1
|
Biswal R, Johnson DS. A social wellbeing approach to the gendered impacts of fisheries transition in Gujarat, India. MARITIME STUDIES : MAST 2023; 22:13. [PMID: 37016697 PMCID: PMC10066161 DOI: 10.1007/s40152-023-00299-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2021] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
In this paper, we use the analytical lens of social wellbeing to interpret the history of livelihood change in the coastal village of Saiyad Rajpara in Gujarat over the past 70 years. We describe a broad narrative of transition from food scarcity to food security brought about by the introduction and intensification of bag net fishing in the village. This form of fishing has largely displaced the previous economic basis for livelihoods of uncertain daily wage labour. In a pattern common along the coast, an economy offering at best subsistence has shifted to one that is market-oriented, and which generates considerable surplus. We use the social wellbeing perspective to take stock of and order the complex effects of this transition. While the intensification of small-scale fishing in Saiyad Rajpara resulted in a general and marked material improvement in the lives of the residents of the village, the social relational benefits and subjective experience of change have been more mixed, particularly along lines of gender. A social wellbeing perspective offers an approach to fisheries governance that is more inclusive and sensitive to local experience.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rajib Biswal
- Natural Resources Institute, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Canada
| | | |
Collapse
|
2
|
Rivas N, Acero P. A, Tavera J. Spatial variation of parrotfish assemblages at oceanic islands in the western Caribbean: evidence of indirect effects of fishing? PeerJ 2022; 10:e14178. [PMID: 36518271 PMCID: PMC9744149 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.14178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Fish populations that bear considerable pressure levels tend to show a decline in the average size of individuals, with the small and unexploited species replacing the large and exploited ones. It is important to carry on with their characterization in areas where they are becoming an important source of food for local human populations. An example of such species are parrotfishes, whose responses to external factors such as fishing need to be understood and predicted. In this study, we used a diver-operated stereo-video to examine individual body size, sex ratios and proportion of species of the parrotfish assemblage and analyze them on a qualitative fishing pressure gradient at four oceanic islands in the Colombian Caribbean. We reported over 10,000 occurrences of eleven parrotfish species, of which we estimated the total length of over 90%, grouping them into three size categories (large, medium, and small). Our data showed a spatial variation of parrotfishes' abundances, biomass, and individual body size. Observed differences are size-category-dependent throughout the qualitative fishing pressure. In general, the medium-bodied species had smaller sizes, lower abundances, and thus lower contribution to the total parrotfish biomass at the most heavily fished island. Unexpectedly, we found evidence of possible indirect effects over the small-bodied species Scarus iseri and Scarus taeniopterus with significantly greater abundances, and larger sizes of males of S. iseri, at the higher fishing pressure sites. Overall, our data highlights the extent of the spatial variation in the parrotfish communities at relatively short distances, and present new insights into the responses of parrotfish species on a spectrum of body sizes along a gradient of human pressure.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Natalia Rivas
- Instituto de Estudios en Ciencias del Mar (Cecimar), Universidad Nacional de Colombia sede Caribe, El Rodadero, Santa Marta, Colombia
| | - Arturo Acero P.
