Marine Mammal Interactions With Fisheries: Review of Research and Management Trends Across Commercial and Small-Scale Fisheries

Marine mammal interactions with fisheries, such as bycatch and depredation, are a common occurrence across commercial and small-scale fisheries. We conducted a systematic review to assess the management responses to marine mammal interactions with fisheries. We analyzed literature between 1995 and 2021 to measure research trends in studies on direct and indirect interactions for: (i) high and low to middle-income countries, (ii) fishery operations (commercial and small-scale), and (iii) taxonomic groups. Management responses were categorized using the framework described previously in peer-reviewed studies. Marine mammal bycatch remains a major conservation concern, followed by marine mammal depredation of fishing gear. A high proportion of studies concentrated on commercial fisheries in high-income countries, with an increase in small-scale fisheries in low to middle-income countries between 1999 and 2020. The insufficient understanding of the social dimensions of interactions and the inevitable uncertainties concerning animal and human behaviors are major challenges to effective management. Despite the key role of human behavior and socioeconomics, we found only eight articles that incorporate human dimensions in the management context. Integrating social dimensions of marine mammal interactions with fisheries could help in setting pragmatic conservation priorities based on enhanced understanding of critical knowledge gaps. An area-specific adaptive management framework could be an effective tool in reducing the risk to marine mammals from fisheries by coupling technical solutions with socio-economic and political interventions. We conclude that despite the vast body of literature on this subject, a “silver bullet” management solution to marine mammal interactions with fisheries does not yet exist

Report of the TAC Fact Finding Mission to the International Centre for Living Aquatic Resources Management (ICLARM)

Report of the TAC fact finding mission in May 1989 to the International Centre for Living Aquatic Resources Management (ICLARM) chaired by Gustavo Nores. ICLARM was one of ten nonassociated centers being considered for sponsorship by the CGIAR. Missions to these centers were to provide TAC with information needed for recommending whether the Group should incorporate the center concerned.The report provided described the main thrusts of ICLARM's research strategy, along with quality control processes the center had in place. It examined research in capture fisheries management, aquaculture, and coastal areas management, as well as ICLARM's participation in the Asian Fisheries Social Science Research Network. An overview of ICLARM's governance and management structure included descriptions of its methods of operations and its relations with other institutions, including national programs, regional organizations, and IARCs. A profile of the center's physical, human, and financial resources followed. The report concluded by relaying issues and concerns expressed by ICLARM regarding the center's need to develop a still unrealized critical mass of talent before effective priority setting could be undertaken, and the burden of excessive dependence on restricted core and special project funding. There were no recommendations.One of nine such reports considered in closed session at TAC 49

Exploring gender inclusion in small-scale fisheries management and development in Melanesia

Fisheries, like other sectors, is not immune to gender inequality, and women tend to experience the brunt of inequality as undervalued and underrepresented actors in fisheries management and development. A comprehensive understanding of the gender approaches in use, including potential barriers to their implementation, is needed to promote gender equitable outcomes in the small-scale fisheries (SSF) sector. We conducted interviews with fisheries managers and practitioners working in Fiji, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu between 2018 and 2019. We found gender inclusive approaches were broadly applied in three ways: (a) through community-based projects and programs (e.g., inclusive participation techniques); (b) national level research and policy; and (c) internal organizational operations (e.g. gender-sensitive recruitment policies). Although fisheries organizations approached gender inclusion in diverse ways, when critically evaluated according to gender best practice we found 76.2% of approaches were designed to 'reach' women, and very few 'benefited', 'empowered', or 'transformed' women's lives. 'Gender' was conflated to 'women' indicating a poor understanding of what gender inclusion means in practice. We found gender inclusive approaches were limited by the knowledge and capacities of fisheries managers and practitioners, and inhibitive institutional cultures. We argue that SSF organizations need to build explicit institutional gender commitment, strategies and systematic efforts to implement gender approaches with effective accountability mechanisms in place. While the fisheries sector is in its infancy, the plethora and diversity of development organizations in the Pacific provides a unique opportunity to build strategic partnerships to improve gender inclusion in practice in SSF management and development. Such a step can assist the transition from gender inclusive approaches being 'new' to the 'norm' whilst setting a benchmark for what is acceptable practice

Design and redesign of a bottom trawl survey in Chesapeake Bay, USA

Fisheries-independent surveys that reliably sample a broad size range of exploited and ecologically important species provide valuable data in support of fisheries management and ecosystem science. The operational consistency of surveys over time and space is fundamental to the interpretation of data in the contexts of population dynamics processes, community interactions, policy impacts, and environmental forcing. However, the need to maintain historic sampling protocols over extended time periods limits the utilization of new technologies that could lead to improved data collection. Survey vessel replacements also become inevitable as the maturity of sampling programs becomes multidecadal. This case study describes the motivational origin, initial design, and redesign of a bottom trawl survey operating in Chesapeake Bay, the largest estuary in the United States. Regional aspirations to consider ecosystem principles in fisheries management aided initial development of the survey, and the need to collect specific data types to support that endeavor impacted several early design elements. Following the beginning years of full-scale survey operations, a consistently evolving awareness of potential areas of improvement for the survey grew from formal efforts to engage with scientific and industry partners on trawl gear design, leverage the program for additional survey opportunities, utilize gear testing technology, and analyze extant data. When the delivery of a new, state-of-the-art research vessel forced the transfer of survey operations to a new platform, all potential changes were incorporated simultaneously. A subsequent paired-tow experiment was conducted to build a calibration database that successfully provided estimates of relative selectivity for routinely sampled taxa. This experience yielded several lessons learned that are intended to aid investigators faced with adopting structural changes to fisheries-independent surveys in the future

Pendampingan Konstruksi Dan Operasionalisasi Setnet Berdasarkan Kaji Terap Setnet Di Jeneponto, Sulawesi Selatan

Operating days per year that ensures continuous operation setnet. Assistance during construction continued for operationalization setnet to sustain operations through cooperation setnet technical guidance and management: preparation of backup setnet, care unit set-net, set-net operation, handling set-net catch and utilization of the catch setnet. Research methodology is studied arranging for trials setnet operation in 2012. Based on the results of experiment applied in Jeneponto has inspired a variety of information developed measures setnet fisheries management towards an increasingly comprehensive. Sustainability setnet operation by a group of fishermen setnet followed by an increase in the number of operating days and catch fish to be an important indication for continued development efforts

Pendampingan Konstruksi Dan Operasionalisasi Setnet Berdasarkan Kaji Terap Setnet Di Jeneponto, Sulawesi Selatan

Operating days per year that ensures continuous operation setnet. Assistance during construction continued for operationalization setnet to sustain operations through cooperation setnet technical guidance and management: preparation of backup setnet, care unit set-net, set-net operation, handling set-net catch and utilization of the catch setnet. Research methodology is studied arranging for trials setnet operation in 2012. Based on the results of experiment applied in Jeneponto has inspired a variety of information developed measures setnet fisheries management towards an increasingly comprehensive. Sustainability setnet operation by a group of fishermen setnet followed by an increase in the number of operating days and catch fish to be an important indication for continued development efforts

A sub-regional management framework for South Pacific longline fisheries

The principal objective of this study was to determine if additional net benefits can be derived from the sub-regional longline fishery by the introduction of a new management agreement that would centre on the provision of licensing arrangements that would allow access by eligible longline vessels to multiple Exclusive Economic Zones, i.e. Multi-zone Access. [90pp.