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Small-Scale and Artisanal Fisheries: Approaches for Assessment and Management in...
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Small-Scale and Artisanal Fisheries: Approaches for Assessment and Management in a Changing World

A special issue of Fishes (ISSN 2410-3888). This special issue belongs to the section "Fishery Economics, Policy, and Management".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (10 May 2024) | Viewed by 6221

Special Issue Editors

Dr. José Amorim Reis-Filho

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Biological Science, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador 40170-115, Brazil
Interests: artisanal fisheries; fishery management; indigenous and local knowledge; transdisciplinary studies
Prof. Dr. Tommaso Giarrizzo

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Instituto de Ciências do Mar (LABOMAR), Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil
Interests: freshwater and marine ecosystems; how human influences affect biological integrity
Dr. Antoine O.H.C. Leduc

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Biology, Sultan Qaboos University, P.O. Box 36, Al-Khoud 123, Oman
Interests: community-based management; fishers’ outlook; catch and release; tropical fisheries

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Small-scale fisheries depend on simple fishing gears and vessels, often involving artisanal fishermen and fisherwomen catching specimens from finfish and elasmobranchs to invertebrates (i.e., gleaning). A majority of fishers worldwide are engaged in small-scale fishery activities and despite this importance to their livelihoods, research and management on artisanal and small-scale fisheries has only become relevant in the past few decades.

Variability in environmental conditions as a result of climate change and habitat damage has impacted such productive social systems. Coincidently, man-made activities also threaten fishery resources and their ecosystems. Artisanal and small-scale fisheries are associated with such ecosystems owing to their limited access and facilities. In nations where small-scale fisheries remain unregulated, these ongoing effects are having enormous, unreported impacts on resource stocks and may even mislead the economic assessment of fisheries. In a cascading effect, fishers and local populations in these areas are experiencing significant economic loss as well as loss of quality of life, education, and well-being.

As such, in this Special Issue, we invite authors to submit original articles and reviews in this broad field for assessing and managing small-scale and artisanal fisheries from around the globe. We encourage submissions that offer new insights and approaches that can contribute to improved management and evaluation, rather than descriptive studies simply reporting on fishing activities and catches. The research topic covers novel research on the assessment and monitoring of small-scale fisheries, socioeconomics, governance, trade, and management measures.

Dr. José Amorim Reis-Filho
Prof. Dr. Tommaso Giarrizzo
Dr. Antoine O.H.C. Leduc
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Fishes is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • small-scale fisheries
  • resource management
  • research tools
  • climate change