- Instituto de Estudios en Ciencias del Mar (Cecimar), Universidad Nacional de Colombia sede Caribe, El Rodadero, Santa Marta, Colombia
| | - José Tavera
- Departamento de Biología, Universidad del Valle, Cali, Colombia
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Smallhorn-West P, van der Ploeg J, Boso D, Sukulu M, Leamae J, Isihanua M, Jasper M, Saeni-Oeta J, Batalofo M, Orirana G, Konamalefo A, Houma J, Eriksson H. Patterns of catch and trophic signatures illustrate diverse management requirements of coastal fisheries in Solomon Islands. AMBIO 2022; 51:1504-1519. [PMID: 35150394 PMCID: PMC9005606 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-021-01690-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2021] [Revised: 08/11/2021] [Accepted: 12/02/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Coastal fisheries are a critical component of Pacific island food systems; they power village economies and provide nutritious aquatic foods. Many coastal women and men actively fishing in this region rely on multi-species fisheries, which given their extraordinary diversity are notoriously difficult to both characterize, and to manage. Understanding patterns of fishing, diversity of target species and drivers of these patterns can help define requirements for sustainable management and enhanced livelihoods. Here we use a 12-month data set of 8535 fishing trips undertaken by fishers across Malaita province, Solomon Islands, to create fisheries signatures for 13 communities based on the combination of two metrics; catch per unit effort (CPUE) and catch trophic levels. These signatures are in turn used as a framework for guiding suitable management recommendations in the context of community-based resource management. While a key proximate driver of these patterns was fishing gear (e.g. angling, nets or spearguns), market surveys and qualitative environmental information suggest that community fishing characteristics are coupled to local environmental features more than the market value of specific species they target. Our results demonstrate that even within a single island not all small-scale fisheries are equal, and effective management solutions ultimately depend on catering to the specific environmental characteristics around individual communities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Patrick Smallhorn-West
- WorldFish, Unit 2, LKP Building, Mission Place, PO Box 438, Honiara, Solomon Islands
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, 1 James Cook Drive, Townsville, QLD 4810 Australia
| | - Jan van der Ploeg
- WorldFish, Unit 2, LKP Building, Mission Place, PO Box 438, Honiara, Solomon Islands
| | - Delvene Boso
- WorldFish, Unit 2, LKP Building, Mission Place, PO Box 438, Honiara, Solomon Islands
| | - Meshach Sukulu
- WorldFish, Unit 2, LKP Building, Mission Place, PO Box 438, Honiara, Solomon Islands
| | - Janet Leamae
- WorldFish, Unit 2, LKP Building, Mission Place, PO Box 438, Honiara, Solomon Islands
| | - Mathew Isihanua
- Malaita Fisheries Division, Malaita Provincial Government, Auki, Malaita Solomon Islands
| | - Martin Jasper
- Malaita Fisheries Division, Malaita Provincial Government, Auki, Malaita Solomon Islands
| | - Janet Saeni-Oeta
- WorldFish, Unit 2, LKP Building, Mission Place, PO Box 438, Honiara, Solomon Islands
| | - Margaret Batalofo
- WorldFish, Unit 2, LKP Building, Mission Place, PO Box 438, Honiara, Solomon Islands
| | - Grace Orirana
- WorldFish, Unit 2, LKP Building, Mission Place, PO Box 438, Honiara, Solomon Islands
| | - Alick Konamalefo
- Malaita Fisheries Division, Malaita Provincial Government, Auki, Malaita Solomon Islands
| | - Jill Houma
- Malaita Fisheries Division, Malaita Provincial Government, Auki, Malaita Solomon Islands
| | - Hampus Eriksson
- WorldFish, Unit 2, LKP Building, Mission Place, PO Box 438, Honiara, Solomon Islands
- Australian National Center for Ocean Resources and Security (ANCORS), University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW Australia
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Linking key human-environment theories to inform the sustainability of coral reefs. Curr Biol 2022; 32:2610-2620.e4. [PMID: 35568029 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2022.04.055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2021] [Revised: 03/06/2022] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Effective solutions to the ongoing "coral reef crisis" will remain limited until the underlying drivers of coral reef degradation are better understood. Here, we conduct a global-scale study of how four key metrics of ecosystem states and processes on coral reefs (top predator presence, reef fish biomass, trait diversity, and parrotfish scraping potential) are explained by 11 indicators based on key human-environment theories from the social sciences. Our global analysis of >1,500 reefs reveals three key findings. First, the proximity of the nearest market has the strongest and most consistent relationships with these ecosystem metrics. This finding is in keeping with a body of terrestrial research on how market accessibility shapes agricultural practices, but the integration of these concepts in marine systems is nascent. Second, our global study shows that resource conditions tend to display a n-shaped relationship with socioeconomic development. Specifically, the probabilities of encountering a top predator, fish biomass, and fish trait diversity were highest where human development was moderate but lower where development was either high or low. This finding contrasts with previous regional-scale research demonstrating an environmental Kuznets curve hypothesis (which predicts a U-shaped relationship between socioeconomic development and resource conditions). Third, together, our ecosystem metrics are best explained by the integration of different human-environment theories. Our best model includes the interactions between indicators from different theoretical perspectives, revealing how marine reserves can have different outcomes depending on how far they are from markets and human settlements, as well as the size of the surrounding human population.
