered unique fishery dynamics and interactions between market price and capture for each fishery. Blue shrimp had a positive linear relationship between market price and cumulative capture. Gulf corvina had a negative logistic relationship between market price and cumulative capture, where the market price dropped off at the end of lent. Bigeye croaker had a positive logistic relationship between market price and cumulative capture, while for the two different seasons analyzed Spanish mackerel had two different relationships (positive logistic & quadratic) between market price and cumulative capture. A system wide evaluation, which incorporated dynamics of all four fisheries, showed that the system was made up of three distinct components, the Blue shrimp, Spanish mackerel, and then the combination of the Gulf corvina and Bigeye croaker. The Blue shrimp component had a significant impact on all of the other fisheries’ market prices. This study shows the importance of evaluating fisheries from a multi-species system perspective rather than a single species perspective. By taking into consideration the interactions between fisheries management can better aim to set regulations that have a positive impact on all fisheries, rather than regulating a single species at the expense of sustainable practices of other fisheries.

Restructuring rural communities can be seen as natural population level experiments of great social epidemiological interest. Following the extensive decline in small-scale fishing in the later decades of the 20th century, many coastal communities have undergone considerable societal restructuring. In Norway, this has entailed a substantial reduction of the fishing workforce, concurrent with new employment opportunities in public sector and aquaculture. The former socialization into fishing from a young age is greatly reduced, with coastal youths now facing other life courses than preceding generations. As restructuring of societies is found to be intertwined with public health, coastal communities can provide valuable insights on public health during times of transitions. In this study, we use repeated cross-sectional population health data from rural Norwegian municipalities to assess the development of self-rated health over four decades in a coastal population who has undergone restructuring of local labour markets. We assess generational differences in health by comparing the prevalence of poor self-rated health at three ages reflecting three generations at each cross section: youths, adults and elderly. We compare results to adjacent geographical areas to assess geographical differences in self-rated health over time. We found a higher predicted prevalence of poor self-rated health in rural coastal adults and elderly compared to other geographical areas across all decades. However, trends revealed improving self-rated health in rural coastal adults and elderly, as well as narrowing health gaps between the rural coastal population and the remaining geographical areas in this Norwegian setting. Our results shed light on public health development in restructuring coastal communities. • Many rural coastal areas have faced the international decline in small-scale fishing. • We examine trends in self-rated health in three rural coastal generations. • We find rural coastal health to be poorer compared to adjacent areas in adults and elderly. • Still, rural coastal health is improving and geographical health gaps are narrowing. • New employment opportunities may have improved public health in coastal communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Only a handful freshwater fish species are still commercially sought after in Sweden. Subsistence fishing in lakes and rivers is also rare nowadays and has in general been replaced by recreational fishing. However, fishing for European smelt, Osmerus eperlanus (L.), once popular in many areas of central Sweden, has survived into the twenty-first century, particularly in the province of Värmland, as a minor, but interesting regional food speciality. It is a dish with character, since smelt has a very particular scent and it is therefore esteemed by some and rejected by others. Nowadays, it is eaten locally, especially by the elder generations, and attempts to popularize it as a regional food have so far failed. However, smelt deserves to be marketed as a regional culinary specialty, and has great potential to become popular among modern foodies. A traditional dish known as “smelt pancake” can be promoted. Interesting enough, there are new categories of smelt enthusiasts that have discovered the possibility of fishing in large numbers in spring, especially Thai and other immigrants. There are also a significant numbers of sojourners and visitors from the Baltic States, especially Lithuanians, fishing for smelt in Värmland.