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

18 pages, 626 KiB  
Article
Practice of Territorial Use Rights in Fisheries in Coastal Fishery Management in China: A Case Study of the Island Reefs Fishery Lease Policy from Shengsi County in Zhejiang Province
by Minsi Xiong and Zuli Wu
Fishes 2024, 9(7), 292; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes9070292 - 22 Jul 2024
Viewed by 417
Abstract
Coastal fisheries are vital for food supply, employment, and social stability. However, overfishing is a common problem, often attributed to open access. Territorial Use Rights in Fisheries (TURFs) have gained popularity as a tool to improve the sustainability of coastal fisheries, but research [...] Read more.
Coastal fisheries are vital for food supply, employment, and social stability. However, overfishing is a common problem, often attributed to open access. Territorial Use Rights in Fisheries (TURFs) have gained popularity as a tool to improve the sustainability of coastal fisheries, but research on TURFs in China is limited. This paper examines the island reef fishery lease policy implemented in Shengsi County, Zhejiang Province, within the Ma’an Islands National Marine Special Reserve. The policy leases the use of island reefs to a collective, aiming to address overfishing and resource degradation by establishing fishing area boundaries and limiting the number of users and usage time. Technically, it is an application of TURFs, and it represents a shift from traditional fishing licenses to collective compliance. This experience has disrupted the existing top–down fishery governance structure and signifies a transition to a rights-based fishery management system in China. Through a comprehensive investigation and analysis of the policy’s implementation, this research identifies the factors contributing to its flaws. These include the inadequate provision of national and local government policies, insufficient support for policy implementation from fishery management authorities, and the limited involvement of fishermen’s organizations. To enhance coastal fishery management, we propose that the Chinese government should build upon existing foundations by clarifying fishing rights through central and local laws and policies. Additionally, there is a need to strengthen data monitoring of coastal fisheries, conduct multidisciplinary research to improve the allocation mechanism of fishing rights, adopt diverse fishery management approaches to enhance supervision capabilities, establish a collaborative governance mechanism, and foster coordination and cooperation between grassroots fishermen’s organizations and government departments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Small-Scale and Artisanal Fisheries: Approaches for Assessment and Management in a Changing World)
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19 pages, 2128 KiB  
Article
Another One Bites the Net: Assessing the Economic Impacts of Lagocephalus sceleratus on Small-Scale Fisheries in Greece
by Georgios Christidis, Stratos Batziakas, Panagiota Peristeraki, Evangelos Tzanatos, Stylianos Somarakis and George Tserpes
Fishes 2024, 9(3), 104; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes9030104 - 7 Mar 2024
Viewed by 2035
Abstract
The assessment of the economic impacts of marine invasive species is fundamental for adopting mitigation measures, yet such impacts have been underreported in the Mediterranean Sea. The silver-cheeked toadfish (Lagocephalus sceleratus) is a toxic pufferfish that since its introduction has seriously [...] Read more.
The assessment of the economic impacts of marine invasive species is fundamental for adopting mitigation measures, yet such impacts have been underreported in the Mediterranean Sea. The silver-cheeked toadfish (Lagocephalus sceleratus) is a toxic pufferfish that since its introduction has seriously disturbed small-scale fisheries along the eastern Mediterranean coast. This species depredates on fishing gears, causing damage to nets, longlines and commercial catches. To quantify its economic impact on small-scale fisheries, we interviewed 141 fishers from Crete (Cretan and Libyan Sea) and the Ionian Sea (Greece) during May 2020–December 2022. The mean annual economic cost resulting from L. sceleratus depredation was estimated at EUR 6315 ± 2620 per vessel in Crete and EUR 258 ± 120 in the Ionian Sea. Additionally, observer surveys carried out on board small-scale fishing vessels in Crete showed that depredation probability was significantly influenced by fishing depth, sea surface temperature, gear type (nets, longlines) and region (Cretan, Libyan Sea). L. sceleratus was caught more frequently and in higher numbers in the Libyan Sea. In response to depredation, fishers in Crete have altered their fishing tactics in terms of fishing in deeper waters, reducing fishing time and changing the technical characteristics of fishing gears. Our results underscore the adverse impacts of L. sceleratus on Greek small-scale fishers, emphasizing the need for region-specific management plans where the species establishes large populations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Small-Scale and Artisanal Fisheries: Approaches for Assessment and Management in a Changing World)
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16 pages, 2375 KiB  
Article
Small-Scale Marine Fishers’ Possession of Fishing Vessels and Their Impact on Net Income Levels: A Case Study in Takalar District, South Sulawesi Province, Indonesia
by Ahmad Imam Muslim, Miho Fujimura, Tsuji Kazunari and Muslim Salam
Fishes 2023, 8(9), 463; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes8090463 - 15 Sep 2023
Viewed by 1671
Abstract
Over the last two decades, the growth of the fisheries sector in Indonesia has shown an increasing trend; however, behind the rapid development of this sector, the role of small-scale fisheries as one of the main actors supporting the whole industry is often [...] Read more.
Over the last two decades, the growth of the fisheries sector in Indonesia has shown an increasing trend; however, behind the rapid development of this sector, the role of small-scale fisheries as one of the main actors supporting the whole industry is often neglected. They remain poor and continue to conduct fishing activities traditionally. Therefore, this study aims to describe the real situation of small-scale fishers, analyzing the fishers’ ownership of the boat they use, analyzing their income level to reveal their poverty status, and analyzing the factors affecting their income. The regression analysis results indicate that boat category, sea fish catch, fish selling price, fixed costs, and variable costs have significant effects on fishers’ net incomes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Small-Scale and Artisanal Fisheries: Approaches for Assessment and Management in a Changing World)
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22 pages, 24664 KiB  
Article
Small-Scale Fisheries in the Colombian Pacific: Understanding the Impact of Climate Change on Fishermen’s Livelihoods
by John Josephraj Selvaraj, Leidy Viviana Rosero-Henao and Maria Alejandra Cifuentes-Ossa
Fishes 2023, 8(9), 453; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes8090453 - 9 Sep 2023
Viewed by 1513
Abstract
While few have contemplated the potential impacts of climate change on small-scale fisheries and fishermen in the Colombian Pacific, understanding these effects is crucial for devising effective adaptation strategies. This study presents the outcomes of a vulnerability assessment related to climate change for [...] Read more.
While few have contemplated the potential impacts of climate change on small-scale fisheries and fishermen in the Colombian Pacific, understanding these effects is crucial for devising effective adaptation strategies. This study presents the outcomes of a vulnerability assessment related to climate change for fishermen in the Colombian South Pacific. The assessment employed a multivariable model that considered the sensitivity of marine and coastal ecosystems that support fishing resources alongside fishermen’s adaptability to changes in the biophysical environment. Socioeconomic factors were also scrutinized. The study revealed that 80% of the surveyed fishermen are at a medium to high level of vulnerability due to changes in the distribution of key commercial species, which influences the productivity of their traditional fishing sites. Their vulnerability is primarily attributed to low usage of fishing technologies, the boat engine’s limited propulsion capacity, and a lack of diversity and sustainability in fishing gear. These elements increase their reliance on fishing sites close to the coast (approximately 3 km to 5 km from the shoreline), resulting in a low adaptive capacity for the fishermen. The dominant factor driving the sensitivity component was the economic significance of the fishing gear and the fact that the gear could be more diverse and durable. These findings provide a critical scientific basis for assessing the fishing sector’s vulnerability to climate change and informing future collaborative decision-making in managing small-scale fisheries in the Colombian South Pacific Ocean. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Small-Scale and Artisanal Fisheries: Approaches for Assessment and Management in a Changing World)
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