Collapse
|
5
|
Brewer TD, Andrew N, Gruber B, Kool J. Large-sample-size assessment of socioeconomic predictors of community-level resource management occurrence. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2022; 36:e13800. [PMID: 34160100 PMCID: PMC9290117 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.13800] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Revised: 06/03/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Community-level resource management efforts are cornerstones in ensuring sustainable use of natural resources. Yet, understanding how community characteristics influence management practices remains contested. With a sample size of ≥725 communities, we assessed the effects of key community (i.e., socioeconomic) characteristics (human population size and density, market integration, and modernization) on the probability of occurrence of fisheries management practices, including gear, species, and spatial restrictions. The study was based in Solomon Islands, a Pacific Island country with a population that is highly dependent on coastal fisheries. People primarily dwell in small communities adjacent to the coastline dispersed across 6 island provinces and numerous smaller islands. We used nationally collected data in binomial logistic regression models to examine the likelihood of management occurrence, given socioeconomic context of communities. In contrast to prevailing views, we identified a positive and statistically significant association between both human population size and market integration and all 3 management practices. Human population density, however, had a statistically significant negative association and modernization a varied and limited association with occurrence of all management practices. Our method offers a way to remotely predict the occurrence of resource management practices based on key socioeconomic characteristics. It could be used to improve understanding of why some communities conduct natural resource management activities when statistical patterns suggest they are not likely to and thus improve understanding of how some communities of people beat the odds despite limited market access and high population density.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tom David Brewer
- Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and SecurityUniversity of WollongongWollongongNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Neil Andrew
- Australian National Centre for Ocean Resources and SecurityUniversity of WollongongWollongongNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Bernd Gruber
- Institute for Applied EcologyUniversity of CanberraCanberraAustralian Capital TerritoryAustralia
| | | |
Collapse
|
6
|
Tregidgo D, Parry L, Barlow J, Pompeu PS. Urban market amplifies strong species selectivity in Amazonian artisanal fisheries. NEOTROPICAL ICHTHYOLOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.1590/1982-0224-2021-0097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Abstract Despite Amazonia possessing the highest freshwater biodiversity on Earth, urban landing data show how huge fishing pressure is placed on only a dozen species. However, truly characterising the fishery and understanding the drivers of species selectivity is challenging, given the neglect of artisanal fishing activity, who may catch most of the Amazon’s fish. We register the catch of 824 fishing trips by interviewing artisanal fishers in their rural riverside communities. We use these data to characterise the artisanal fishery of the Rio Purus, the main fish source sub-system for the Amazon’s largest city (Manaus), and investigate the factors determining catch composition. Fishers caught 80 fish species, yet just four species made up over half of the harvested biomass. Urban markets appear to drive greater selectivity, with a significantly lower species diversity in commercial compared to subsistence catches. Fish catch composition varied significantly both seasonally and with geographical remoteness from Manaus. The spatial turnover in catch composition appears to be driven by urban access, with more commercially important species dominating where Manaus-based fish-buyers frequent. Our data may partially explain observed overfishing in some commercially important species, particularly as most Amazonians now live in urban areas.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Tregidgo
- Universidade Federal de Lavras (UFLA), Brazil; Lancaster University, United Kingdom; Instituto de Desenvolvimento Sustentável Mamirauá, Brazil
| | - Luke Parry
- Lancaster University, United Kingdom; Universidade Federal do Pará (UFPA), Brazil
| | - Jos Barlow
- Universidade Federal de Lavras (UFLA), Brazil; Lancaster University, United Kingdom
| | | |
Collapse
|
7
|
Artisanal fish fences pose broad and unexpected threats to the tropical coastal seascape. Nat Commun 2019; 10:2100. [PMID: 31113956 PMCID: PMC6529422 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-10051-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2019] [Accepted: 04/16/2019] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Gear restrictions are an important management tool in small-scale tropical fisheries, improving sustainability and building resilience to climate change. Yet to identify the management challenges and complete footprint of individual gears, a broader systems approach is required that integrates ecological, economic and social sciences. Here we apply this approach to artisanal fish fences, intensively used across three oceans, to identify a previously underrecognized gear requiring urgent management attention. A longitudinal case study shows increased effort matched with large declines in catch success and corresponding reef fish abundance. We find fish fences to disrupt vital ecological connectivity, exploit > 500 species with high juvenile removal, and directly damage seagrass ecosystems with cascading impacts on connected coral reefs and mangroves. As semi-permanent structures in otherwise open-access fisheries, they create social conflict by assuming unofficial and unregulated property rights, while their unique high-investment-low-effort nature removes traditional economic and social barriers to overfishing.
