Spatial, Ecological and Social Dimensions of Assessments for Bivalve Farming Management

The general purpose of assessment is to provide decision-makers with the best valuable data, information, and predictions with which management decisions will be supported. Using case studies taken from four scientific projects and dealing with the management of marine bivalve resources, lessons learned allowed identifying some issues regarding assessment approaches. The selected projects also introduced methodological or institutional frameworks: ecosystem approach to aquaculture (EAA), system approach framework (SAF), marine spatial planning (MSP), and valuation of ecosystem services (ES). The study on ecosystem services linked ES to marine habitats and identified ES availability and vulnerability to pressures. The results were displayed as maps of resulting potential services with qualitative metrics. The vulnerability value is an alternative to monetary valuation and, in addition to identifying the most suitable areas for each type of ES, this metric allows identifying the management strategies that will most probably maintain or affect each individual ES. The MSP example focused on bivalve farming activity and accounted for several criteria: habitat suitability, growth performance, environmental and regulation constraints and presence of other activities. The ultimate endpoint of such an approach is a map with qualitative values stating whether a location is suitable or not, depending on the weight given to each criterion. In the EAA case study, the indicator was defined by the growth performance of cultivated bivalves in different locations. This indicator is affected by distant factors – e.g. populations of marine organisms competing for the same food resource, nutrient inputs from rivers, time to renew water bodies under the action of tidal currents. The role and interactions of these factors were assessed with a dynamical ecosystem model. Examples illustrate that the assessment is often multi-dimensional, and that multiple variables would interact and affect the response to management options. Therefore, the existence of trade-offs, the definition of the appropriate spatial scale and resolution, the temporal dynamics and the distant effects of factors are keys to a policy-relevant assessment. EA and SAF examples show the interest of developing models relating response to input variables and testing scenarios. Dynamic models would be preferred when the relationship between input and output variables may be masked by non-linear effects, delay of responses or differences of scales. When decision-making requires economic methods, monetary values are often of poor significance, especially for those ecosystem services whose loss could mean the end of life, and appear to be a comfortable oversimplification of reality of socio-ecological systems which cannot be summarized in single numbers. Alternative methods, such as the ones proposed in the SAF and ES examples, would preferably consider institutional analysis or multicriteria assessment rather than single monetary values. Case studies also highlighted that credibility of assessment tools benefit from the association of stakeholders at different stages, among which: identification of the most critical policy issues; definition of system characteristics including ecological, economical and regulation dimensions; definition of modelling scenarios to sort out the most effective management options; assessment of models and indicators outputs.publishedVersio

The Spanish Mediterranean Fishing Guilds (Cofradias): An Example of Collaborative Management with a Key Role in Sustainable Fisheries

