Artisanal Fishing Pressure
Artisanal
fishing pressure is an indicator of how the harvesting of free-ranging fish
from coastal waters and high seas by small-scale fisheries can impact the
success of future catches of wild fish harvests. This includes catch and
bycatch (both high and low) of fish, other seafood and marine wildlife.
Artisanal fishing (also referred to as small-scale fishing) provides food and livelihoods for vast numbers of people around the world, especially in developing nations. Artisanal fisheries can be subsistence or commercial and provide for both local consumption and export, but catches are generally used or marketed locally. These fisheries typically use relatively small amounts of capital and energy, as well as small fishing vessels, to make short fishing trips close to shore (FAO).
Due to their size and practices, small-scale fisheries are potentially more sustainable than large-scale. However, they also inflict pressure on the environment through overfishing and the use of destructive or unregulated fishing methods, which can result in high levels of bycatch, i.e. the catch of unintended species or undersized/underaged specimens of a target species.
Artisanal fishing (also referred to as small-scale fishing) provides food and livelihoods for vast numbers of people around the world, especially in developing nations. Artisanal fisheries can be subsistence or commercial and provide for both local consumption and export, but catches are generally used or marketed locally. These fisheries typically use relatively small amounts of capital and energy, as well as small fishing vessels, to make short fishing trips close to shore (FAO).
Due to their size and practices, small-scale fisheries are potentially more sustainable than large-scale. However, they also inflict pressure on the environment through overfishing and the use of destructive or unregulated fishing methods, which can result in high levels of bycatch, i.e. the catch of unintended species or undersized/underaged specimens of a target species.
Artisanal Fishing Pressure Infographic
Download Infographic
Which Goals Does This Affect?
How Was It Measured?
To
measure Fishing Pressure, the Ocean Health Index uses a composite index that
includes:
Artisanal Fishing, High Bycatch
Presence of artisanal blast fishing practices.
Reefs at Risk Revisited recorded the presence of destructive artisanal blast and poison (cyanide) fishing in a country based on survey observations and expert opinion. Because these data are categorical, a binary system was used for scoring regions for this stressor. Where destructive artisanal fishing practices were recorded as either “moderate” or “severe,” the Ocean Health Index (OHI) categorized the value as maximum (score = 1). “Unclassified” regions were determined to have minimal threat from blast and poison fishing and were categorized as having no artisanal high bycatch fishing (score = 0).
A notable limitation of using these data as a proxy for high bycatch artisanal fishing is that they only pertain to coral reef habitats. High bycatch artisanal fishing likely exists in every coastal country on the planet, but it was not possible to determine the type or extent for each country. For all non-habitat destructive (but still potentially high bycatch) fishing, catch data from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) were used.
Artisanal Fishing, Low Bycatch
Presence of artisanal poison fishing practices.
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) reports statistics on this type of catch for many, but not all, countries; the Ocean Health Index (OHI) utilized data for the 59 countries reported in 2006 and modeled the values for the remaining countries. There currently is no available information on the gear type used for this catch. When determining score, the assumption was made that little of it is done with habitat-destructive gear (e.g., blast fishing) or high bycatch gear (e.g., seine nets) but recognize that high bycatch gear in particular is common.
Artisanal Fishing, High Bycatch
Presence of artisanal blast fishing practices.
Reefs at Risk Revisited recorded the presence of destructive artisanal blast and poison (cyanide) fishing in a country based on survey observations and expert opinion. Because these data are categorical, a binary system was used for scoring regions for this stressor. Where destructive artisanal fishing practices were recorded as either “moderate” or “severe,” the Ocean Health Index (OHI) categorized the value as maximum (score = 1). “Unclassified” regions were determined to have minimal threat from blast and poison fishing and were categorized as having no artisanal high bycatch fishing (score = 0).
A notable limitation of using these data as a proxy for high bycatch artisanal fishing is that they only pertain to coral reef habitats. High bycatch artisanal fishing likely exists in every coastal country on the planet, but it was not possible to determine the type or extent for each country. For all non-habitat destructive (but still potentially high bycatch) fishing, catch data from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) were used.
Artisanal Fishing, Low Bycatch
Presence of artisanal poison fishing practices.
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) reports statistics on this type of catch for many, but not all, countries; the Ocean Health Index (OHI) utilized data for the 59 countries reported in 2006 and modeled the values for the remaining countries. There currently is no available information on the gear type used for this catch. When determining score, the assumption was made that little of it is done with habitat-destructive gear (e.g., blast fishing) or high bycatch gear (e.g., seine nets) but recognize that high bycatch gear in particular is common.
What Are The Impacts?