Collapse
|
8
|
Isolation and no-entry marine reserves mitigate anthropogenic impacts on grey reef shark behavior. Sci Rep 2019; 9:2897. [PMID: 30814640 PMCID: PMC6393451 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-37145-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2018] [Accepted: 11/29/2018] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Reef sharks are vulnerable predators experiencing severe population declines mainly due to overexploitation. However, beyond direct exploitation, human activities can produce indirect or sub-lethal effects such as behavioral alterations. Such alterations are well known for terrestrial fauna but poorly documented for marine species. Using an extensive sampling of 367 stereo baited underwater videos systems, we show modifications in grey reef shark (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos) occurrence and feeding behavior along a marked gradient of isolation from humans across the New Caledonian archipelago (South-Western Pacific). The probability of occurrence decreased by 68.9% between wilderness areas (more than 25 hours travel time from the capital city) and impacted areas while the few individuals occurring in impacted areas exhibited cautious behavior. We also show that only large no-entry reserves (above 150 km²) can protect the behavior of grey reef sharks found in the wilderness. Influencing the fitness, human linked behavioral alterations should be taken into account for management strategies to ensure the persistence of populations.
Collapse
|
9
|
Friedlander AM. Marine conservation in Oceania: Past, present, and future. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2018; 135:139-149. [PMID: 30301023 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2018.05.064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2018] [Revised: 05/27/2018] [Accepted: 05/29/2018] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
The people of Oceania have long relied on the ocean for sustenance, commerce, and cultural identity, which promulgated a sophisticated understanding of the marine environment and its conservation. Global declines in ocean health now require innovative solutions that can benefit from customary knowledge and practices, which in the past led to sustainable marine resource use. The resurgence of local stewardship, which incorporates customary practices and governance, has shown promise in many locations throughout the Pacific, although a complete return to past practices is not fully implementable owing to the loss of traditional knowledge, centralized governmental structures, economic development, and globalization. Hybrid systems that incorporate elements of customary and contemporary management can overcome some of these limitations to implementation of successful local management, and lead to greater food security, social cohesion, and the creation of an adaptive system that can potentially mitigate the effects of climate change and other stressors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alan M Friedlander
- Pristine Seas, National Geographic Society, Washington, DC, USA; Fisheries Ecology Research Lab, University of Hawai'i, Honolulu, HI, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Heenan A, Hoey AS, Williams GJ, Williams ID. Natural bounds on herbivorous coral reef fishes. Proc Biol Sci 2017; 283:rspb.2016.1716. [PMID: 27881745 PMCID: PMC5136584 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2016.1716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2016] [Accepted: 10/28/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Humans are an increasingly dominant driver of Earth's biological communities, but differentiating human impacts from natural drivers of ecosystem state is crucial. Herbivorous fish play a key role in maintaining coral dominance on coral reefs, and are widely affected by human activities, principally fishing. We assess the relative importance of human and biophysical (habitat and oceanographic) drivers on the biomass of five herbivorous functional groups among 33 islands in the central and western Pacific Ocean. Human impacts were clear for some, but not all, herbivore groups. Biomass of browsers, large excavators, and of all herbivores combined declined rapidly with increasing human population density, whereas grazers, scrapers, and detritivores displayed no relationship. Sea-surface temperature had significant but opposing effects on the biomass of detritivores (positive) and browsers (negative). Similarly, the biomass of scrapers, grazers, and detritivores correlated with habitat structural complexity; however, relationships were group specific. Finally, the biomass of browsers and large excavators was related to island geomorphology, both peaking on low-lying islands and atolls. The substantial variability in herbivore populations explained by natural biophysical drivers highlights the need for locally appropriate management targets on coral reefs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Adel Heenan
- Joint Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Research, University of Hawai'i, Manoa, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA .,NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, Honolulu, HI 96818, USA
| | - Andrew S Hoey
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia
| | | | - Ivor D Williams
- NOAA Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center, Honolulu, HI 96818, USA
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Shideler GS, Araújo RJ, Walker BK, Blondeau J, Serafy JE. Non-linear thresholds characterize the relationship between reef fishes and mangrove habitat. Ecosphere 2017. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.1943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Geoffrey S. Shideler
- Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science; University of Miami; Miami Florida 33149 USA
| | - Rafael J. Araújo
- Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science; University of Miami; Miami Florida 33149 USA
| | - Brian K. Walker
- Halmos College of Natural Sciences and Oceanography; Nova Southeastern University; Dania Beach Florida 33004 USA
| | - Jeremiah Blondeau
- Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science; University of Miami; Miami Florida 33149 USA
- National Marine Fisheries Service; Southeast Fisheries Science Center; Miami Florida 33149 USA
| | - Joseph E. Serafy
- Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science; University of Miami; Miami Florida 33149 USA
- National Marine Fisheries Service; Southeast Fisheries Science Center; Miami Florida 33149 USA
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
McClanahan TR, Muthiga NA. Environmental variability indicates a climate‐adaptive center under threat in northern Mozambique coral reefs. Ecosphere 2017. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.1812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Timothy R. McClanahan
- The Wildlife Conservation Society, Marine Programs Bronx New York 10460 USA
- The Wildlife Conservation Society, Marine Programs P.O. Box 99470 Mombasa Kenya
| | - Nyawira A. Muthiga
- The Wildlife Conservation Society, Marine Programs Bronx New York 10460 USA
- The Wildlife Conservation Society, Marine Programs P.O. Box 99470 Mombasa Kenya
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Lavides MN, Molina EPV, de la Rosa GE, Mill AC, Rushton SP, Stead SM, Polunin NVC. Patterns of Coral-Reef Finfish Species Disappearances Inferred from Fishers' Knowledge in Global Epicentre of Marine Shorefish Diversity. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0155752. [PMID: 27191602 PMCID: PMC4871521 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0155752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2015] [Accepted: 05/04/2016] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
In the Philippines, very high fishing pressure coincides with the globally greatest number of shorefish species, yet no long-term fisheries data are available to explore species-level changes that may have occurred widely in the most species rich and vulnerable marine ecosystem, namely coral reefs. Through 2655 face-to-face interviews conducted between August 2012 and July 2014, we used fishers’ recall of past catch rates of reef-associated finfish to infer species disappearances from catches in five marine key biodiversity areas (Lanuza Bay, Danajon Bank, Verde Island Passage, Polillo Islands and Honda Bay). We modeled temporal trends in perceived catch per unit effort (CPUE) based on fishers’ reports of typical good days’ catches using Generalized Linear Mixed Modelling. Fifty-nine different finfish disappeared from catches between the 1950s and 2014; 42 fish were identified to species level, two to genus, seven to family and eight to local name only. Five species occurring at all sites with the greatest number of fishers reporting zero catches were the green bumphead parrotfish (Bolbometopon muricatum), humphead wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus), African pompano (Alectis ciliaris), giant grouper (Epinephelus lanceolatus) and mangrove red snapper (Lutjanus argentimaculatus). Between the 1950s and 2014, the mean perceived CPUE of bumphead parrotfish declined by 88%, that of humphead wrasse by 82%, African pompano by 66%, giant grouper by 74% and mangrove red snapper by 64%. These declines were mainly associated with excess and uncontrolled fishing, fish life-history traits like maximum body size and socio-economic factors like access to market infrastructure and services, and overpopulation. The fishers’ knowledge is indicative of extirpations where evidence for these losses was otherwise lacking. Our models provide information as basis for area-based conservation and regional resource management particularly for the more vulnerable, once common, large, yet wide-ranging reef finfish species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Margarita N. Lavides
- Haribon Foundation for the Conservation of Natural Resources, Aurora Blvd Quezon City, 1102, Philippines
- * E-mail: ;
| | - Erina Pauline V. Molina
- Haribon Foundation for the Conservation of Natural Resources, Aurora Blvd Quezon City, 1102, Philippines
| | - Gregorio E. de la Rosa
- Haribon Foundation for the Conservation of Natural Resources, Aurora Blvd Quezon City, 1102, Philippines
| | - Aileen C. Mill
- School of Biology, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE17RU, United Kingdom
| | - Stephen P. Rushton
- School of Biology, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE17RU, United Kingdom
| | - Selina M. Stead
- School of Marine Science & Technology, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE17RU, United Kingdom
| | - Nicholas V. C. Polunin
- School of Marine Science & Technology, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE17RU, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
