Selected Online Reading on Fisheries

• The Covid-19 impacts on the European Union aquaculture sector, Rasmus Nielsen, Sebastian Villasante, Jose Manuel Fernandez Polanco, Jordi Guillen, Ignacio Llorente Garcia, Frank Asche; Marine Policy, Vol. 147, January 2023, 105361.
  Abstract: There have been a number of indications of strong negative impacts of Covid-19 and the preventive measures associated with the pandemic for all food sectors. However, there is increasing evidence that the picture is quite nuanced where the Covid related measures are creating challenges for some and opportunities for others. In this paper we investigate the impacts of Covid-19 on the aquaculture sector in the European Union using two approaches; a survey where industry representatives and experts assess the impacts on key economic indicators allowing for positive as well as negative impacts, and recently published aquaculture production data for Denmark and Spain. Our findings show that surveys’ results indicate that, on average, the impact of Covid-19 is negative on the income side, increasing cost and therefore negative with respect to profit. However, in every category the average covers both positive and negative answers suggesting that what was a challenge for some was a window of an opportunity for others. The production data for Denmark and Spain also indicate moderate to no impacts of the Covid-19. The strongest impacts appear on the turbot prices, a species where highly dependent on higher end restaurants. The lower price is a clear indication that there was a significant opportunity cost associated with getting access to other supply chains, particularly as the quantity was also moderately down.
  
  
• Breaking Blue: Establishing comprehensive policy for a just and inclusive transition for the Blue Economy, Stephen Axon, Sammy Collier, Marine Policy Volume 147, January 2023, 105343.
  Abstract: At a time of substantial interest in the Blue Economy, it is surprising that sustainability dilemmas and justice components are not well integrated within its academic discourse or policy arena. Reviewing a number of existing U.S. coastal and marine policies, we identify that justice and equity components are essentially missing and advocate for a comprehensive policy framework for a just and inclusive transition for the Blue Economy. Looking forward, we review and critique the policy proposal of Elizabeth Warren’s Blue New Deal. While the current state of the Blue New Deal remains uncertain, we indicate that such a policy framework would integrate justice, equity and inclusivity as part of operationalising the Blue Economy. Given the proposal for a Blue New Deal is relatively new, we propose a research agenda to explore how comprehensive policy frameworks may seek to place justice and inclusivity at the centre of the Blue Economy.
   
• Ecosystem-based management outperforms species-focused stocking for enhancing fish populations, Radinger, Johannes ; Matern, Sven ; Klefoth, Thomas ; Wolter, Christian ; Feldhege, Fritz ; Monk, Christopher T ; Arlinghaus, Robert; Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science), 2023, Vol.379 (6635), p.946-951.
  Abstract: Ecosystem-based management is costly. Therefore, without rigorously showing that it can outperform traditional species-focused alternatives, its broad-scale adoption in conservation is unlikely. We present a large-scale replicated and controlled set of whole-lake experiments in fish conservation (20 lakes monitored over 6 years with more than 150,000 fish sampled) to examine the outcomes of ecosystem-based habitat enhancement (coarse woody habitat addition and shallow littoral zone creation) versus a widespread, species-focused alternative that has long dominated fisheries management practice (i.e., fish stocking). Adding coarse woody habitats alone did not, on average, enhance fish abundance, but creating shallow water habitat consistently did, especially for juvenile fish. Species-focused fish stocking completely failed. We provide strong evidence questioning the performance of species-focused conservation actions in aquatic ecosystems and instead recommend ecosystem-based management of key habitats. 
   
• Towards better survival: Modeling drivers for daily mortality in Norwegian Atlantic salmon farming, Tvete, Ingunn Fride ; Aldrin, Magne ; Jensen, Britt Bang; Preventive veterinary medicine, 2023, Vol.210, p.105798-105798.
  Abstract: Mortality in the production of farmed salmonids is a major constraint to the sustainability of this form of animal husbandry. We have developed a model for the daily mortality in salmon farming over a full production cycle from stocking to harvest, considering different environmental and production factors. These factors included sea temperature, salinity, day within year, fish weight at stocking, stocking day, four types of lice treatments and the possible occurrence of pancreas disease (PD). We considered a generalized additive model following full production cycles, allowing for non-linear descriptions of how relevant factors relate to the daily mortality. We saw a high overall mortality rate immediately after stocking, which decreased the first three months in the cycle and thereafter increased. We found that the total mortality could be reduced by 21% if avoiding all lice treatments, and similarly reduced by 20% if no PD infections occurred. If avoiding jointly PD and all lice treatments, the accumulated mortality could be reduced by 34%. A single thermal or hydrogen peroxide treatment was associated with a mortality of around 1.6% and 1.3%, respectively. This modeling approach gave a unique opportunity to model how different factors interact on the overall global mortality and can easily be extended by other factors, such as additional fish diseases.
   
