Characterizing the Human Dimensions of a Hidden Fishery: Riverine Trotline Fishers

Abstract

FEATURE Downloaded by [University of Otago] at 10:44 04 October 2015 Fisheries | www.fisheries.org 387 Caracterización de las dimensiones humanas de una pesquería escondida: pescadores fluviales de palangre artesanalLas pesquerías escondidas incluyen a los pescadores de bagre quienes usan el palangre artesanal pero que rara vez son contabilizados. En este artículo se examinan a los pescadores de palangre artesanal con el fin de describir sus hábitos y técnicas de pesca, el conocimiento existente sobre pesca con palangre artesanal, motivaciones recreativas, opiniones sobre la pesquería y conflictos con otros usuarios de los ríos. Los pescadores de palangre artesanal en New River, Virginia, mostraron ser reservados, solitarios y algunos estuvieron en condiciones socioeconómicas desventajosas. Ellos consideran muy importante la captura y factores relativos a ésta, en contraste con otros grupos de pescadores que utilizan métodos altamente especializados. Así mismo, dependen de la captura de bagre en grado diverso para el sustento de su dieta o de su ingreso. La pesca artesanal de palangre parece constituir parte de un modo de vida más general para algunos individuos rurales, quienes también pueden cazar, atrapar y hacer jardinería como parte de actividades suplementarias para mantener su dieta e ingreso. Los pescadores de palangre artesanal de New River creen firmemente que la participación en este tipo de pesquería ha declinado significativamente en el Valle de New River debido al incremento del estatus socioeconómico de la región, al cambio en los valores recreativos (tales como la pesca enfocada a captura-recaptura y deportes de remo), el tráfico creciente de botes, presencia del poder judicial y a una reducción en la participación de las generaciones más jóvenes en la pesca artesanal de palangre.

Overturning stereotypes: The fuzzy boundary between recreational and subsistence inland fisheries

“…In these communities, fishers may rely on recreational fisheries to enhance their economic well-being, reduce their reliance on the cash economy (Dickinson et al, 2015;Glass et al, 1990) and contribute to their nutritional security (Cooke et al, 2018). Divisions between recreational and subsistence are further muddied because people who fish for sustenance often target similar species and have overlapping motivations with people who fish purely 'for fun' with no or limited interest in fish consumption (Butler, 2019;Cooke et al, 2016Cooke et al, , 2018Glass et al, 1990).…”

“…Dickinson et al (2015) surveyed the habits, motivations and opinions of trotline fishers on the New River, Virginia, and found that although fishers were driven by both catch‐related and non‐catch‐related factors, sustenance was a key driver for this fishery. Trotline fishers reported eating up to 125 catfish meals per year and were unaware of any size or bag limits on consumption of these fish (Dickinson et al, 2015).…”

“…Dickinson et al (2015) surveyed the habits, motivations and opinions of trotline fishers on the New River, Virginia, and found that although fishers were driven by both catch‐related and non‐catch‐related factors, sustenance was a key driver for this fishery. Trotline fishers reported eating up to 125 catfish meals per year and were unaware of any size or bag limits on consumption of these fish (Dickinson et al, 2015). Harvest for consumption was the most common motivation stated by trotline fishers; however, many of the same fishers were equally motivated by the thrill of the catch (Dickinson et al, 2015) indicating that the sport aspect of fishing is likely to maintain fishers’ interest in fishing for food provisioning.…”

“…Although there are cases where a given fishery falls neatly within the recreational or subsistence definitions, the boundary is not always clear. Examples include fisheries in some low-and middle-income countries (Butler, 2019;Potts et al, 2019), low-income fishers in both urban and rural areas of high-income countries (Burger, 2002;Burger et al, 1999;Dickinson et al, 2015), and immigrant fishers that carry cultural practices from their countries of origin and may be lower income than national resident people (Quimby et al, 2020).…”

“…Examples include fisheries in some low‐ and middle‐income countries (Butler, 2019; Potts et al, 2019), low‐income fishers in both urban and rural areas of high‐income countries (Burger, 2002; Burger et al, 1999; Dickinson et al, 2015), and immigrant fishers that carry cultural practices from their countries of origin and may be lower income than national resident people (Quimby et al, 2020). In these communities, fishers may rely on recreational fisheries to enhance their economic well‐being, reduce their reliance on the cash economy (Dickinson et al, 2015; Glass et al, 1990) and contribute to their nutritional security (Cooke et al, 2018). Divisions between recreational and subsistence are further muddied because people who fish for sustenance often target similar species and have overlapping motivations with people who fish purely ‘for fun’ with no or limited interest in fish consumption (Butler, 2019; Cooke et al, 2016, 2018; Glass et al, 1990).…”