ScotMap: Participatory mapping of inshore fishing activity to inform marine spatial planning in Scotland

A detailed understanding of fishing activity in Scottish waters is required to inform marine spatial planning. Larger fishing vessels are fitted with Vessel Monitoring Systems (VMS) offering spatial information on fishing activity. VMS does not cover smaller vessels (under 15 m), which fish predominantly in inshore waters where the competition for space is often greatest. To improve knowledge of the distribution of fishing activity and value of fisheries in Scotland's inshore waters, Marine Scotland conducted a participatory fisheries mapping project, known as ScotMap. The data were collected during face-to-face interviews with 1090 fishermen of Scottish registered commercial fishing vessels under 15 m in overall length and relate to fishing activity for the period 2007–2011. Interviewees were asked to identify the areas in which they fish, estimate the contribution these areas make to vessel earnings, and to provide associated information. The majority of interviews relate to creel fishing. The data collected were aggregated to provide mapped outputs of the monetary value, relative importance to fishermen and the usage of the seas around Scotland (number of fishing vessels and number of crew). ScotMap outputs provide information on the locations of inshore fishing activities and the economic importance of different sea areas at a much higher spatial resolution than was previously possible. Outputs have informed marine policy development, provide a valuable resource for marine spatial planning in Scotland and illustrate how participatory mapping can generate useful resources on the location and importance of inshore fishing areas.     

Inshore/offshore gradients of imposex and organotin contamination in Nassarius reticulatus (L.) along the Portuguese coast

Imposex and organotin (OT) tissue contamination of the netted whelk Nassarius reticulatus (L.) were assessed in the continental shelves around the main estuaries of the central coast of Portugal (Lisbon: Tagus estuary; Setúbal: Sado estuary) and the main coastal lagoon in the Southern of Portugal (Faro: Ria Formosa). Pollution levels were higher in areas of more intense boat traffic and shipyard activities and imposex showed a clear decreasing gradient from the estuaries to the offshore, in relation to a similar gradient of tissue contamination by tributyltin. Remarkably, imposex was extensively spread over the adjacent continental shelves of Tagus and Sado estuaries. The current work shows that TBT pollution is undoubtedly a matter of concern not only for the above estuaries where harbours are implanted but also for the adjacent continental shelves, regardless the massive dilution of contaminants that may occur in these deeper areas.     

Agricultural lands are hot-spots for annual runoff polluting the southern Great Barrier Reef lagoon

The world’s largest coral reef ecosystem, the Great Barrier Reef (GBR), continues to be degraded from land-based pollution. Information about the source of pollutants is critical for catchment management to improve GBR water quality. We report here on an 11-year source to sea study of pollutant delivery in runoff from the Fitzroy River Basin (FRB), the largest GBR catchment. An innovative technique that relates land use to pollutant generation is presented. Study results indicate that maximum pollutant concentrations at basin and sub-catchment scales are closely related to the percentage area of croplands receiving heavy rain. However, grazing lands contribute the majority of the long-term average annual load of most common pollutants. Findings suggest improved land management targets, rather than water quality targets should be implemented to reduce GBR pollution. This study provides a substantial contribution to the knowledge base for the targeted management of pollution ‘hot-spots’ to improve GBR water quality.     

湛江沿海大黄鱼种群的研究

徐闻和硇州两海区所产的大黄鱼,过去一直认为是同一种群—粤西种群。通过生物学测定,发现在体长组成、年龄组成、体重组成和年渔获量方面,两者有显著的差异,应分为徐闻种群和硇州种群。     

基于绿色发展的我国近海渔业可持续性战略思考

近海渔业的可持续发展对我国渔业经济增长十分重要。文章在对2000—2019年近海渔业资源和水域环境现状分析的基础上,剖析近海渔业存在的问题,如海水养殖资源浪费严重、海洋捕捞过度、渔业专业人才流失和水域环境污染严重等问题。提出基于绿色发展理念的近海渔业从传统产业型向业态创新型转变、资源掠夺型向资源养护型转变和单一生产型向产业链型转变的建议,以期为我国近海渔业的可持续发展提供参考。     

Global assessment of the European Union fishing fleet: An update

This paper provides a global analysis of recent trends in the EU fishing fleet. Analysis of the capital productivity, labour rates, and economic benefits of the fleet revealed that considerable replacement of fishermen by better technology and well-equipped vessels occurred between 1990 and 2006. The analysis confirms that the Common Fisheries Policy (CFP) has been ineffective in reducing fishing capacity. In addition, the changes in capacity that occurred in this time interval differed among the different sectors of the fleet. Some members of the high sea fishing fleet increased their capacity (range 11–57%), and the deep-sea sector, which has greater tonnage and fishing power, increased its fishing capacity by 34–44%. These results confirm the ineffectiveness of the CFP in reducing overcapacity and illustrate the continuing threat of overcapacity to the long-term sustainability of fishery resources.     

