Use of Local Ecological Knowledge on the Natural Recruitment of Bivalve Species of Commercial Exploitation in a Natura Area

Abstract

The current study provides valuable insight into the ecological risks and decline of the bivalve fishery and biodiversity in the Amvrakikos Gulf over the last 50 years through a triangulation of information from in situ surveys and expert judgment, supplemented with historical archives. In situ sampling showed that bivalve species composition was a typical composition of benthic fauna consisting of the olive green cockle, Cerastoderma glaucum, the grooved carpet shell, Ruditapes decussatus, and the Mediterranean mussel, Mytilus galloprovincialis. Interviews confirmed the dramatic decrease in the abundance of striped venus clam, Chamelea gallina, and noble pen shell Pinna nobilis, both of which might be attributed to human-induced impacts, habitat degradation and climate change. Official data depicted a gradual reduction of bivalve catches since 1980 and massive degradation of the resources after 2000. As a result, the bivalve fishery was abandoned, having a negative impact on the local socio-economic community. The present study fills in a gap in knowledge for preserving species biodiversity that is critical to the health of the coastal environments.

Site selection for European native oyster (Ostrea edulis) habitat restoration projects: An expert‐derived consensus

“…‘Essential’ socio‐economic factors ( n = 3) included engagement with policy makers and environmental regulators, and stakeholder interest and support, as well as the utilization of local ecological knowledge (LEK; Figure 4). Local ecological knowledge, which integrates traditional ways of knowing into scientific frameworks (Gann et al, 2019), is widely seen as an important element in environmental decision making and conservation activities on the ground (Berkström et al, 2019; Theodorou et al, 2022).…”

“…The list of factors may also help to guide participatory mapping processes to capture the relevant LEK from existing stakeholders. Stakeholders often have a deep understanding of their local ecosystems based upon years of insight and non‐scientific ecological observation (Berkström et al, 2019; Theodorou et al, 2022). Local ecological knowledge can be effectively integrated into the site selection process through early and open consultation, and by ensuring that community members have a seat at the decision‐making table.…”

“…development of habitat suitability modelling, with models specific to inshore locations in Europe yet to be developed beyond a few broadscale efforts (e.g.UK Environment Agency, 2020;Stechele et al, 2022a). The consensus drawn through the Delphi process across a diversity of restoration sites and ecological systems suggests that these 'Essential' factors are common to inshore and offshore habitats alike, and hence that the factors listed should be considered in both inshore and offshore habitat suitability modelling.The list of factors may also help to guide participatory mapping processes to capture the relevant LEK from existing stakeholders.Stakeholders often have a deep understanding of their local ecosystems based upon years of insight and non-scientific ecological observation(Berkström et al, 2019;Theodorou et al, 2022). Local ecological knowledge can be effectively integrated into the site selection process through early and open consultation, and by ensuring that community members have a seat at the decision-making table.…”

Fisheries assessment of the Albanian lagoon fisheries

“…Another important issue is that Mediterranean coastal fishery is not gender balanced, but male dominant (Greece: Tzanatos et al 2020, Italy: Battaglia et al 2010, Spain: Frangoudes et al 2008, Villasante et al 2019, Turkey: Birkan and Öndes 2020. Social norms in certain fisheries place the responsibility for generating income on men, while women engage in household duties (Biswas 2018), although women do play crucial roles in many lagoons often through unpaid labor (Kraak 2020, Theodorou et al 2022. That subsequent generations are abandoning commercial fisheries could also reflect the lack of a long-term strategy in the fisheries sector that poses risks to the future of the coastal fisheries of countries such as Albanian.…”

New directions for Indigenous and Local Knowledge research and application in fisheries science: Lessons from a Systematic Review

“…Research in triangula,on primarily used ILK as part of a mul--method toolbox to fill gaps but did not specifically compare ILK with other data sources (as with the comparison category). For example, ILK was combined with mark-recapture methods to assess popula-on connec-vity (e.g., Perez et al, 2019;Pina-Amargós et al, 2023), pooled with historical records from newspaper ar-cles to document long-term temporal trends (e.g., Burns et al, 2020;Obregón et al, 2022;Theodorou et al, 2022) and combined with log-books and fish -ckets to map fishing areas (e.g., Ojeda-Ruiz et al, 2015;Sjostrom et al, 2021). Similar to management, triangula,on studies were largely qualita-ve in nature (79%).…”