A Métier-Sustainability-Index (MSI25) to evaluate fisheries components: assessment of cases from data-poor fisheries from southern Europe

Abstract

Tzanatos, E., Castro, J., Forcada, A., Matić-Skoko, S., Gaspar, M., and Koutsikopoulos, C. 2013. A Métier-Sustainability-Index (MSI25) to evaluate fisheries components: assessment of cases from data-poor fisheries from southern Europe. – ICES Journal of Marine Science, 70:78–98. The present work presents an integrated comparative assessment of the sustainability of fishing tactics or métiers (combinations of area, season, fishing gear, and target species). An index, which includes biological, conservation, socioeconomic, and management criteria, was created for this purpose: the “Métier Sustainability Index” (MSI25). It was designed using the traffic lights approach and comprises 25 indicators that refer to the “health” of the fisheries. Additionally, the MSI25 provides an indication of the “certainty” of that information with regard to the data type/heterogeneity. Subsequently, the index was tested using data from six case studies (81 métiers) from the Mediterranean and the Atlantic. The index showed that 63.0% of the métiers were “sustainable”, 21.0% were “unsustainable” and 16.0% were “under pressure”; 59.3% of characterizations were considered as “certain”. The index evaluation showed significant differences between areas and gears. This paper considers the characteristics of the datasets used, the case management status, and the applicability of the index in improving the management of specific fisheries. Overall, the MSI25 was found to be a useful tool for the evaluation and management of highly heterogeneous fisheries and data from various sources and types.

Can restrictions in Mediterranean artisanal fisheries be beneficial for target species?

“…The results of our study support the need to improve the management in partial reserves and quantitatively assess pressure of both professional (artisanal) and recreational fishing operating within and adjacent to MPAs (Di Franco et al 2009, Sciberras et al 2013, Tzanatos et al 2013.…”

Description of a daily fishing activity from a small-scale fisherman in Central Greece (Korinthiakos Gulf)

“…Small-scale fisheries have a great socio-economic importance in peripheral and ultra-peripheral regions (Guyader et al 2013) as well as in data-poor areas (Tzanatos et al 2012), such as the Eastern Mediterranean waters. In the present study, sampling covered more than 50 % of the total fishing activity during a 15-month fishing period (418 fishing days) of a small-scale fisherman.…”

Assessment of catches, landings and fishing effort as useful tools for MPA management

“…While important, these data are rarely available. Finally, the reliability of catch statistics from these artisanal fisheries is also questionable since it is usually based on officially registered landings which are rarely validated by systematic observer programs or calibrated with sampling at sea and during landing (Tzanatos et al, 2013). As a consequence, a high percentage of catches are not being accounted for in small scale fisheries (e.g.…”

“…Moreover, some studies have been focused on the development of methods based on the integration of existing data from different sources with the aim of optimizing the utility of existing data for fisheries management (e.g. Tzanatos et al, 2013).…”