Traditional management strategies fail to arrest a decline in the catch‐per‐unit‐effort of an iconic marine recreational fishery species with evidence of hyperstability

Abstract

The paucity of long‐term marine recreational fisheries data limits understanding of the effects of exploitation on target species. Long‐term catch‐per‐unit‐effort (CPUE) datasets for a large piscivorous carangid species, Lichia amia (L.), from 3 South African recreational fishery sectors were examined. Although standardised CPUE for all sectors showed an overall long‐term decline, there was considerable variability in trends between the recreational sectors and between datasets. Contrasting trends between competitive shore angling and general shore angling datasets were ascribed to hyperstability in competition CPUE data, which was most influenced by rapidly improving technology, techniques and communication networks amongst anglers. Month and locality were significant factors explaining the probability of catching L. amia. This suggests that the predictable aggregation behaviour of this species could further compound the observed CPUE hyperstability. Although the CPUE responded positively for 6 years after implementation of the first minimum size and bag limits, and for 1 year after the decommercialisation of the species, these regulations and their amendments failed to arrest a long‐term decline in CPUE despite ample evidence for hyperstability. Additional regulations, including a spatio‐temporal closure and the implementation of a voluntary regulation framework of catch and release, are recommended for this species.

Technological innovations in the recreational fishing sector: implications for fisheries management and policy

“…Novel hook mounts have also been created to increase hook exposure and ultimately capture rates (Bursell and Arlinghaus 2018 ). In addition to hooks, there have been innovations in bait clips that allow anglers to cast the sinker out and then clip a large bait on to the line and slide it out which has enabled anglers to access fish (e.g., Lichia amia ) that were previously inaccessible (Maggs et al 2016 ).…”

Recommendations for the future of recreational fisheries to prepare the social‐ecological system to cope with change

“…One case from an emerging economy country is the marine recreational fishery in Kwa‐Zulu Natal, South Africa, which offers a 40‐year catch and effort monitoring dataset (Maggs et al . ). While this monitoring project was built on conventional techniques and strong institutional support, this is seldom the case and novel assessment methods for data poor regions are needed for most recreational fisheries (Beard et al .…”

“…For example, large-scale survey efforts are underway in European marine fisheries to characterize catch and harvest of anglers and include the information in stock assessments (Strehlow et al 2012). One case from an emerging economy country is the marine recreational fishery in Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa, which offers a 40-year catch and effort monitoring dataset (Maggs et al 2015). While this monitoring project was built on conventional techniques and strong institutional support, this is seldom the case and novel assessment methods for data poor regions are needed for most recreational fisheries (Beard et al 2011).…”

Urban Recreational Fisheries in the Australian Coastal Zone: The Sustainability Challenge

“…While there is a very clear and necessary role for typical fisheries management tools such as minimum legal sizes and recreational bag limits to continue to be applied, these methods alone cannot deliver holistic management necessary for urban recreational fisheries that provide optimal benefits. Further, they do not in isolation guarantee that a recreationally fished species does not decline in abundance significantly [46].…”