• Characterization of discards along a wide bathymetric range from a trawl fishery in the NW Mediterranean, Blanco, Marta ; Nos, David ; Lombarte, Antoni ; Recasens, Laura ; Company, Joan B. ; Galimany, Eve; Fisheries research, 2023, Vol.258, p.106552.
  Abstract: Discards represent a loss of natural resources and negatively affect the sustainability of fisheries. Information on discards, such as diversity and size of the species discarded is essential to better manage trawl fisheries. Thus, this study aims to gain knowledge on discards from the Catalan bottom trawl fisheries in the NW Mediterranean Sea to offer information needed for fisheries management. Discard ratios, species composition of discards and lengths of the discards were analyzed from data collected on board commercial trawlers, from November 2018 to December 2020 and analyzed by depth, zone, and season. Discard ratio varied among depths from 30.5% in the shallowest depth (20 – 70 m) to 14.3% in the deepest (400–700 m), with depth being the main factor determining the species composition of discards. This study also focused on the discards of six main commercial species, i.e. European hake (Merluccius merluccius), red mullet (Mullus barbatus), black-bellied angler (Lophius budegassa), poor cod (Trisopterus capelanus), deep-water pink shrimp (Parapenaeus longirostris) and Norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus). The length at which 50% of individuals were discarded (L50d) was lower than the Length at First Maturity (LFM) and the Minimum Conservation Reference Size (MCRS) for the six species. These findings provide relevant information to comply with the Marine Strategy Framework Directive’s (EU Directive 2008/56/EC) ecosystem approach to fisheries and to evaluate the implementation of measures for fisheries’ best management practices, such as gear selectivity and spatial planning.
   
• Fishers' multidimensional knowledge advances fisheries and aquatic science, Silvano, Renato A.M. ; Baird, Ian G. ; Begossi, Alpina ; Hallwass, Gustavo ; Huntington, Henry P. ; Lopes, Priscila F.M. ; Parlee, Brenda ; Berkes, Fikret; Trends in ecology & evolution (Amsterdam), 2023, Vol.38 (1), p.8-12.
  Abstract: Fishers’ Indigenous and local knowledge (ILK) has multidimensional contributions to improve fisheries and aquatic ecosystems science, ranging from algae to whales and including management, conservation, ecology, and impact assessment. The challenges are to sustain this knowledge, recognize its value, and to include ILK holders in resource management and decision-making.
   
• Reimagining sustainable fisheries, Jacquet, Jennifer ; Pauly, Daniel; PLoS biology, 2022, Vol.20 (10), p.e3001829-e3001829.
  Abstract: The current conception of sustainable fisheries focuses on single “stocks” targeted by industrial fisheries to supply growing global markets, including those for fishmeal. Sustainable fisheries should be reimagined to minimize exploitation and prioritize artisanal and subsistence fishing that feeds people.
   
• Sustainable fisheries: Towards operationalization of decision making accounting for biodiversity, Gaillet, Grégoire ; Asselin, Anne-Claire ; Wermeille, Aurore ; Journal of cleaner production, 2022, Vol.362, p.132103.
  Abstract: Overexploitation of biotic resources constitutes a major threat on marine biodiversity while demand for seafood will rise in the next decades. Application of Life Cycle Assessment to marine ecosystems needs further focus. This study applies two existing methods (Langlois et al., 2014 and Emanuelsson et al., 2014) of fishing impact assessment on biodiversity to 125 common fish stocks fished in the 14 marine areas drawn by FAO and proposes operational guidelines for sustainable production and efficient conservation policies. We show that unsustainable fishing is responsible for a loss of up to 30 times the potential yield of major fish stocks such as Atlantic cod, red snapper and bluefin tuna. We identify depleted fish stocks for which biomass is up to 15 times lower than it should be (yellownose skate fished in South America) and stocks facing fishing mortality up to 1.9 × 107 times higher than required to allow sustainable recovery (Pacific Ocean perch fished on the US West Coast). Regarding intrinsic biodiversity, our study shows that we are not able to understand the consequences of overfishing through a cause-effect chain due to lack of science knowledge. However, we display how to limit the impacts on biodiversity by using complementary indicators at species and ecosystem level. The complexity of marine ecosystems and the remaining limits of studied methods are discussed, showing the compelling need for further data collection and analysis, and opening ways for targeted research.
   
• An overview of disruptive technologies for aquaculture, Kangning Yue, Yubang Shen; Aquaculture and Fisheries, Volume 7, Issue 2, March 2022, Pages 111-120.
  Abstract: The world wild fish stocks are being depleted in an ever-increasing speed. Aquaculture is the only way to ensure sufficient seafood for the world. Conventional aquaculture can be traced back to 4000 years in China and has been very successful in the past three decades. However, aquaculture has faced serious challenges, including only a few improved species, labour-intensiveness, environmental pollution, diseases and lack of traceability of products. Aquaculture needs disruptive technologies to increase fish production. Novel and disruptive technologies, including genome editing, artificial intelligence, offshore farming, recirculating aquaculture systems, alternative proteins and oils to replace fish meals and fish oils, oral vaccination, blockchain for marketing and internet of things, may provide solutions for sustainable and profitable aquaculture. This review briefly introduces these emerging and disruptive technologies to open up a forum for an in-depth discussion on how to integrate these technologies into aquaculture to improve its sustainability and profitability.
   