[EN] The management of Spanish coastal fisheries is based on a mixed model where the centralised action of the government is combined with the self-organisation of fishers in cofradias (guilds). These institutions have economic and political functions, intermediating between the State and the fishing sector and mediating in the conflicts that may occur. They also have welfare and mutualist tasks. This original and traditional co-management model is part of the social capital of traditional Spanish fishing. The aim of this article is to explore the possibilities of these Spanish fishers' organisations in order to improve the legitimacy of the fishery system and the sustainability of fisheries. Our hypothesis is that updating and adapting some aspects of the cofradias model could produce efficient forms of collaborative management and lead to improvements in the sustainability of fisheries. To validate this hypothesis the study analysed 69 face-to-face interviews in 21 Spanish-Mediterranean guilds. The analysis focused on three core aspects: the control of fishing resources; the integration of fishing knowledge in the management system; and, finally, the guilds contribution to the legitimacy of the system in the eyes of the fishers.This work was supported by National Plan for Scientific and Technological Research and Innovation (Spanish Economy and Competitiveness Ministry). Research Project CSO2016-76135-P. There is no conflict of interest declared in this article.Herrera-Racionero, P.; Lizcano, E.; Miret Pastor, LG.; Mascarell, Y. (2019). The Spanish Mediterranean Fishing Guilds (Cofradias): An Example of Collaborative Management with a Key Role in Sustainable Fisheries. Fisheries. 44(4):172-182. https://doi.org/10.1002/fsh.10224S172182444Alegret J. L.1999.Gestión comunitaria cogestión y mercado. La evolución histórica de la gestión de la pesca en el Mediterráneo español. Pages109–124inG.Allut andJ.Pascual editors. Antropología de la pesca/Santiago de Compostela: Asociación Galega de Antropoloxía.La pesca a la Mediterrània 2016 Universidad de Alicante Alicante J. L Alegret J. L. Sánchez Lizaso Les confraries de pescadors a Espanya 47 54Andalusian Decree 86/2004 of March 2 2004 about Fishers Guilds and their Institutions. Available:https://www.juntadeandalucia.es/boja/2004/52/3Ariza, E., Pons, F., & Breton, F. (2016). Is «socio-ecological culture» really being taken into account to manage conflicts in the coastal zone? Inputs from Spanish Mediterranean beaches. Ocean & Coastal Management, 134, 183-193. doi:10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2016.10.006Catalan Law 22/2002 of July 12 2002 of Fishers Guilds. «DOGC» n. 3684. Available:https://www.boe.es/buscar/pdf/2002/BOE-A-2002-15890-consolidado.pdfCochrane, K. L., & Garcia, S. M. (Eds.). (2009). A Fishery Manager’s Guidebook. doi:10.1002/9781444316315Corral-Quintana, S., Legna-de la Nuez, D., Legna Verna, C., Hernández, J. H., & Romero-Manrique de Lara, D. (2016). How to improve strategic decision-making in complex systems when only qualitative information is available. Land Use Policy, 50, 83-101. doi:10.1016/j.landusepol.2015.09.0045. European Comission.2013.Commission implementing regulation6. (EU) Nº 1419/2013. Availablehttp://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32013R1419&from=ES(May2017)European Commission.2014.Coastal zones: achieving sustainable management. Availablehttp://ec.europa.eu/environment/integration/research/newsalert/pdf/coastal_zones_sustainable_management_46si_en.pdf(May 2017).European Parliament.2012.Common position on the role of the RACS in the future Common Fisheries Policy Reform. Available:http://www.europarl.europa.eu/document/activities/cont/201203/20120322ATT41696/20120322ATT41696EN.pdf(May 2017).Frangoudes, K., Marugán-Pintos, B., & Pascual-Fernández, J. J. (2008). From open access to co-governance and conservation: The case of women shellfish collectors in Galicia (Spain). Marine Policy, 32(2), 223-232. doi:10.1016/j.marpol.2007.09.007Herrera-Racionero, P., Lizcano-Fernández, E., & Miret-Pastor, L. (2015). «Us» and «them». Fishermen from Gandía and the loss of institutional legitimacy. Marine Policy, 54, 130-136. doi:10.1016/j.marpol.2014.12.018Jentoft, S. (2000). Legitimacy and disappointment in fisheries management. Marine Policy, 24(2), 141-148. doi:10.1016/s0308-597x(99)00025-1Kosamu, I. B. M. (2015). Conditions for sustainability of small-scale fisheries in developing countries. Fisheries Research, 161, 365-373. doi:10.1016/j.fishres.2014.09.002Law 2/2007 of March 12 2007 of Marine Fishery and Aquaculture of Murcia region. Available inhttps://www.boe.es/boe/dias/2008/07/21/pdfs/A31793-31815.pdf(November 2018)Long, R. D., Charles, A., & Stephenson, R. L. (2015). Key principles of marine ecosystem-based management. Marine Policy, 57, 53-60. doi:10.1016/j.marpol.2015.01.013Mackinson, S., Wilson, D. C., Galiay, P., & Deas, B. (2011). Engaging stakeholders in fisheries and marine research. Marine Policy, 35(1), 18-24. doi:10.1016/j.marpol.2010.07.003MAGRAMA (Ministry of Agriculture Food and Environment).2015.Estadísticas pesqueras: Pesca marítima. Availablehttp://www.magrama.gob.es/es/estadistica/temas/estadisticas-pesqueras/pesca-maritima/(July 2017)Martínez-Novo, R., Lizcano, E., Herrera-Racionero, P., & Miret-Pastor, L. (2016). Innovation or ‘Inventions’? The conflict between latent assumptions in marine aquaculture and local fishery. Public Understanding of Science, 27(2), 214-228. doi:10.1177/0963662516651358Noy, C. (2008). Sampling Knowledge: The Hermeneutics of Snowball Sampling in Qualitative Research. International Journal of Social Research Methodology, 11(4), 327-344. doi:10.1080/13645570701401305Ostrom, E. (2009). A General Framework for Analyzing Sustainability of Social-Ecological Systems. Science, 325(5939), 419-422. doi:10.1126/science.1172133Pita, P., Fernández-Vidal, D., García-Galdo, J., & Muíño, R. (2016). The use of the traditional ecological knowledge of fishermen, cost-effective tools and participatory models in artisanal fisheries: Towards the co-management of common octopus in Galicia (NW Spain). Fisheries Research, 178, 4-12. doi:10.1016/j.fishres.2015.07.021Producer organisations are officially recognised bodies set up by fishery or aquaculture producers. They play an essential role in running the European Common Fisheries Policy.State Marine Fishery Law: Law 3/2001 of March 26 2001. BOE (State Official Gazette) number 75. Available:https://www.boe.es/buscar/doc.php?id=BOE-A-2001-600

