Global offtake of wild animals from wetlands: critical issues for fish and birds

Abstract

The global offtake of wild animals is valued at US$400 billion annually and supports the livelihoods of 15% of the global population. Wetlands are amongst the most important ecosystems globally, but offtake may represent a substantial pressure. This study assessed the availability of information and evaluated the offtake of wild animals from wetlands by focussing on fish and waterbirds. A literature search identified 2726 studies on wetland offtake. Scoping of these resulted in 82 studies that contained quantitative information on fish or waterbird offtake. 2Fishing offtake statistics for inland waters are collated nationally by some governments, but other sources of information are few. Reporting of fish offtake for species or across scales was constrained by insufficient detail, even in relatively well-documented countries such as Bangladesh. Although government hunting statistics from Europe and North America were available, there was little waterbird data from less economically developed countries. The case of Canada indicated that the species richness and composition of waterbirds taken varied between indigenous subsistence and recreational hunting communities. Hidden (unquantified) offtake, of both fish and waterbirds, hinders obtaining precise data for offtake, which may threaten the conservation of species and the sustainability of wetland ecosystems.

Economic value of tropical inland freshwater shallow lakes: Lesson from Lake Malombe, Malawi

“…Brotherton et al (2020) acknowledged that hunting in wetlands is highly expected under severe drought, and tropical inland shallow lakes such as Lake Chilwa, Lake Malombe, Lake Chiuta and others in Africa provide the best examples. This study revealed that when the lake levels have drastically decreased during the dry, hot season, bird sanctuaries become highly exposed, and hunting is common.…”

Social and ecological drivers of illegal bird hunting in the Indawgyi wetland ecosystem in Myanmar

“…Thus, the ecological impact of bird hunting is not limited to just affecting the structure of the bird community through reduction in species richness and abundance (Benitez‐Lopez et al, 2017) but also implies the loss of ecosystem services that are crucial for human societies (Ramachandran et al, 2017). While hunting occurs in all bird habitats, the avifauna of wetlands are more vulnerable than others due to the predominant impact of anthropogenic exploitation, interacting with increased human accessibility and habitat degradation (Brotherton et al, 2020; Wetland International, 2010; Yong et al, 2022).…”

Understanding and mitigating global change with aquatic sensors: current challenges and future prospects

“…The introduction of invasive species to regions where they have not existed for centuries or millennia-either due to intentional or accidental introductions-can also cause the decline or extinction of species, often because the native species have no evolutionary history and therefore no defenses against introduced predators, herbivores, or pathogens. Overexploitation can occur in several ways, including unsustainable fishing or hunting as well as the pet and plant trade when species are taken from nature (Brotherton et al, 2020).…”