Bycatch Can Harm Ecosystem Structure, Affecting Existing Populations as Well as Potential Future Catch
Download Infographic
ECOLOGICAL IMPACTS
Unsustainable
fishing pressure alters marine ecosystem structure and can have a significant
impact upon biodiversity, productivity and overall food web dynamics.
Destructive fishing practices result in bycatch, which is the catch of unintended species or undersized/underaged specimens of the target species. Bycatch of non-target species can harm the ecological structure of an ecosystem, affecting existing populations as well as potential future catch.
Although some countries utilize bycatch for food and/or fishmeal, non-target species are dead or dying if they are returned to the water.
Species other than fish, including whales, sharks, dolphins, sea turtles and sea birds die as bycatch from the use of nets and longlines.
Destructive fishing practices result in bycatch, which is the catch of unintended species or undersized/underaged specimens of the target species. Bycatch of non-target species can harm the ecological structure of an ecosystem, affecting existing populations as well as potential future catch.
Although some countries utilize bycatch for food and/or fishmeal, non-target species are dead or dying if they are returned to the water.
Species other than fish, including whales, sharks, dolphins, sea turtles and sea birds die as bycatch from the use of nets and longlines.
HUMAN HEALTH IMPACTS
Without the opportunity to catch their own
seafood, millions of people could not meet their daily needs for protein. Fish
provide more than 3 billion people,
particularly in low-income, food deficient countries, with 15 percent of their average per capita
intake of animal protein (FAO 2010).
ECONOMIC IMPACTS
Artisanal fishing includes 90% of all fishing
jobs worldwide, approximately 45% of the world’s fisheries, and nearly a
quarter of the world catch (Schorr
2005).
Comparatively, artisanal and commercial fisheries catch the same amount of fish for human consumption (30 million tons), yet artisanal fisheries employ 25 times the number of fishers (over 12 million people) and use an eighth of the amount of fuel used by industrial fisheries annually (Jaquet & Pauly 2008).
Costs associated with small-scale fishing tend to be lower than those for large-scale fisheries, as boats tend to have lower running costs and require less fuel, use less expensive technology, and harvest resources more efficiently (FAO, 2012).
70% of the world’s total fish catch comes from developing countries, and over half of this comes from small-scale fisheries (WorldFish Centre 2008).
Net losses to the global economy from unsustainable exploitation of living marine resources are calculated to substantially exceed $50 billion per year- equivalent to more than half the value of the global seafood trade (World Bank 2009).
Small-scale fisheries are susceptible to risks posed by natural disasters and fuel and fish price fluctuations (Béné, 2006).
Comparatively, artisanal and commercial fisheries catch the same amount of fish for human consumption (30 million tons), yet artisanal fisheries employ 25 times the number of fishers (over 12 million people) and use an eighth of the amount of fuel used by industrial fisheries annually (Jaquet & Pauly 2008).
Costs associated with small-scale fishing tend to be lower than those for large-scale fisheries, as boats tend to have lower running costs and require less fuel, use less expensive technology, and harvest resources more efficiently (FAO, 2012).
70% of the world’s total fish catch comes from developing countries, and over half of this comes from small-scale fisheries (WorldFish Centre 2008).
Net losses to the global economy from unsustainable exploitation of living marine resources are calculated to substantially exceed $50 billion per year- equivalent to more than half the value of the global seafood trade (World Bank 2009).
Small-scale fisheries are susceptible to risks posed by natural disasters and fuel and fish price fluctuations (Béné, 2006).
What Has Been Done?
Ministry of Environment Promotes Sustainable Fishing Practices in Costa Rica
Artisanal
fishers in Costa Rica now use bottom long-lines to catch spotted snapper (Lutianus guttatus) sustainably; this
technique does not over-exploit the snappers and it does not harm the
habitat. The Ministry of Environment has
established two Marine Protected Areas that allow use of bottom long-lines, but
not shrimp trawls or gillnets. The
fishermen market the snappers to local hotels and restaurants at a premium
price, providing incentive to continue sustainable fishing practices.
The project was one of the 2010 winners of Geotourism Challenge 2010: Places on the Edge - Saving Coastal and Freshwater Destinations, sponsored by the National Geographic Society and Ashoka, and is being evaluated for certification by the Marine Stewardship Council.
The project was one of the 2010 winners of Geotourism Challenge 2010: Places on the Edge - Saving Coastal and Freshwater Destinations, sponsored by the National Geographic Society and Ashoka, and is being evaluated for certification by the Marine Stewardship Council.
