Fishing effort

RECREATIONAL FISHING WITHIN
MARINE PROTECTED AREAS IN THE
MEDITERRANEAN
By Toni Font, Josep Lloret & Catherine Piante
Slide # 1
The MedPAN North project is cofunded by the European Regional Development Fund.
INTRODUCTION
• This is the first study of its kind in Mediterranean waters
which is intended to be of practical use in the
management of Rec. Fish. in Mediterranean MPAs
• Recreational fishing is a booming activity in
Mediterranean coastal areas, especially in MPAs
• Recreational fishing is of huge economic importance
which, on occasion in certain locations, exceeds that of
commercial fishing
Slide # 2
• There is much less research into recreational fishing
than there is into commercial fishing
• Our definition: all non-commercial fishing that is carried
out mainly for pleasure or sport, where the catch - the
selling of which is illegal - is used for one’s own
consumption (or for one’s family and friends)
Slide # 3
OBJECTIVES
• to define and characterize each
of the different types of fishing in
the MPAs
• to define and compare the
biological impact on marine
resources in the MPAs
• to summarize and compare
the emerging and potential
ecological impacts on the marine
ecosystem in MPAs
• to establish and compare the social nature and the
economic impact of recreational fishing in MPAs
Slide # 4
• to establish recommendations for common basic
methods for the control and monitoring the activity in
the MPAs
• to compare current legislation with regard to
recreational fishing in the various MPAs, non-legally
binding agreements (such as codes of conduct) and
educational programs
• to propose future management actions within MPAs to
protect marine resources and ecosystems
Slide # 5
METHODOLOGY
• We have not considered original, raw data to test a
particular hypothesis. Instead, we have used existing
studies and results
• Sources:
- questionnaires
- scientific literature
- grey (unpublished) literature
- contact via email with managers
- review of regulations
- review of information leaflets and others
Slide # 6
• About 30 questionnaires were answered by MPA
managers from France, Italy, Spain, Croatia & Slovenia;
33 MPAs have been mentioned
Slide # 7
• More than 140 documents have been reviewed in and
outside the Mediterranean
• A great effort went into standardizing the data where
possible
• We have compared the different types of fishing (boat,
shore and underwater fishing)
Scientific literature
45
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0
Slide # 8
Non-MPA studies
MPA studies
MAIN RESULTS
Methods of sampling
• Diverse sampling methods can be used
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Slide # 9
Aerial-access
Aerial-roving
Roving-access or access point
Roving-roving or Roving creel survey
Mail or telephone surveys
Panel surveys
Complemented surveys
Fishing techniques
• Boat fishing involves the highest number of fishing
techniques used, and bottom fishing with a rod is by far
the most commonly-used fishing technique used by
both boat and shore fishermen
Fishing techniques (boat)
450%
400%
Medes Islands 2012
Cap de Creus 2010
350%
Bonifacio
300%
Cap d'Agde 2006
250%
Cap d'Agde 2010-11
200%
Cerbère-Banyuls 2010
150%
Cerbère-Banyuls 2007-08
100%
Cerbère-Banyuls 2005
50%
0%
Slide # 10
Cala Ratjada
Fishing effort
• Experience of fishermen seems to be an important
factor to consider (affects catchability and selectivity)
Slide # 11
Fishing yields
• CPUE can vary considerably depending on:
–
–
–
–
–
–
the year and season
the location (reserve, depth and type of habitat)
the fishing gear used
the fisherman’s experience
the weather
the characteristics of the gear or the type of bait
• Boat fishing has the
largest extractive potential
(followed by spearfishing and
shore fishing)
Slide # 12
Direct impacts on coastal marine resources
The catch
• The highest number of different species were found in
Côte Bleue (78) and the lowest in Cap d’Agde (23)
• S. cabrilla and C. julis are the species under most severe
fishing pressure from both boat and shore fishermen
Most caught species (boat)
400%
Plemmirio
350%
Medes Islands
300%
Cap de Creus
Côte des Albères 2010-11
250%
Porqueroles (Port-Cros)*
200%
Côte bleue
150%
Cap d'Adge
100%
Cerbere-Banyuls*
50%
Archipel de Riou* (Non-MPA)
0%
Coris julis
Slide # 13
Serranus
cabrilla
Pagellus
acarne
Trachurus
spp
Diplodus
sargus
Boops boops
Anthias
anthias
Loligo
vulgaris
Pagellus
bogaraveo
• The most common
species caught by
spearfishers are from
the genus Diplodus,
Dicentrarchus
labrax and
Octopus Vulgaris
•
Slide # 14
Most caught species (spearfishing)
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Cap de Creus 2010
Porqueroles (Port-Cros) 2008
Côte bleue 2011
Archipel de Riou (Non-AMP)
Boat fishing, in general, is responsible for catching
more species than the other types of fishing
Fish vulnerability
• In total, 41 vulnerable species have been found to have
been caught by recreational fishermen
• The average proportion of vulnerable species in the
catch in all MPAs is about 30%: min. in Côte Bleue with 10%
and max. in Cap de Creus, Medes and Porquerolles with more than 40%
• Boat fishing would therefore seem, a priori, to have the
greatest impact on vulnerable species
Slide # 15
Indirect impacts on coastal marine resources
• Catch & release does not seem to be a common
practice in the Mediterranean, although it is often a
difficult but necessary concept to quantify
Slide # 16
Baits
• A total of 11 groups of baits were found being used in
the Mediterranean, with a great diversity within each
group:
worms (Polychaeta)
Bait groups
100,0
sipunculids
90,0
80,0
70,0
fish species (dead or alive)
60,0
50,0
40,0
cephalopod molluscs
30,0
20,0
10,0
crustaceans
0,0
bivalve molluscs
gastropod molluscs
artificial lures
Other: bread, algae, crayfish, silkworms, chicken feet, etc.