McClanahan TR, Maina JM, Graham NAJ, Jones KR. Modeling Reef Fish Biomass, Recovery Potential, and Management Priorities in the Western Indian Ocean. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0154585. [PMID: 27149673 PMCID: PMC4858301 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0154585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2015] [Accepted: 04/17/2016] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Fish biomass is a primary driver of coral reef ecosystem services and has high sensitivity to human disturbances, particularly fishing. Estimates of fish biomass, their spatial distribution, and recovery potential are important for evaluating reef status and crucial for setting management targets. Here we modeled fish biomass estimates across all reefs of the western Indian Ocean using key variables that predicted the empirical data collected from 337 sites. These variables were used to create biomass and recovery time maps to prioritize spatially explicit conservation actions. The resultant fish biomass map showed high variability ranging from ~15 to 2900 kg/ha, primarily driven by human populations, distance to markets, and fisheries management restrictions. Lastly, we assembled data based on the age of fisheries closures and showed that biomass takes ~ 25 years to recover to typical equilibrium values of ~1200 kg/ha. The recovery times to biomass levels for sustainable fishing yields, maximum diversity, and ecosystem stability or conservation targets once fishing is suspended was modeled to estimate temporal costs of restrictions. The mean time to recovery for the whole region to the conservation target was 8.1(± 3SD) years, while recovery to sustainable fishing thresholds was between 0.5 and 4 years, but with high spatial variation. Recovery prioritization scenario models included one where local governance prioritized recovery of degraded reefs and two that prioritized minimizing recovery time, where countries either operated independently or collaborated. The regional collaboration scenario selected remote areas for conservation with uneven national responsibilities and spatial coverage, which could undermine collaboration. There is the potential to achieve sustainable fisheries within a decade by promoting these pathways according to their social-ecological suitability.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Timothy R. McClanahan
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Marine Programs, Coral Reef Conservation Project, Mombasa, Kenya
- * E-mail:
| | - Joseph M. Maina
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Marine Programs, Coral Reef Conservation Project, Mombasa, Kenya
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Environment Decisions, Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Macquarie University, North Ryde, New South Wales 2109, Australia
| | - Nicholas A. J. Graham
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Lancaster, LA1 4YQ, United Kingdom
| | - Kendall R. Jones
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Environment Decisions, Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
- School of Geography, Planning and Environmental Management, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland 4072, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Brooks JS. Design Features and Project Age Contribute to Joint Success in Social, Ecological, and Economic Outcomes of Community-Based Conservation Projects. Conserv Lett 2016. [DOI: 10.1111/conl.12231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy S. Brooks
- School of Environment and Natural Resources; The Ohio State University; 2021 Coffey Rd. Columbus OH 43212 U.S.A
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Jouffray JB, Nyström M, Norström AV, Williams ID, Wedding LM, Kittinger JN, Williams GJ. Identifying multiple coral reef regimes and their drivers across the Hawaiian archipelago. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2015; 370:20130268. [PMCID: PMC4247404 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2013.0268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Loss of coral reef resilience can lead to dramatic changes in benthic structure, often called regime shifts, which significantly alter ecosystem processes and functioning. In the face of global change and increasing direct human impacts, there is an urgent need to anticipate and prevent undesirable regime shifts and, conversely, to reverse shifts in already degraded reef systems. Such challenges require a better understanding of the human and natural drivers that support or undermine different reef regimes. The Hawaiian archipelago extends across a wide gradient of natural and anthropogenic conditions and provides us a unique opportunity to investigate the relationships between multiple reef regimes, their dynamics and potential drivers. We applied a combination of exploratory ordination methods and inferential statistics to one of the most comprehensive coral reef datasets available in order to detect, visualize and define potential multiple ecosystem regimes. This study demonstrates the existence of three distinct reef regimes dominated by hard corals, turf algae or macroalgae. Results from boosted regression trees show nonlinear patterns among predictors that help to explain the occurrence of these regimes, and highlight herbivore biomass as the key driver in addition to effluent, latitude and depth.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jean-Baptiste Jouffray
- Global Economic Dynamics and the Biosphere Academy Programme, Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences, PO Box 50005, Stockholm 104 05, Sweden
- Stockholm Resilience Centre, Stockholm University, Stockholm 106 91, Sweden
| | - Magnus Nyström
- Stockholm Resilience Centre, Stockholm University, Stockholm 106 91, Sweden
| | - Albert V. Norström
- Stockholm Resilience Centre, Stockholm University, Stockholm 106 91, Sweden
| | - Ivor D. Williams
- Coral Reef Ecosystem Division (CRED), Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center (PIFSC), National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, 1125B Ala Moana Boulevard, Honolulu, HI 96814, USA