In 2012, the Waitt Institute began developing the Barbudan Blue Halo Initiative in collaboration with the local government and island community. The Waitt Institute provided the toolkits and resources, and the Barbudan community provided motivation and the commitment to make responsible and sustainable ocean policy decisions thatwill support coastal and fishing livelihoods. In August of 2014, based on the scientific research and community interviews conducted by the Waitt Institute and its partners, the Barbudan Council formally signed new legislation to protect the island’s territorial fishing grounds. This collaboration with the Waitt Institute to help develop the education toolkit for the Blue Halo implementation plan. These materials are tailored to the island’s school system and resources are developed for primary school fifth and sixth graders. They are based on the existing curriculum and science standards set by the Organization of Easter Caribbean States (OECS), and use best-practices experiential teaching techniques developed by SEACAMP San Diego. The lessons were developed after an observation period on Barbuda where I discussed the needs and goals of the school system with the local headmistress and worked witha sixth-grade class to assess the students’ level of understanding for core marine science principles. They take key concepts from the island’s current science curriculum and integrate them into new lessons that use a holistic teaching approach favoring hands-on activities and student interaction over the traditional lecture and note-taking format.

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.

A South African inland fisheries policy will depend on a reliable long-term supply of social-ecological data covering freshwater fisheries at a broad geographic scale. Approaches to systematic planning of research and monitoring are demonstrated herein, based on a fishery-independent gillnet dataset covering 44 dams, and geographic information system maps of monthly and annual climate variables, human land use, and road access in a 5 km zone around 442 dams. Generalised linear mixed models were used to determine the covariates of gillnet catch per unit effort. Such covariates are required for a model-based process to select a subset of state-owned dams for a long-term fishery survey programme. The models indicated a monthly climate influence on catch per unit effort and climatic drivers of fish species distributions. However, unexplained variation is overwhelming and precludes a model-based survey design process. Non-hierarchical clustering of 442 dams was then done based on annual climate and human land use variables around dams. The resulting clusters of dams with shared climate and land use characteristics indicates the types of dams that should be selected for monitoring to represent the full range of climate and land use characteristics. Surrounding land use could indicate the socioeconomic characteristics of fisheries, for example, dams that may support subsistence-based communities that require increased research effort. Finally, although primary catchments could be useful for organising national-scale management, land use cover in the 5 km zone around dams varied widely within the respective primary catchments. Beyond these proposed approaches to plan research, this study also reveals various data deficiencies and recommends additional future studies on other possible methods for systematic research planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Small-scale fisheries (SSF) mainly operate in rural communities and face the challenge of a lack of generational renewal worldwide. Maslow's theory of human motivation was used to analyze the participation in SSF of 39 young men and women from households that depend on this activity in two highly marginalized rural locations in the Campeche Sound with high rates of youth migration. In this marine area, SSF and hydrocarbon extraction activities coexist. Using Fisher's exact test to detect statistical differences between motivations, we found that the most influential variables that inform the decisions of young people to engage in SSF are education, fishing skill level, self-identification as a fisher, income from fishing, and the opinions of a young person on fishing. Like their parents, young people participated in the entire fisheries supply chain, although they were less involved in sales, distribution, and management activities. Of the five needs identified by Maslow's theory, we found that fishing was most able to satisfactorily meet the needs of esteem and love and belonging in young people. In contrast, physiological needs were the least met by fishing. Moreover, the degree to which these needs were met depended on the income a young person received from fishing, reinforcing the idea that fishing in SSF is a subsistence activity. This was particularly notable with women due to the low pay or lack of remuneration they received for their work. Almost all interviewees would be willing to leave SSF for better jobs or to start businesses. Our results provide a better understanding of rural and coastal young people in SSF and may be used to develop inclusive fisheries management practices and incentives. • Maslow's theory was used to study small-scale fishery (SSF) participation. • 39 young people associated with SSF from the Gulf of Mexico were interviewed. • We identified the variables that most influence young people's participation in SSF. • Fishing was able to satisfactorily meet the needs of esteem and love and belonging. • Almost all of interviewees would leave SSF for better opportunities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many coastal communities rely heavily on artisanal fisheries for income and food security, but this reliance can negatively affect the ecosystems they depend on. The challenge with artisanal fisheries is finding a balance between the use and conservation of marine resources. Many artisanal fishers use traditional management practices, which have been in place for centuries, such as tabus, created in Fiji. Without empirical data, however, it is difficult to determine the effectiveness of traditional management and the state of the fishery. The fishery must be assessed and monitored in order to determine the health of the fishery and the extent of a community’s fishing impact. This poses yet another challenge, since artisanal fisheries are still not well understood and communities often lack the funds to conduct effective assessments. The Pacific Blue Foundation, a nonprofit that strives to promote biological and cultural diversity in coastal regions, addressed this challenge by hiring a local woman on the island of Yanuca in Fiji to collect village catch data. This paper looks at the effectiveness of Pacific Blue Foundation’s method for data collection, preliminary analysis of the data, and possible ways to make improvements