Slide # 17
%
⁻
⁻
⁻
⁻
⁻
⁻
⁻
⁻
⁻
• Potential effects of exotic baits (e.g. at least 43% of bait
used in Cap de Creus was not native to the
Mediterranean)
Korean ragworm (Perinereis aibuhitensis), American worm (Glycera dibranchiata),
Peanut worm (Sipunculus nudus)
Slide # 18
Lost & abandoned fishing gear
• It is common for recreational fishermen to lose, or
throw away, all kinds of fishing gear, such as lead
weights, lines and hooks, plastics, etc. which can cause
significant impacts on the marine ecosystem
Slide # 19
Anchoring
Mechanical damage caused to the seabed can also
become a significant problem
Slide # 20
Social profile
• In general, recreational fishermen are:
–
–
–
–
Men (always >80%)
average age of around 47
mostly pensioners, merchants and company employees
significant degree of fishing experience (usually >10 years)
% men and women (boat + shore)
100%
90%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Slide # 21
% men
% women
• Low level of knowledge and awareness regarding the
impact of their activity on the natural environment
• Conflicts between different users of MPAs are common
Slide # 22
Economic aspects
• The type of fishing they carry out does directly affect
their level of expenditure and boat fishing appears to
generate the greatest economic impact
Average
Cost per
fisherman
• €500 to €1600 for boat fishers
• €200 to €900 for shore fishers
• €400 to €900 for spearfishers
Boat fishermen’s spending on fishing gear and boat fuel
(*plus maintenance; **gear only)
€
1800
1600
1400
1200
1000
800
600
400
200
0
Cap d'Adge
2006**
Cap d'Adge
2008**
Côte Bleue*
Cap de Creus
AMP/non-MPA
Slide # 23
Illes Medes
Çanakkale Strait
(non-MPA)
• Almost none of these studies consider the initial
investment in the values
Slide # 24
Regulations
• European: to date no specific regulations regarding
recreational fishing have been established
• National: Regulatory efforts are focused above all on:
•
•
•
•
Slide # 25
restricting the use of particular fishing gears
reducing the fishing effort
limiting the volume of catches
limiting minimum sizes and weights
• MPA:
‾ More than 70% of MPAs have at least one no-take zone, but
the extension of these areas is rather small (normally <10%)
‾ About half of MPAs require some sort of fishing license, but
less than 30% require a fee
‾ As with national legislation, the type of restrictions most
used by managers concern fishing techniques and fishing
effort
Most commonly applied MPA-specific restrictions
70
60
50
%
40
30
20
10
0
Protected
species
Slide # 26
Fishing effort
Minimum
landing sizes
Selectivity of
fishing gear
Prohibition
fishing
techniques
Closed season Non-native bait
Recreational
Fishing contests
MAIN RECOMMENDATIONS
(Established on the deficiencies identified in the studies)
Monitoring the RF
A series of recommendations that will serve as the first
step to draw up a specific methodological guide for
monitoring RF in the Mediterranean MPAs
Slide # 27
Management
• Enhance the involvement of fishermen in
management (co-management)
• The need to establish an obligatory licensing system
for those fishermen who want to fish within its
boundaries
• It would also be of great use if the MedPAN network
provided a licensing system that was common to all
its associated MPAs
• The generally small size of
the no-take zones of each
MPA (<10%), highlights the
need to expand these areas
where fishing is prohibited
Slide # 28
• To adjust minimum landing sizes so that they are
larger than size at maturity, especially in the most
vulnerable species
• The protection of vulnerable species needs special
attention
• To extend the practice of obligatory clipping of the
caudal fin of some species (as occurs in France) to
other countries
Slide # 29
Environmental education
• Elaboration management tools
based on propagating
environmental values and other
information fishermen find
useful, such as regulations
• Specific website on recreational
fishing in the Mediterranean
MPAs
• Draw up Codes of Conduct
focused on recreational fishing
Slide # 30
CONCLUSION
MPAs provide resources for fisheries, in particular
recreational fishing, facilitating the enjoyment of these areas
and the development of local economies.
For a sustainable use of the sea, further research and
proactive
management
and
regulation
regarding
recreational fishing should be urgently undertaken in
Mediterranean MPAs.
Slide # 31
Acknowledgements
Managers, technicians and scientists in the MPAs for their
contribution.
Specially Nicolas Gerardin, Jean Pierre de Palma, Milena
Tempesta and Rita Marino.
This work is dedicated to the memory of
our friend and colleague, Alex Lorente.
Slide # 32
Thanks for your attention!!
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Learn more on the MedPAN North stand!
Happy Hour at 6pm
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