Determining the degree of 'small-scaleness' using fisheries in British Columbia as an example

Small-scale fisheries have been estimated to contribute up to 30% of the global landed value, which is caught by approximately 22 million fishers, some of which can be attributed to developed countries. Socio-economic analysis of small-scale fisheries often focuses on developing countries and fails to recognize the presence and contribution of small-scale fisheries in the developed world. Fisheries in British Columbia are diverse and often regarded as being industrialized and large-scale when analyzed in a global context. This study aims to demonstrate that features of small-scale fisheries are present within British Columbia's fleets. A list of re-occurring features of small-scale fisheries is curated from the literature to capture physical, economic and social features of small-scale fisheries. These commonly identified features of small-scale fisheries are applied to Aboriginal Food, Social and Ceremonial fisheries and all commercial fisheries in British Columbia are analyzed to determine the presence or absence of each small-scale fishery feature. The results of this research create a gradient of fisheries from smallest to largest scale. This approach determines that Aboriginal Food, Social and Ceremonial fisheries are the most small-scale, while the sablefish fishery is the largest scale. The qualitative nature of this framework creates an opportunity for any group of fisheries in the world to be compared.     

An overview of Fiji's fisheries development

Development and societal changes in the twentieth century have transformed the nature of fishing in Fiji. This paper attempts to consolidate a large amount of decentralized work on the development of Fijian fisheries to address the long-term sustainability and economic viability of Fiji's marine resources. Taking a broad perspective, this paper provides an overview that connects the historic context of Fiji's fisheries development with economic policy to address overfishing. The analysis highlights the need for an overarching management approach that encompasses the integration of Fiji's offshore and inshore fisheries to ensure the achievement of long-term economic benefits.     

ENSO事件与中国东南沿海3月降水关系分析

利用1951—2006年永安、赣州、厦门、梅州、汕头、曲江和河源7个代表站3月降水量资料,以及南方涛动指数（SOI）和北太平洋海温资料,分析了中国东南沿海3月降水的年际和年代际变化特征,及其与ENSO事件的关系。结果发现,东南沿海3月降水具有年际变化大和年代际变化明显的特征,与SOI、赤道东太平洋海温和西风漂流区海温存在显著相关。在前一年出现厄尔尼诺现象,北太平洋海温距平分布呈厄尔尼诺分布型,SOI偏低的情况下,东南沿海3月降水偏多;反之,前一年出现拉尼娜现象,北太平洋海温距平分布呈现拉尼娜分布型,SOI偏高时,东南沿海3月降水偏少。前期1月赤道东太平洋关键区海温和前期2月西风漂流区关键区海温的异常变化,对东南沿海3月降水具有很好的指示意义。当前期1月赤道东太平洋关键区海温偏高,前期2月西风漂流区关键区海温偏低时,东南沿海3月降水偏多;反之,东南沿海3月降水则偏少。     

From unjust uneconomic growth to sustainable fisheries in Newfoundland: The true costs of closing the inshore fishery for groundfish

Neoliberal economic and social policies during the last 65 years have placed a premium on continuous economic growth. Concern among ecological economists and other critics that economic growth results in loss of natural capital and ecosystem services led to introduction of the concept of “uneconomic growth,” defined as “growth of the macro economy that costs us more than it is worth” (Daly and Farley, Ecological economics principles and applications. Washington: Island Press; 2004). This paper proposes the concept of “unjust uneconomic growth” to pinpoint the additional costs of policies that promote uneconomic growth to the neglect of other considerations and uses the case of Newfoundland and Labrador fisheries policies since 1992 to document it. Newfoundland and Labrador fisheries experienced uneconomic growth in the 1980s leading to the collapse of ground fish stocks. The policies enacted since 1993 based on economic growth goals have failed to solve the ecological-social crisis and entailed additional costs to small-scale fisheries.