This paper’s purpose is to describe the process and findings of the “Kia Over There” film documentary. The project was largely a cultural and observational exploration of Kia island’s artisanal fishery, and it aspired to illuminate the often complex situations that involve regulating marine resources. While practical biological observations were made during this project, this paper nor this project make any independent claims regarding the biodiversity and ecological abundance of this fishery bur rather relies on local witness accounts and experts that work within the area on a regular basis.View video: https://vimeo.com/98094726

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 socialecological 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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article reconstructs and analyses the reactions and perceptions of fishers and inhabitants of the Venetian Lagoon regarding flood events, ecosystem fragility and the safeguard project named MOSE, which seems to be perceived by residents as a greater risk than floods. Throughout the complex development of the MOSE project, which has involved protracted legislative and technical phases, public opinion has been largely ignored, local knowledge neglected in favour of technical agendas and environmental impact has been largely overlooked. Fishers have begun to describe the Lagoon as a 'sick' and rapidly changing organism. These reports will be the starting point for investigating the fishers' interpretations of the environmental changes they observe during their daily fishing trips. The cause of these changes is mostly attributed to the MOSE'S invasive anthropogenic intervention. The lack of ethical, affective and environmental considerations in the long history of the project has also led to opposition that has involved a conflict between local and technical knowledge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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 18–23 tons of CO2 p.a., as few fishers used motorized 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 practised 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 colonization 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.

Whilst fishing men have commonly been investigated through the lens of 'hegemonic masculinity', recent studies have highlighted a potential change and nuancing of such fishing masculinities. Inspired by the call to pay attention to masculinities as fluid, contextual and interpersonal, this paper pays attention to scalar, placed and temporal specificities to consider how 'socially-dominant masculinities' can develop (and persist) in specific contexts. A case study of the North Wales Llŷn peninsula fishery is drawn upon in examining how local practices (re)define what it means to be a man in this area. The paper highlights the continued importance of the physicality of fishing in shaping locally socially-dominant masculinities – noting how fisher's bodies are not only central to masculine performances but also embody their fishing history and their relative positioning in their locality. It considers the relational nature of fishing masculinities –noting how masculinity is written both spatially in relation to practices 'on land' and 'at sea' and also temporally through reference to both past practices and predecessors. Finally, the paper considers changes to fishing masculinities, especially associated with family life and changing economic contexts, noting how such new practices may be incorporated into longer-standing aspects of fishing masculinity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fishery resource management under extractive production models in the Anthropocene has contributed to the collapse of fish stocks, threatening the food and livelihood security of many people, especially fishers. Common-pool resource theory has established the relevance of the design principles of Elinor Ostrom, which favor collective actions for the management of these resources. With the help of small-scale fishers, we assessed the state of Ostrom's principles in