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Dear Colleagues,

Considering the sustainability of our oceans, advancements in technology over recent decades have significantly boosted fishing yields. Developments in fishing efficiency, gear, and methods have inadvertently resulted in the depletion of global fishery resources and the degradation of marine ecosystems. While the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) have addressed ocean-related issues separately as SDG 14, the intricacy between ocean sustainability and other aspects of human development remains deeply intertwined and complex. Some key impediments to achieving ocean health originate from insufficient progress in other sectors of sustainable human development (Claudet et al., 2020).

Marine fishery resources are a crucial source of animal protein and a vital human food supply. Nevertheless, if these communal resources are mismanaged, it can culminate in a tragedy of commons (Hardin, 1968). The depletion of fishery resources and environmental changes in recent years have had negative implications on fishing revenues, which in turn affects coastal fishing livelihoods. The United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) observes that while small-scale fisheries can yield ample benefits to sustain fishing families, the real challenge lies in the stability and sustainability of the income (Tietze, 2016). As a result, the effective management of marine fishery resources has become increasingly urgent. Fisheries management entails regulating fishing activities, which includes both input controls (e.g., closed areas, closed seasons, gear types, and mesh sizes) and output controls (e.g., size limits, protected species, and total catches) (Morison, 2004). While diverse management measures can enhance the state of fishery resources, they may affect the catch and introduce uncertainty to the fishing economy (Hennessey & Healey, 2000; Allison & Ellis, 2001; Kasperski, S., & Holland, 2013).

This Special Issue will provide an overview of the most recent advances in the field of fisheries management and their applications in diverse areas. This Special Issue will also contain selected contributions on advances in the synthesis, characterization, and application of multiple topics, including but not limited to, the following: assessment for fisheries management, fisheries management technology, economic analysis for management, marine protected areas, fisheries legislation, fisheries co-management, participatory planning, and new technological applications on fisheries management. We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Jyun-Long Chen
Guest Editor

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Keywords

SDGs
fisheries management
fisheries economics
marine protected area (MPA)
satoumi
illegal, unreported, unregulated (IUU)
ecosystem-based fisheries management (EBFM)

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

22 pages, 8487 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Anthropogenic Activities on Sardinella maderensis (Lowe, 1838) Fisheries in Coastal Communities of Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, Nigeria

by Temitope Adewale, Denis Aheto, Isaac Okyere, Olufemi Soyinka and Samuel Dekolo

Sustainability 2024, 16(7), 2848; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16072848 - 29 Mar 2024

Viewed by 572

Abstract

Small-scale fisheries are significant sources of nutrition and livelihood globally. However, increasing anthropogenic activities in coastal areas of developing countries have threatened the sustainability of artisanal fisheries and species. Fisheries of Sardinella maderensis, towards the global stock of which Nigeria contributes 9% and which is a significant livelihood source in the coastal communities of Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, faces sustainability threats. This research investigated the effects of anthropogenic activities on S. maderensis fisheries in the coastal areas of Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, Nigeria. The study adopted a mixed-method approach involving qualitative and quantitative research methods. These included species identification, water quality analysis, land-use change analysis, field surveys, focus group discussions, and interviews. Genetic analysis of the fish samples from the study area revealed that the species had a mean of 98% similarity to S. maderensis. While major urban and industrial land use has increased by 175% in the last four decades, the catch per unit effort (CPUE) of S. maderensis declined monthly to 0.0072 kg/H between 2003 and 2019. Linear regression indicated that anthropogenic variables explained approximately 39.58% of the variation in the CPUE (p < 0.001, R² = 0.40). Water samples showed that heavy metal levels were above international limits, with high total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) pollution in all stations (27.56 mg/L–3985.40 mg/L). Physiochemical analysis of water samples indicated TDS levels higher than the acceptable limits (mean = 24,971.1 mg/L) and inadequate chlorophyll-a levels (mean = 0.01 µg/L). Hence, urgent strategies are required to mitigate anthropogenic threats through inclusive coastal management policies supporting resilient artisanal fisheries. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fisheries Management and Sustainability)

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23 pages, 5963 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Socioeconomic Importance of the Small-Scale Mud Crab Fishing (Scylla Serrata, Forskall 1775) in the Bons Sinais Estuary—Mozambique

by Bonifácio Carlitos Manuessa, Calmila J. O. Cuinhane, Teresa Cerveira Borges, Maria Alexandra Teodósio and Francisco Leitão

Sustainability 2024, 16(5), 1874; https://doi.org/10.3390/su16051874 - 24 Feb 2024

Viewed by 726

Abstract

Mud crab fishing (Scylla serrata) is an important activity contributing to the livelihood of coastal communities in Mozambique. The abundance of this crab and the increase in international companies in the region that exclusively buy crabs and export to the Asian market have caused fisheries to gain local importance in recent years. The present study evaluates the socioeconomic importance of mud crab fishing and the contribution of this activity to the quality of life (QoL) of the local communities along the Bons Sinais Estuary (BSE)—Mozambique. The study was conducted in three fishing villages of the BSE (Mucupia, Carungo, and Inhangulue) to collect information on the economic and sociocultural structure conditions of the local crab families. Field data collection focuses on direct observation and a semi-structured questionnaire divided into four categories/dimensions: fishing activity (FA), family structure (FS), typology of household expenditure (HE), and other activities (OTA). The socioeconomic conditions of fishers’ families were analyzed based on the fishery contribution index (FCI), which comprises different indicators related to FA, HE, and OTA. The monthly fishing revenue ranged from MZN 2.500 (EUR ≈ 35) to MZN 30.000 (EUR ≈ 417), with an average of around MZN 10.796 (EUR ≈ 150) per fisher, slightly exceeding the minimum wage set for public service in Mozambique, which is around MZN 8000 (EUR ≈ 112). The contribution of mud crab fishing is low and is not directly related to enhancement of QoL, meaning that the fishing revenue of mud crabs is barely enough to cover the basic needs of fishers’ families, such as basic services and basic goods. Investments are mainly for transport, including bicycles. The FCI was also low, standing at the alert level (FCI = 0.26–0.50) in all three communities. As the crab market is still growing in the country, it is important that the government, through competent authorities, creates public policies to ensure sustainable exploitation, regulates the selling price of mud crabs according to size, as happens in other countries, and promotes basic services that facilitate the self-development of the fishing communities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fisheries Management and Sustainability)

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