| | - Lisa M. Wedding
- Center for Ocean Solutions, Stanford University, Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment, 99 Pacific Street, Suite 555E, Monterey, CA 93940, USA
| | - John N. Kittinger
- Center for Ocean Solutions, Stanford University, Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment, 99 Pacific Street, Suite 555E, Monterey, CA 93940, USA
- Conservation International, Betty and Gordon Moore Center for Science and Oceans, Honolulu, HI, USA
| | - Gareth J. Williams
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, 9500 Gillman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Weeks R, Pressey RL, Wilson JR, Knight M, Horigue V, Abesamis RA, Acosta R, Jompa J. Ten things to get right for marine conservation planning in the Coral Triangle. F1000Res 2014; 3:91. [PMID: 25110579 PMCID: PMC4111118 DOI: 10.12688/f1000research.3886.3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/18/2015] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Systematic conservation planning increasingly underpins the conservation and management of marine and coastal ecosystems worldwide. Amongst other benefits, conservation planning provides transparency in decision-making, efficiency in the use of limited resources, the ability to minimise conflict between diverse objectives, and to guide strategic expansion of local actions to maximise their cumulative impact. The Coral Triangle has long been recognised as a global marine conservation priority, and has been the subject of huge investment in conservation during the last five years through the Coral Triangle Initiative on Coral Reefs, Fisheries and Food Security. Yet conservation planning has had relatively little influence in this region. To explore why this is the case, we identify and discuss 10 challenges that must be resolved if conservation planning is to effectively inform management actions in the Coral Triangle. These are: making conservation planning accessible; integrating with other planning processes; building local capacity for conservation planning; institutionalising conservation planning within governments; integrating plans across governance levels; planning across governance boundaries; planning for multiple tools and objectives; understanding limitations of data; developing better measures of progress and effectiveness; and making a long term commitment. Most important is a conceptual shift from conservation planning undertaken as a project, to planning undertaken as a process, with dedicated financial and human resources committed to long-term engagement.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Weeks
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia
| | - Robert L Pressey
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia
| | | | - Maurice Knight
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia; USAID Coral Triangle Support Partnership, Jakarta, Indonesia
| | - Vera Horigue
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Australia
| | - Rene A Abesamis
- Silliman University Angelo King Center for Research and Environmental Management, Dumaguete, Philippines
| | - Renerio Acosta
- USAID Regional Development Mission for Asia, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Jamaluddin Jompa
- Department of Marine Science, Hasanuddin University, Makassar, Indonesia
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Rotjan R, Jamieson R, Carr B, Kaufman L, Mangubhai S, Obura D, Pierce R, Rimon B, Ris B, Sandin S, Shelley P, Sumaila UR, Taei S, Tausig H, Teroroko T, Thorrold S, Wikgren B, Toatu T, Stone G. Establishment, management, and maintenance of the phoenix islands protected area. ADVANCES IN MARINE BIOLOGY 2014; 69:289-324. [PMID: 25358303 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-800214-8.00008-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
The Republic of Kiribati's Phoenix Islands Protected Area (PIPA), located in the equatorial central Pacific, is the largest and deepest UNESCO World Heritage site on earth. Created in 2008, it was the first Marine Protected Area (MPA) of its kind (at the time of inception, the largest in the world) and includes eight low-lying islands, shallow coral reefs, submerged shallow and deep seamounts and extensive open-ocean and ocean floor habitat. Due to their isolation, the shallow reef habitats have been protected de facto from severe exploitation, though the surrounding waters have been continually fished for large pelagics and whales over many decades. PIPA was created under a partnership between the Government of Kiribati and the international non-governmental organizations-Conservation International and the New England Aquarium. PIPA has a unique conservation strategy as the first marine MPA to use a conservation contract mechanism with a corresponding Conservation Trust established to be both a sustainable financing mechanism and a check-and-balance to the oversight and maintenance of the MPA. As PIPA moves forward with its management objectives, it is well positioned to be a global model for large MPA design and implementation in similar contexts. The islands and shallow reefs have already shown benefits from protection, though the pending full closure of PIPA (and assessments thereof) will be critical for determining success of the MPA as a refuge for open-ocean pelagic and deep-sea marine life. As global ocean resources are continually being extracted to support a growing global population, PIPA's closure is both timely and of global significance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Randi Rotjan
- New England Aquarium, 1 Central Wharf, Boston, MA, 02110, USA.
