Five centuries of cod catches in Eastern Canada

The fishery for Northern Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) off Newfoundland and Labrador, Eastern Canada, presents the most spectacular case of an exploited stock crashed in a few decades by an industrial bottom trawl fishery under a seemingly sophisticated management regime after half a millennium of sustainable fishing. The fishery, which had generated annual catches of 100000 to 200000 tonnes from the beginning of the 16th century to the 1950s, peaked in 1968 at 810000 tonnes, followed by a devastating collapse and closure 24 years later. Since then, stock recovery may have been hindered by premature openings, with vessels targeting the remains of the cod population. Previous research paid little attention towards using multicentury time series to inform sustainable catches and recovery plans. Here, we show that a simple stock assessment model can be used to model the cod population trajectory for the entire period from 1508 to 2019 for which catch estimates are available. The model suggests that if fishing effort and mortality had been stabilized in the 1980s, precautionary annual yields of about 200000 tonnes could have been sustained. Our analysis demonstrates the value of incorporating prior knowledge to counteract shifting baseline effects on reference points and contemporary perceptions of historical stock status.publishedVersio

Sidney Holt, a giant in the history of fisheries science who focused on the future: his legacy and challenges for present-day marine scientists

Sidney J. Holt (1926–2019) was more than a founding father of quantitative fisheries science, and the man who “helped save the great whales.” His accomplishments, over a career spanning seven decades, run deeper: he was a champion of reductionism (i.e. able to identify the factors essential for management) and a systemic thinker who inspired scientists to think critically about marine conservation and management. This article draws on first-hand experiences with Sidney over the last 15 years, when he regularly collaborated with scholars of the ICES Working Group on the History of Fish and Fisheries and the Oceans Past Initiative. Four main themes emerged from our reflections on Sidney’s life and legacy, which constitute ongoing scientific challenges: (1) the suitability of maximum sustainable yield as a target reference point for fisheries management; (2) the future of marine mammal conservation; (3) successful implementation of ecosystem-based marine management; and (4) the value of historical perspectives for conservation and management. We consider Sidney’s work across these themes, in which he readily collaborated, focused on evidence-based solutions, and, where evidence was lacking, he advocated for the “precautionary principle.” We posit there is much that we, and future generations of scientists, can learn from his example

Ecological understanding for fishery management: Condition and growth of anchovy late larvae during different seasons in the Northwestern Mediterranean

10 pages, 6 figures, 3 tablesThe fishery of the European anchovy Engraulis encrasicolus in the Mediterranean needs several ecological approaches to be properly managed. As such, several surveys were carried out to study the ecology of larvae and juveniles of this species, which reproduces during the warmest period of the year (May through September) in the Gulf of Lions. In particular, we studied the late larvae (15 mm total length until metamorphosis), especially as other authors have focused on larvae below that size. Unexpectedly, we also collected anchovy late larvae during the December 2007 survey, whose range in size corresponded to a later spawning period than previously reported. Differences in the nutritional condition of these larvae were assessed by comparing indices of lipid composition and estimating growth rates from otolith measurements to provide information on the probability of survival between the two groups. The analysis of fatty acids, used as tracers of trophic relationships, indicates that these larvae fed mainly on zooplankton. Nutritional conditions of summer and late autumn larvae were very similar. In contrast, growth rates were higher for August larvae, probably due to the different temperatures in the two seasons. Our results are especially relevant in an ecological context where the increasing mean water temperatures in the Western Mediterranean could favor the extension of the anchovy spawning period up to late-Autumn monthsThis research was conducted within the European project SARDONE (FP6 e 44294). The authors gratefully acknowledge the collaboration of the IFREMER scientific staff and of the captain and crew of the RV L’Europe for their help during the cruises. We also thank the collaboration of Itziar Álvarez and Juan Pablo Beltrán in the analysis of the otoliths and Guiomar Rotllant and the people of IRTA for their guidelines regarding lipids extractionPeer reviewe

The Italian Job: Navigating the (im)perfect storm of participatory fisheries research in the Northern Adriatic Sea