Building leaders for the UN Ocean Science Decade : a guide to supporting early career women researchers within academic marine research institutions

Diverse and inclusive marine research is paramount to addressing ocean sustainability challenges in the 21st century, as envisioned by the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development. Despite increasing efforts to diversify ocean science, women continue to face barriers at various stages of their career, which inhibits their progression to leadership within academic institutions. In this perspective, we draw on the collective experiences of thirty-four global women leaders, bolstered by a narrative review, to identify practical strategies and actions that will help empower early career women researchers to become the leaders of tomorrow. We propose five strategies: (i) create a more inclusive culture, (ii) ensure early and equitable career development opportunities for women ECRs, (iii) ensure equitable access to funding for women ECRs, (iv) offer mentoring opportunities and, (v) create flexible, family-friendly environments. Transformational, meaningful, and lasting change will only be achieved through commitment and collaborative action across various scales and by multiple stakeholders.Peer reviewe

Building leaders for the UN Ocean Science Decade: a guide to supporting early career women researchers within academic marine research institutions

Diverse and inclusive marine research is paramount to addressing ocean sustainability challenges in the 21st century, as envisioned by the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development. Despite increasing efforts to diversify ocean science, women continue to face barriers at various stages of their career, which inhibits their progression to leadership within academic institutions. In this perspective, we draw on the collective experiences of thirty-four global women leaders, bolstered by a narrative review, to identify practical strategies and actions that will help empower early career women researchers to become the leaders of tomorrow. We propose five strategies: (i) create a more inclusive culture, (ii) ensure early and equitable career development opportunities for women ECRs, (iii) ensure equitable access to funding for women ECRs, (iv) offer mentoring opportunities and, (v) create flexible, family-friendly environments. Transformational, meaningful, and lasting change will only be achieved through commitment and collaborative action across various scales and by multiple stakeholders

The Biodiversity of the Mediterranean Sea: Estimates, Patterns, and Threats

The Mediterranean Sea is a marine biodiversity hot spot. Here we combined an extensive literature analysis with expert opinions to update publicly available estimates of major taxa in this marine ecosystem and to revise and update several species lists. We also assessed overall spatial and temporal patterns of species diversity and identified major changes and threats. Our results listed approximately 17,000 marine species occurring in the Mediterranean Sea. However, our estimates of marine diversity are still incomplete as yet—undescribed species will be added in the future. Diversity for microbes is substantially underestimated, and the deep-sea areas and portions of the southern and eastern region are still poorly known. In addition, the invasion of alien species is a crucial factor that will continue to change the biodiversity of the Mediterranean, mainly in its eastern basin that can spread rapidly northwards and westwards due to the warming of the Mediterranean Sea. Spatial patterns showed a general decrease in biodiversity from northwestern to southeastern regions following a gradient of production, with some exceptions and caution due to gaps in our knowledge of the biota along the southern and eastern rims. Biodiversity was also generally higher in coastal areas and continental shelves, and decreases with depth. Temporal trends indicated that overexploitation and habitat loss have been the main human drivers of historical changes in biodiversity. At present, habitat loss and degradation, followed by fishing impacts, pollution, climate change, eutrophication, and the establishment of alien species are the most important threats and affect the greatest number of taxonomic groups. All these impacts are expected to grow in importance in the future, especially climate change and habitat degradation. The spatial identification of hot spots highlighted the ecological importance of most of the western Mediterranean shelves (and in particular, the Strait of Gibraltar and the adjacent Alboran Sea), western African coast, the Adriatic, and the Aegean Sea, which show high concentrations of endangered, threatened, or vulnerable species. The Levantine Basin, severely impacted by the invasion of species, is endangered as well