the study system to determine the conditions required to implement fishery comanagement in the future. The communities of Taganga (Caribbean coast) and Tumaco (Pacific coast), Colombia, served as case studies because of their known dependence on fishing and because both communities are currently facing a social-ecological crisis within their top-down administrative frameworks. We performed six hearings, three in each community in 2009, 2012, and 2014, in which fishers brainstormed about the weaknesses that are closely related to Ostrom's social-ecological system framework. Additionally, 14 focus groups with 119 fishers (31 in Taganga in 2015; 88 in Tumaco in 2017) were conducted, one for each major fishing method used in each community. The obtained results made it possible to establish a community vision on the condition of the principles in each community, and the principles were prioritized by the fishers do determine which ones need immediate attention. The inhabitants of both Taganga and Tumaco expressed the urgent need to establish clear biophysical limits among resource users, to gain the participation of all actors involved, and to build nested enterprises. In particular, the community of Tumaco considered monitoring resources and regulations, establishing graduated sanctions, and recognizing basic rights to be priorities. Furthermore, future opportunities and conflicts related to fishery comanagement implementation were evident in both communities. Therefore, our results indicate that Taganga and Tumaco are not yet ready to implement fishery comanagement. Nevertheless, they have the knowledge and motivation to overcome the obstacles that prevent them from moving forward with managing their fishery resources and to face the tragedy of the commons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing evidence has revealed that different fisheries have collapsed around the world. This is generally more evident in countries that can maintain long‐term research and fisheries monitoring. When monitoring data are not available, alternative approaches to assess fisheries trends can be used, such as the local ecological knowledge of fishers.To investigate decadal changes in fisheries the local ecological knowledge of small‐scale fishers' was evaluated at four sites in Brazil: Porto Seguro, Prado, Alcobaça, and Caravelas. A fisher–fish network weighted by interaction strength was built to indicate the most relevant resources among fishers.The results suggest the occurrence of the shifting baseline syndrome among generations of fishers regarding commercially important fishes such as groupers and snappers. Handline fishers indicated a decline in catch per unit effort over 5 decades.Fisher–fish networks from Caravelas showed greater stability with stronger interaction strength, while Porto Seguro and Alcobaça networks were more fragile, and Prado network showed intermediate characteristics. Overfishing has affected high trophic level species that act as module hubs across the majority of sites.The fisher–fish network approach can be applied in data limited cases, improving the assessments of fisheries' dynamics (in space and time) and declining species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Atlantic goliath grouper, Epinephelus itajara, is a large-sized coastal fish that has been heavily overfished, mainly through spearfishing. In order to assess historical catches of the species, we interviewed spearfishers along three generations (young, middle-aged and old) in the traditional fishing village of Arraial do Cabo, southeastern Brazil. We identified a systematic and significant decline in the weight of the largest goliath grouper caught and in the number of individuals caught on the best day's catch through spearfisher generations. Today, the species is functionally extinct in the region and individuals are rarely sighted. Challenges to the conservation of goliath grouper populations throughout the Brazilian coast include the banishment of poaching as well as the support to alternative income sources through non-extractive uses, such as diving tourism.