| | - Regen Jamieson
- New England Aquarium, 1 Central Wharf, Boston, MA, 02110, USA
| | - Ben Carr
- Boston University, Department of Biology, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Les Kaufman
- New England Aquarium, 1 Central Wharf, Boston, MA, 02110, USA; Boston University, Department of Biology, Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Conservation International, Arlington, Virginia, USA
| | | | - David Obura
- New England Aquarium, 1 Central Wharf, Boston, MA, 02110, USA; CORDIO East Africa, P.O. Box 1013, Mombasa, Kenya
| | - Ray Pierce
- EcoOceania, Speewah, Queensland, Australia
| | - Betarim Rimon
- Phoenix Island Protected Area Office, Ministry of Environment, Lands and Agriculture Development, P.O. Box 234, Tarawa, Kiribati
| | - Bud Ris
- New England Aquarium, 1 Central Wharf, Boston, MA, 02110, USA; Phoenix Islands Protected Area Conservation Trust, P.O. Box 366, Tarawa, Kiribati
| | - Stuart Sandin
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Peter Shelley
- Conservation Law Foundation, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - U Rashid Sumaila
- The University of British Columbia Fisheries Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Sue Taei
- Conservation International Pacific Islands and Oceans Programme, P.O. Box 2035, Apia, Samoa
| | - Heather Tausig
- New England Aquarium, 1 Central Wharf, Boston, MA, 02110, USA
| | - Tukabu Teroroko
- Phoenix Island Protected Area Office, Ministry of Environment, Lands and Agriculture Development, P.O. Box 234, Tarawa, Kiribati; Phoenix Islands Protected Area Conservation Trust, P.O. Box 366, Tarawa, Kiribati
| | - Simon Thorrold
- Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Brooke Wikgren
- New England Aquarium, 1 Central Wharf, Boston, MA, 02110, USA
| | - Teuea Toatu
- Phoenix Islands Protected Area Conservation Trust, P.O. Box 366, Tarawa, Kiribati
| | - Greg Stone
- Conservation International, Arlington, Virginia, USA; Phoenix Islands Protected Area Conservation Trust, P.O. Box 366, Tarawa, Kiribati
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Villasante S, Rodríguez-González D, Antelo M, Rivero-Rodríguez S, de Santiago JA, Macho G. All fish for China? AMBIO 2013; 42:923-36. [PMID: 24213992 PMCID: PMC3824875 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-013-0448-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
In this paper we examine the effect of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) on the level of fish intake in China in comparison with the rest of the world. We also analyse the origin and destination of China's seafood products in order to understand the main patterns during the last decades. The results show that in the 1961-2011 period the rate of growth of the GDP in China doubled that of other developing regions, while the daily fish intake of China increased fourfold, making China the largest fish consumer in the world. Given the size and scale of China's role in production, consumption, and global transformation of seafood markets, China is shaping a new era of industrialization in the history of the fishing industry.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sebastián Villasante
- />University of Santiago de Compostela, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Av. Burgo Nacións s/n, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, A Coruña Spain
- />Campus do Mar, International Campus of Excellence, Vigo, Spain
- />Centro Nacional Patagónico (CENPAT), CONICET, Puerto Madryn, Argentina
| | - David Rodríguez-González
- />University of Santiago de Compostela, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Av. Burgo Nacións s/n, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, A Coruña Spain
| | - Manel Antelo
- />University of Santiago de Compostela, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Av. Burgo Nacións s/n, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, A Coruña Spain
| | - Susana Rivero-Rodríguez
- />University of Santiago de Compostela, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Av. Burgo Nacións s/n, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, A Coruña Spain
| | - José A. de Santiago
- />University of Santiago de Compostela, Faculty of Economics and Business Administration, Av. Burgo Nacións s/n, 15782 Santiago de Compostela, A Coruña Spain
| | - Gonzalo Macho
- />Departamento de Ecoloxía e Bioloxía Animal, Campus Lagoas-Marcosende, Universidade de Vigo, 36310 Vigo, Spain
- />Department of Biological Sciences, University of South Carolina, 715 Sumter Street, Columbia, SC 29208 USA
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Cinner J. The articles in this “Conservation Focus” highlight emerging research on the human dimensions of coral reef conservation. Introduction. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2013; 27:441-442. [PMID: 23692017 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.12072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
|