In fisheries management there is now a broad consensus on the importance of including and integrating fishermen and their knowledge. This shift reflected by the latest reform of the EU Common Fisheries Policy indicates, at least in principle, a move away from the traditional centralised ‘top-down’ model to a more decentralised ‘networked’ system of governance. What happens though to this ideal of participation when there is limited agreement about what the problems are and how to handle them? The GAP project case study in Chioggia, located in the Northern Adriatic, provides an opportunity to illustrate this question through exploring the differing perceptions and competing narratives surrounding ‘la crisi’ (the crisis) in the fisheries in question. Simply put, ‘la crisi’ represents a crisis in the sector, with stock collapse and the ruination of local fisheries-based livelihoods a likely outcome should the status quo be maintained. This perspective is held by many fishermen and a number of scientists working with them and yet is opposed by a counter narrative of ‘stability and ecosystem health’, promoted by regional fisheries managers and affiliated scientists. The Chioggia case study, a participatory research initiative between scientists and local fishermen, seeks to bridge this gap in knowledge by mapping the spatial and temporal distribution of resources and fishing effort in the Northern Adriatic Sea. The paper emphasises the challenges and opportunities that this research collaboration entails and assesses its capacity to catalyse or inhibit the conditions necessary for mobilising collective action in fisheries management

Local Ecological Knowledge (LEK) as a support for Octopus vulgaris fisheries management

Forum on Fisheries Science in the Mediterranean and The Black Sea (FishForum 2018), 10-14 December 2018, Rome, ItalyFishermen’s Local Ecological Knowledge (LEK), when documented, may play an important role in documenting fishing practices, enhancing the understanding of ecological changes and scientific data. Furthermore, through targeted questions, researchers and managers can get information on several social and economic features of fisheries and their value for the local communities, contributing to create improved management plans. We developed a questionnaire to gather LEK information, from fishing activities and species’ ecology to fishermen perception on fisheries management and impacts. The survey, carried out in 2017, focused on Octopus vulgaris fishery involving three fishing communities in Komiža (Croatia), Patti (Sicily, Italy) and Palamós (Cataluña, Spain), resulting in a total of 47 interviews. In these areas octopus was targeted in multispecific and multigear fisheries, with clear seasonality patterns. O. vulgaris was never the single target species, and its relevance for fishermen decreased from Palamós to Patti and Komiža communities. In all areas fishermen reported a decline in octopus catches. In particular they pointed to recreational and illegal fishing as the worst source of impact, affecting the stock and determining economic losses. According to fishermen perception the impact of this activity seems to be higher than marine pollution, requiring an increase in controls by the authorities. The majority of fishermen consider to be duly involved in setting rules and management processes, though there is the need to increase collaboration with researchers and policy makers to enforce effective management measures at local levelPeer Reviewe

Defining connectivity of exploited octopus and shrimp populations across the Mediterranean

Fourth International Marine Connectivity (iMarCo) Conference, 8-9 October 2018, Crete, Greece.-- 1 pageIn this era of fast global change, defining connectivity and adaptive potential of exploited marine stocks is a key requirement towards sustainability of fisheries. Though the use of genetics tools is not very pervasive in fisheries management, evolutionary concepts that derive from its use provide the much needed information regarding stock structure and its adaptation capacity. In our study, we examine the integration of evolutionary-based knowledge in fisheries sustainable management and conservation of two target species: common octopus, Octopus vulgaris and red shrimp Aristeus antennatus. To that end, we sampled 19 octopus and 12 red shrimp populations across the Mediterranean. Populations were genotyped using genotyping by sequencing (GBS) approach and a number of polymorphic genetic markers (SNPs) was validated for each species and population. In order to assess stock structure, genetic differentiation among populations was estimated with F-statistics and patterns of genomic variation across spatial scales were obtained, providing evidence of connectivity. To investigate occurrences of local adaptation, the data set was tested for evolution under selection. Here we provide high resolution perspective on stock structure, connectivity and local adaptation of octopus and red shrimp in the Mediterranean and indicate fishery areas that are critical to preserve, contributing directly to the sustainable management of Mediterranean fishery populationsPeer Reviewe

Workshop to Update and Assess Trade-Offs Between the Impact of Fisheries on Seafloor Habitats and Their Landings and Economic Performance (WKD6ASSESS)

WKD6ASSESS aimed to provide an updated assessment of bottom trawl impact versus financial gain in all European waters, for the status quo and under various future management scenarios. In this, the latest developments made in various ICES working groups and workshops should be integrated, and the entire process should be aligned. Largest changes in the assessment include a new method to represent the financial gain of the fisheries; the inclusion of management scenarios in line with pertinent marine policies, for instance considering the closure of Marine Protected Areas; progress in multiple regions (including the Mediterranean Sea) to enable the assessment across all EU waters; and the development of a new user-friendly layout for the presentation of the assessment results. Unfortunately, the progress (mainly in term of data coverage) for the Mediterranean Sea has not yet reached a level that enables operationalizing the assessment at (eco)regional scales. In addition, the data flows for more accurate economic indicators are not yet guaranteed for coming years. Overall, the improvements implemented and presented in this report forms a solid basis for the establishment of a comprehensible and reproducible assessment of bottom trawl impact in all European waters