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.

This research examines the form, social function, and policy implications of customary marine tenure (CMT) in Ngarchelong, a rural and fishery-dependent state in the Republic of Palau. Using ethnography, we find that CMT in Ngarchelong persists in a state of legal pluralism, expanding the normative space for asserting and contesting fishing privileges. Flexible administration of CMT provides benefits to the resident community, including material support from nonresidents and the strengthening of social bonds and networks. A fishery permit system under consideration would redefine fishery access as a privilege granted by government, thereby potentially impacting the social benefits supported by the community's administration of CMT. With applications beyond Palau, we discuss an alternative management approach that could better harmonize fishery policy with local social context, thereby preserving the social functions of contemporary CMT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction and objective: Most of the residents of coastal villages pay to the fishing activities. Small-scaled fishing in Makraan coasts, is an important source for employment, income, and nourishment for the coastal villages; the characteristics and effects of which, not being well reviewed. The purpose of this study is to determine the role and impact of fishing on different indices of social and economic development of resident families in the regional rural areas. Methodology: This research is descriptive-analytical and survey-based; in which, for collecting data, we have benefited from library and field research (observing, interview and questionnaire). The statistical population of the study consisted of fishermen living in coastal villages of Jask county, among which, a sample of 350 fishermen were randomly selected, and studied using interview and questionnaire. Cronbach's alpha for the economic indices was 0.71, and for social indices was 0.78 and 0.83, indicating the acceptable reliability of the questionnaire. To analyze the gathered data in SPSS software, we used the two descriptive and inferential statistical methods. Results: The results of the research showed that, from the viewpoint of fishermen living in rural areas of the region, in general, the role of fishing activities in the indicators of social and economic development, were positive, significant and different. Originality And Value: Attention to the activities of fishermen as a vulnerable and lessknown social stratum, is considered as innovation and strength point of this article. Results of this research are important for future research, planning, policy, management, conservation and sustainability of small-scale fishing activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The small-fisheries social-ecological system in the western Indian Ocean (WIO) represents a typical social-ecological trap setting where very poor natural resources dependent coastal communities face local and global threats and engage in unsustainable practices of exploiting limited resources. Community-based aquaculture (CBA) has been implemented as an important alternative or supplementary income generating activity for minimizing the overdependence on marine natural resources and promoting biodiversity conservation. Despite its proliferation throughout the WIO region in recent decades, little is known about the degree to which CBA activities have contributed to achieving the objectives of breaking the cycle of poverty and environmental degradation and promoting community development and biodiversity conservation. In order to improve understanding of common challenges and to generate recommendations for best practice, we assessed the most common CBA activities practiced in the region through literature review and workshop discussion involving practitioners and key stakeholders. Findings indicated that despite favorable environmental conditions for various CBA practices, the sector remains underdeveloped, with few activities delivering the intended benefits for coastal livelihoods or conservation. Constraints included a shortage of seed and feed supplies, low investment, limited technical capacity and skills, insufficient political support, and lack of a clear strategy for aquaculture development. These are compounded by a lack of engagement of local stakeholders, with decision making often dominated by donors, development agencies, and private sector partners. Many of the region's CBA projects are designed along unrealistically short time frames, driven by donors rather than entrepreneurs, and so are unable to achieve financial sustainability, which limits the opportunity for capacity building and longer-term development. There is little or no monitoring on ecological and socioeconomic impacts. Except for a few isolated cases, links between CBA and marine conservation outcomes have rarely been demonstrated. Realizing the potential of CBA in contributing toward food security in the WIO will necessitate concerted investment and capacity strengthening to overcome these systemic challenges in the sector. Lessons herein offer managers, scientists, and policy advisors guidance on addressing the challenges faced in building strategic development initiatives around aquaculture in developing countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Commercial small‐scale fishing in the Mediterranean Sea accounts for more than 80% of the commercial fishing fleet. Commercial small‐scale fishing competes with non‐professional fishing, such as recreational and illegal fishing. Fisheries statistics usually fail to report non‐professional fishing data. The aim of this study was to investigate the competition between fishing categories (commercial, recreational and illegal fishing) and their temporal variability in two future Marine Protected Areas in Tunisia. Over a 2‐year period, 213 small‐scale coastal fisheries landings were monitored. Additional socio‐economic information was collected using direct questionnaires. Results highlighted that: (a) at least 47.91% of non‐professional fishers admitted selling the catch (and so were classified as illegal fishers); (b) illegal and recreational fishing mean catch per fishers per day, represented, respectively, 40% and 20% of commercial fishing; (c) catch rates and species richness for illegal and commercial fishing followed the same temporal patterns at both locations; (d) all fishing categories fished high trophic levels and vulnerable species; and (e) potential economic values of illegal and recreational fishing catch were significantly higher than those of commercial fishing. These findings provide quantitative evidence of competition between illegal and legal (commercial and recreational) fishing in the Mediterranean Sea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Women's work in fisheries in the Global South is valorized for its role in sustaining small-scale fishing in the face of complex challenges from corporate-backed industrial fishing. This paper examines how capitalist modernization of fisheries and its attendant changes have transformed the worlds of work of artisanal fisherwomen in a Latin Catholic fisher village in the South Indian state of Kerala. Using ethnographic research and qualitative methods, the paper explores women's interfaces and antagonisms with new actors in the commission shops and seashore auctions where they procure fish as well as the public fish markets where they sell fish. The paper discusses women's survival strategies in the face of growing competition in the vending business and examines their implications for women's engagement in collective action for improved work conditions and the rights of artisanal fish workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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’ 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—the so-called management and exploitation areas for benthic resources (AMERB)—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.