Small-Scale Fisheries in France: Activities and Governance Issues

This chapter reviews the major themes and issues related to small-scale fisheries in France. It first examines the definition of small-scale fisheries within the French legal framework and its relation to EU regulations. Some statistics describing the main trends of the small-scale fisheries fleet, gears and target species are presented. The participation of small-scale fishers in fisheries management and their role within fishers’ representative organisations are reviewed. It appears that, despite their numerical importance, as compared to larger-scale fleets, and their vital socio-economic influence within coastal communities, the decision-making power of small-scale fisheries in terms of resource management is limited. Indeed, most management decisions are taken within organisations that encompass all fishing vessels, which have long been dominated by larger-scale fleets. Nevertheless, small-scale fisheries have gradually gained more visibility within these fisheries’ organisations and greater participation in the decision-making process regarding resource management, which is illustrated through some practical examples. Finally, the future of French small-scale fisheries is discussed with regard to the challenges and opportunities for their emancipation and the sustainability of their activities

Spatial, Ecological and Social Dimensions of Assessments for Bivalve Farming Management

The general purpose of assessment is to provide decision-makers with the best valuable data, information, and predictions with which management decisions will be supported. Using case studies taken from four scientific projects and dealing with the management of marine bivalve resources, lessons learned allowed identifying some issues regarding assessment approaches. The selected projects also introduced methodological or institutional frameworks: ecosystem approach to aquaculture (EAA), system approach framework (SAF), marine spatial planning (MSP), and valuation of ecosystem services (ES). The study on ecosystem services linked ES to marine habitats and identified ES availability and vulnerability to pressures. The results were displayed as maps of resulting potential services with qualitative metrics. The vulnerability value is an alternative to monetary valuation and, in addition to identifying the most suitable areas for each type of ES, this metric allows identifying the management strategies that will most probably maintain or affect each individual ES. The MSP example focused on bivalve farming activity and accounted for several criteria: habitat suitability, growth performance, environmental and regulation constraints and presence of other activities. The ultimate endpoint of such an approach is a map with qualitative values stating whether a location is suitable or not, depending on the weight given to each criterion. In the EAA case study, the indicator was defined by the growth performance of cultivated bivalves in different locations. This indicator is affected by distant factors – e.g. populations of marine organisms competing for the same food resource, nutrient inputs from rivers, time to renew water bodies under the action of tidal currents. The role and interactions of these factors were assessed with a dynamical ecosystem model. Examples illustrate that the assessment is often multi-dimensional, and that multiple variables would interact and affect the response to management options. Therefore, the existence of trade-offs, the definition of the appropriate spatial scale and resolution, the temporal dynamics and the distant effects of factors are keys to a policy-relevant assessment. EA and SAF examples show the interest of developing models relating response to input variables and testing scenarios. Dynamic models would be preferred when the relationship between input and output variables may be masked by non-linear effects, delay of responses or differences of scales. When decision-making requires economic methods, monetary values are often of poor significance, especially for those ecosystem services whose loss could mean the end of life, and appear to be a comfortable oversimplification of reality of socio-ecological systems which cannot be summarized in single numbers. Alternative methods, such as the ones proposed in the SAF and ES examples, would preferably consider institutional analysis or multicriteria assessment rather than single monetary values. Case studies also highlighted that credibility of assessment tools benefit from the association of stakeholders at different stages, among which: identification of the most critical policy issues; definition of system characteristics including ecological, economical and regulation dimensions; definition of modelling scenarios to sort out the most effective management options; assessment of models and indicators outputs

BESTMILITT - Suivi BEnévole et ScientTifique des contaminations MIcrobiologiques du LITToral d'Oléron

