Characterizing the complexity of the fleet dynamics for an effective fisheries management: The case of the Cíes Islands (NW Spain)

Abstract

Summary:We analysed the fishing fleet dynamics in the Cíes Islands, located in a National Land-Marine Park of Galicia. By interviewing fishers we identified the fleet fishing in the study area and obtained temporal data on effort and catch. Then we performed multivariate analyses of the catch profiles to identify the fishing strategies and their temporal dynamics. Our results highlight the complexity of the fishery system, composed of 565 boats that used 19 fishing gears and 33 strategies in an area of 26.6 km 2 . Octopus and velvet crab pots, gillnets targeting hake, trammel nets targeting European spider crab or ballan wrasse, clam rakes, and hand harvesting of gooseneck barnacles and razor shells are the strategies most used. In addition, most of the boats are generalists and use up to seven different fishing strategies throughout the year. This flexibility of the fleet to change the target species generates a wide diversity of annual fishing patterns that increases the complexity of the fisheries and the difficulty of managing them. The implementation of data collection programmes that include fleet dynamics and spatial data are key factors for developing effective management regulations consistent with the complexity of the system. Keywords: small-scale fisheries; fishing strategies; fleet dynamics; fishing effort; Galicia.Caracterizando la complejidad de la dinámica de la flota para una gestión pesquera efectiva: el caso de las Islas Cíes (NO España) Resumen: Este estudio analiza la dinámica de la flota pesquera en las Islas Cíes, localizadas en el Parque Nacional marítimo-terrestre de Galicia. Por medio de entrevistas a pescadores hemos identificado la flota en la zona de estudio y hemos obtenido datos temporales de esfuerzo y capturas. A continuación hemos llevado a cabo un análisis multivariante de los perfiles de capturas para identificar las estrategias de pesca y su dinámica temporal. Nuestros resultados resaltan la complejidad del sistema pesquero, compuesto por 565 barcos que usan 19 artes y 33 estrategias de pesca diferentes en un área de 26.6 km 2 . Las estrategias de pesca más usadas son nasas de pulpo y nécora, arte de enmalle fijo dirigido a la captura de pescadilla, trasmallos dirigidos a la pesca de centolla y maragota, rastros para almeja, y recolección manual de percebe y navaja. Cabe decir también que la mayoría de los barcos son generalistas y utilizan hasta 7 estrategias diferentes a lo largo del año. Esta flexibilidad de la flota para cambiar su especie objetivo genera una amplia diversidad de patrones anuales de pesca que todavía incrementan más la complejidad del sistema y la dificultad para gestionarlo. La implementación de programas de recogida de datos que incluyan la dinámica de la flota y datos espaciales son clave para desarrollar unas regulaciones de gestión efectivas y consistentes con la complejidad del sistema.Palabras clave: pesquerías de pequeña escala; estrategias de pesca; dinámica de flota; esfuerzo pesquero; Galicia.

The traditional small-scale octopus trap fishery off the Galician coast (Northeastern Atlantic): Historical notes and current fishery dynamics

“…For instance, small-scale fishers in Yucatán, México, may rapidly adapt their operations at different levels during the season and target different species (Saldaa and Salas, 2017). This fact makes fishers' behaviour and strategies, as well as fleet dynamics in general, vary temporally but also spatially as observed for different typologies of fisheries (Branch et al, 2006) and regions including our waters (Ouréns et al, 2015) and neighbouring areas (González-Álvarez et al, 2016 García-de-la-Fuente et al, 2013). In general, economic conditions emerge as one of the main actors in fishers' behaviour and decision taking (van Putten et al, 2012).…”

A multidisciplinary approach to identify priority areas for the monitoring of a vulnerable family of fishes in Spanish Marine National Parks

“…The fisheries system in PNIA is complex [13, 63 , and the use of some types of fishing impacts negatively on syngnathids (by-catch and substrate degradation). Although areas of fishing are protected, they are not subject to special regulations [ 63 ]. Increasing tourism and nature activities promote public awareness for the conservation of marine ecosystems [ 69 ].…”

A multidisciplinary approach to identify priority areas for the conservation of a vulnerable family of fishes in Spanish Marine National Parks

“…The shery system in PNIA is complex (Cambie et al 2012;Ouréns et al 2015) and the use of some shing gears impact negatively on syngnathids (by-catch and substrate degradation). Fishing ground is protected but not currently subject to special regulations (Ouréns et al 2015). Increasing tourism and nature activities promote public awareness for the conservation of marine ecosystems (Piñeiro-Corbeira et al 2020).…”