• Impact of COVID-19 lockdown on aquatic environment and fishing community: Boon or bane?, Abhijit Mallik; Puja Chakraborty; Shashi Bhushan; Binaya Bhusan Nayak;  Marine Policy, Volume 141, July 2022, 105088.
  Abstract: COVID-19 pandemic is a serious threat for mankind having an extensive socio-economic impact. However, it is considered as an unfortunate event with some positive environmental effects where nature is retrieving itself. The water quality index in different places of the world was reported to be improved during the lockdown, which in turn whipped up the regenerative process of fishes, sea turtles, marine mammals, and aquatic birds. Additionally, ecologically sensitive areas such as mangroves and coral reefs were also seen rejuvenating during COVID-19 seal off. But these favourable implications are temporary as there is an unexpected surge in plastic waste generation in the form of PPE kits, face masks, gloves, and other healthcare equipment. Moreover, the outbreak of the pandemic resulted in the complete closure of fishing activities, decline in fish catch, market disruption, and change in consumer preference. To address these multidimensional effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, government organizations, NGOs, and other concerned authorities should extend their support to amplify the positive impacts of the lockdown and reduce the subsequent pollution level while encouraging the fisheries sector.
   
• Killing Nemo: Three world regions fail to mainstream combatting of IUU fishing, Hosch, G ; Macfadyen, G; Marine policy, 2022-06, Vol.140.
  Abstract: This study revisits the established correlation between IUU fishing and the quality of governance. However, rather than relying on estimates of illegally harvested volumes of catch, the study tests the correlation between the national response to combat IUU fishing – as a proxy of IUU fishing risk – and the quality of governance. Linear regression analysis was applied to a global dataset of 151 coastal States, and individually to eight world regions. The study finds that the correlation of the response to IUU fishing (dependent variable) with the quality of governance is highly significant at the global level, and across five world regions; namely Africa, Europe, North America, Oceania and South America. However, the correlation is not verified for Asia, the Caribbean and Central America, and the Middle East. For Asia, the study also finds that combatting of IUU fishing significantly weakens with rising national income. Asia, the Caribbean and Central America, and the Middle East account for more than half the volume of global marine fish catch and there regions score the worst for their response to IUU fishing in both the 2019 and 2021 IUU Fishing Index reports. The study concludes that the lack of correlation across these three regions suggests that relying chiefly on improvements in governance to bring about more effective combatting of IUU fishing will likely prove insufficient. More efforts will be needed across these regions to elevate the importance of effective fisheries management within national policy dialogues, to generate a substantially improved response to IUU fishing in the future.
   
• Women’s empowerment in small-scale fisheries: The impact of Fisheries Local Action Groups, Freeman, Richard ; Svels, Kristina; Marine policy, 2022, Vol.136, p.104907.
  Abstract: Several authors have noted that there is an under-representation of gender approaches in fisheries policy and research. While fisheries are widely considered a male-dominated industry, women play a significant and vital role in the survival of small-scale family-run fisheries and are frequently the driving force of innovation, diversification, and the development of new markets. However, these roles are often unseen – with the male fishers being the registered beneficiary and performer of more visible tasks. Although several fisheries studies have focused on gender, no study has yet considered or contextualized the impact of Fisheries Local Action Groups (FLAGs) on both the visibility and empowerment of women. Drawing on a quantitative survey of 113 FLAGs and the qualitative case study of three EU fisheries areas, this paper explores these factors. While the results show that FLAGs are active in supporting women in diversification activities, the findings highlight that their impact on women’s empowerment is complex, varies between areas, and that interventional programs play an important role in identifying gender issues in fisheries areas and how they impact their transformation and survival.

Journals about Fisheries :

• Fisheries Management and Ecology covers all aspects of the management, ecology and conservation of inland, estuarine and coastal fisheries. Topics include the maintenance, development and management of the conditions under which fish populations thrive. It is not available for the latest 365 days of publication but you may ask to the Library for requesting an article in case of need.

Other journals :

• Table of contents – Subscribe to this service to receive in your mailbox the table of contents and full text access of specialised journals, such as such as ICES Journal of Marine Science or Marine Policy.
• E-journals – Browse our electronic collection of fisheries and aquaculture journals in full text. You can also download the free Browzine app in your mobile device and access them while out of the office.
• Online journal articles – You can access a broad collection of e-articles through our Ebscohost search engine or via our EP Library Catalogue.

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