Fishery resource management under extractive production models in the Anthropocene has contributed to the collapse of fish stocks, threatening the food and livelihood security of many people, especially fishers. Common-pool resource theory has established the relevance of the design principles of Elinor Ostrom, which favor collective actions for the management of these resources. With the help of small-scale fishers, we assessed the state of Ostrom's principles in the study system to determine the conditions required to implement fishery comanagement in the future. The communities of Taganga (Caribbean coast) and Tumaco (Pacific coast), Colombia, served as case studies because of their known dependence on fishing and because both communities are currently facing a social-ecological crisis within their top-down administrative frameworks. We performed six hearings, three in each community in 2009, 2012, and 2014, in which fishers brainstormed about the weaknesses that are closely related to Ostrom's social-ecological system framework. Additionally, 14 focus groups with 119 fishers (31 in Taganga in 2015; 88 in Tumaco in 2017) were conducted, one for each major fishing method used in each community. The obtained results made it possible to establish a community vision on the condition of the principles in each community, and the principles were prioritized by the fishers do determine which ones need immediate attention. The inhabitants of both Taganga and Tumaco expressed the urgent need to establish clear biophysical limits among resource users, to gain the participation of all actors involved, and to build nested enterprises. In particular, the community of Tumaco considered monitoring resources and regulations, establishing graduated sanctions, and recognizing basic rights to be priorities. Furthermore, future opportunities and conflicts related to fishery comanagement implementation were evident in both communities. Therefore, our results indicate that Taganga and Tumaco are not yet ready to implement fishery comanagement. Nevertheless, they have the knowledge and motivation to overcome the obstacles that prevent them from moving forward with managing their fishery resources and to face the tragedy of the commons.

Understanding the income and costs of fishing is fundamental to managing fisheries and planning interventions to improve efficiency and gender equity. Few studies offer data on fisher incomes and fuel use in small-scale fisheries (SSFs), and fewer have assessed factors influencing variation among fishers and between genders. We interviewed 235 artisanal fishers among 34 island villages in an artisanal sea cucumber fishery in Fiji. Linear mixed models were used to determine the effect of geographic and socioeconomic variables on incomes and fuel use from fishing sea cucumbers. Net income of sea cucumbers to fishers, averaging FJ$8, 171 year−1 (US$4, 494 year−1) (range: FJ$0–52,008 year−1), varied among villages and was 47% lower for women than men. On an average, 60% of fishers' gross annual income came from fishing and selling sea cucumbers, although this proportion varied greatly even within villages. Fishers who practised gleaning, fished less often, or possessing numerous livelihood income streams, were less economically dependent on sea cucumbers. Men tended to estimate higher incomes for an average day of fishing than women when compared with their recall of last sale. Fuel use varied greatly among regions in Fiji but, overall, averaged 428 L fisher−1 year−1, and represented 28% of gross income. More economical fishing strategies by women resulted in lower fuel use than men per fishing day. Breath-hold divers used less fuel (compared to fishers using scuba) and fishers targeting deep-water species used more fuel than other fishers. A best approximation of 8000 t CO2 year−1 for the carbon footprint of the whole fishery suggests that some SSFs, such as the one studied here, can be significant contributors to greenhouse gas emissions, even compared to many large-scale fisheries globally. Reforms to the management of SSFs should consider regulations that minimize carbon emissions and reduce economic dependency on vulnerable marine resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Polycentricity, a complex form of governance characterized by multiple centers of semiautonomous decision‐making, has been embraced by commons scholars for the governance of complex natural resource systems. In this context, several benefits are commonly ascribed to polycentric governance systems, including enhanced adaptive capacity, mitigation of risk and provision of good institutional fit. We examine the functioning of a polycentric governance system through a qualitative case study of the governance of small‐scale fishing in the Northern Reef region of Palau where fishery resources have been declining in recent decades. By engaging a theoretical model of a functional polycentric governance system, we identify deficiencies in institutional features that partly explain why functionality is not fully achieved. Analysis of the historical transition of the governance system from community‐based to polycentric reveals that the path to polycentricity and contextual conditions constitute additional distal explanations of deficiencies in functionality. The findings suggest that transitioning from community‐based to polycentric governance risks producing conditions conducive to crowding‐out and erosion of rule compliance where the form of polycentricity assumed entails primarily higher‐level government decision‐makers with insufficient capacity for rule implementation. The case underlines the need for more refined theory concerning the emergence and functionality of different forms polycentric governance systems in various contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]