Maximilian Hirschfeld 2010/Marine Photobank
Community-based Co-management Agreement is a Success in Chile
The
loco snail (Concholepas concholipas)
is the most economically important shellfish in Chile. Until the late 1980s,
the fishery was open access - fishers had no incentives to cooperate and local
resources were being overexploited. In 1988, fishers, scientists and government
agencies set up a co-management agreement that covered 4-km of seashore and
allowed only local fishers to extract loco. This agreement significantly
improved the welfare of the local community and two decades later, more than
700 areas are now co-managed along 4,000 km of the Chilean coast, involving
more than 20,000 artisanal fishers and resulting in one of the most successful
abalone fisheries in the world.
(Gutiérrez et al. 2011).
(Gutiérrez et al. 2011).
Bycatch Escape Gaps for Fish Traps in Curaçao and Kenya
Fishing
traps for artisanal fisheries in Curacao and Kenya have been updated with
escape gaps in order to reduce bycatch. Initial results show an 80% reduction
in bycatch as well as an increase in the overall value of catches. These
modified traps can potentially be utilized in reef fishing worldwide and there
is an estimated cost of less than one USD to retrofit existing traps.
Ofir Avny/Marine Photobank
Artisanal Fishing in the Balearic Islands Needs Support to Survive
Fishers
in the Balearic Islands have traditionally practiced artisanal fishing methods,
which are currently in decline due to overfishing and an increase in
unsustainable fishing practices. Attempts are now being made to support
artisanal fisheries and establish regulations and implement fishing gear
restriction in the area.
Get More Information
SCRIPPS Institution of Oceanography: Small-scale and Artisanal Fisheries Research Network (SAFRN)
SAFRN
focuses on the global development of methodology for the study of small-scale
and artisanal fisheries.
Consortium for Wildlife: Bycatch Reduction
A
database of collaborative research between the fishing industry and the
scientific community, which aims to reduce bycatch for endangered species.
World Wildlife Fund (WWF): Smart Gear Competition
Created in partnership
with industry leaders, scientists, and fishers, the competition encourages
fishers to reduce the incidental catch of non-target species in fishing gear.
World Wildlife Fund (WWF): Cetacean Bycatch Resource Center
The Center’s goal is to provide information regarding bycatch mitigation
techniques among scientists, fishers, conservationists and government officials
in order to reduce bycatch on a global scale.
National Geographic Original Source: Sea Around Us Project, University of British Columbia
Interactive
map depicting the top twenty countries worldwide for ‘catch’ and ‘consumption’
statistics (million metric tons of fish).
Sea Around Us Project: Fisheries, Ecosystems & Biodiversity
A
scientific collaboration between the University of British Columbia and the Pew
Environment Group, the site includes publications, data, and analyses;
spatialized catch data can be extracted for any region of interest.
Sustainable Fisheries Partnership (SFP)
FishSource is a global
fisheries online database created for seafood buyers and contributors.
The World Bank: Global Program on Fisheries (PROFISH)
A programming
and funding partnership between key fishery sector donors, international
financial institutions, developing countries, stakeholder organizations and
international agencies.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO): Fisheries and Aquaculture Department
An
index of fisheries’ global information networks.
FishBase: A Global Information System on Fishes
Developed
at the WorldFish Center in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture
Organization of the United Nations (FAO), and other partners, this database
provides detailed information on almost all of the known world fish species and
aquatic living organisms (marine and freshwater) and is searchable by country
and species.
WorldFish Center
An international
publication database dedicated to reducing poverty and hunger by improving
fisheries and aquaculture.
References
Cesar, H., Burke, L. & Pet-Soede, L. The economics of worldwide coral reef degradation. 23 (Cesar Environmental Economics Consulting (CEEC): Arnhem, Netherlands, 2003).
Chuenpagdee, R., Morgan, L. E., Maxwell, S. M., Norse, E. A. & Pauly, D. Shifting gears: assessing collateral impacts of fishing methods in US waters. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment 1, 517–524 (2003).
Davies
RWD, et al. Defining and estimating global marine fisheries
bycatch. Marine Policy (2009).
Food
and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. Report of the Technical
Workshop on the Status, Limitations and Opportunities for Improving the
Monitoring of Shark Fisheries and Trade.
FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Report. No. 897. Rome, FAO.
(2009).
Gutiérrez, N. L., Hilborn, R. & Defeo, O. Leadership, social capital and incentives promote successful fisheries. Nature 470, 386–389 (2011).
Jacquet, J. and Pauly, D. (2008). Funding priorities: Big barriers to small-scale fisheries.
Conservation
Biology 22(4): 832-835.
Ruttenberg, B. I. (2001),
Effects of Artisanal Fishing on Marine Communities in the Galápagos Islands.
Conservation Biology, 15: 1691–1699. doi: 10.1046/j.1523-1739.2001.99556.x
PHOTO(S): © Keith A. Ellenbogen