BESTMILLIT project is a partnership experience between IFREMER and Surfrider Foundation Europe (SFE), a research organisation and a Non Governmental Organisation, supported by the programme REPERE. The focus of this partnership was the bacteriological contamination of the Charente coast. It targeted geographical areas where the water quality constitutes an important issue for both activities: oysters’ culture and waters sports. The elaboration of a common protocol to monitor the sources contamination of the coast was the most important result of this collaboration. Its originality was based on the contribution of volunteers to achieve the samples, particularly in relation to rainfall. At the suggestion of local stakeholders, interested in the project, it was decided to extend the volunteer profile, which until now, was mobilised only by the NGO, to maritime professions (shellfish farmers and shellfish gatherers). The project results show a high investment in time on the part of the professional volunteers in their data collection. This investment may be explained by the maritime professions’ dependency on the quality of coastal environment for their work. As a consequence, they assume the role of sentinels of the environment. The volunteers engaged with waters sports, although concerned with the protection of environment, seem less motivated to invest their time in data collection, on a dependable, regular basis. The acquired data to specify the sources of microbiological contaminations and also those acquired by SFE “laboratory” implemented by this project were considered useful for management by local stakeholders. However, they require the definition of framework, procedures and are alert to the complementarities with other existing networks. (Regional Health Agency (ARS), District authorities). But as the BESTMILLIT project is not sustainable all local initiatives implemented during its duration ceased at the end of the project. BESTMILLIT’s experience on volunteer contributions to the acquisition of knowledge shows that this type of experiment should start by specifying in detail the expected contribution and set the terms of coordination and facilitation. In some cases the volunteer contribution represented the time spent by people who wished to be involved because of their hobby as it is the case with ornithological networks, bird watching. In other cases volunteer contribution can be the result of participatory process. The partnership experience was positive because a common monitoring protocol was elaborated. Language problems between partners did appear during the project. Some problems related to the different disciplines and competences were noted during the project. Partners’ motivation to “work together” was represented more by individual wishes than by those of their organisations. The BESTMILLIT project contributed to a better understanding between the partners and helped in the elaboration of methodologies for the implementation of participatory sciences projects. The strategy and competency of the NGO and the objectives of the partnership are the main elements on which the choice of the partner should be basedDans le cadre du programme REPERE, BESTMILITT est une expérience de partenariat entre l’Ifremer et Surfrider Foundation Europe, un organisme de recherche et une ONG. Le support opérationnel de ce partenariat est la contamination microbiologique du littoral charentais. Il cible plus particulièrement les secteurs géographiques où la qualité de l’eau est en enjeu aussi bien pour la conchyliculture que pour les loisirs nautiques. L’élaboration en commun d’un protocole de suivi des sources de contamination du littoral constitue le résultat le plus probant de cette collaboration. Son originalité portait sur une contribution de bénévoles pour réaliser des prélèvements, en particulier en liaison avec des évènements pluvieux. Sur les suggestions d’acteurs locaux intéressés par le projet, le profil des bénévoles, uniquement mobilisés par Surfider, s’est élargi à des professionnels de la mer (conchyliculteurs, pêcheurs). Les résultats montrent une motivation certaine des professionnels bénévoles pour une activité de recueil de données qui demande un investissement en temps non négligeable. Cette motivation est liée à leur rôle de sentinelle de l’environnement puisque leur métier dépend de la qualité du milieu qui les entoure. La motivation de pratiquants d’activités nautiques, bien que concernés par la protection de l’environnement, paraît moindre, insuffisante pour s’investir de manière régulière et spécifique. Les données acquises pour préciser les sources de contaminations microbiologiques, tout comme celles acquises dans le cadre d’un « laboratoire » Surfrider mis en place dans le cadre du projet, sont considérées utiles à la gestion par les acteurs locaux. Il faut toutefois que des cadres et procédures soient définis et être vigilant sur les complémentarités avec les réseaux existants (ARS, Conseil Général). Le projet BESTMILITT n’étant pas pérenne, les initiatives locales mises en place à cette occasion prennent fin à la fin du projet. L’expérience de BESTMILLIT sur la contribution des bénévoles à l’acquisition de connaissances démontre que ce type d’expériences doit, dès le départ, préciser en détail les attendus de la contribution mais aussi fixer les modalités de la coordination et d’animation. En effet, cette contribution peut représentée le temps de « passionnés » comme c’est le cas pour les réseaux ornithologiques ou être le résultat d’un processus participatif. En terme de partenariat, l’expérience a été positive puisqu’elle a abouti à l’élaboration en commun d’un protocole de suivi. Les éventuels problèmes de langages entre partenaires prévus initialement n’ont pas eu lieu. Cependant quelques problèmes liés aux différentes disciplines et compétences des personnes impliquées dans le projet sont à signaler. Par ailleurs, la motivation des partenaires à « travailler ensemble » représente plus une volonté individuelle des participants aux projets que de leurs institutions. BESTMILITT a permis aux partenaires de mieux se connaître mais aussi contribuer à l’approfondissement des méthodes à mettre en oeuvre dans le cadre de ce type de collaboration. A titre d’exemple, un organisme de recherche pourra choisir son partenaire ONG en fonction de la stratégie propre de l’ONG et des objectifs du partenaria