Long-term trends in catch and effort of commercial linefish off South Africa's Cape Province: snapshots of the 20
            <sub>th</sub>
            century

Griffiths, Matthew

doi:10.2989/025776100784125663

Cited by 136 publications

(82 citation statements)

References 43 publications

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“…The stock assessment management paradigm which continues to dominate South Africa's fisheries emerged from within a belief in the separation of society from the natural realm. The approach favours a focus on individual species (Griffiths, 2000) rather than whole ecosystems and essentially implements a top-down approach which has been widely criticised as ignoring the role of both people and capital in the fisheries (Isaacs, 2006;Sowman, 2011;van Sittert, 2002;Isaacs and Mohamed, 2000;Isaacs et al, 2006). As van Sittert (2002;2003) has shown, the influence of well-established networks and associations of capital in the country's fisheries has resulted in entrenched power and monetary dynamics which continue to sideline the concerns of many fishers, particularly small-scale groups.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

‘Thinking like a fish’: adaptive strategies for coping with vulnerability and variability emerging from a relational engagement with kob

2014

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Based on ethnographic fieldwork amongst a group of commercial handline fishers in the town of Stilbaai in South Africa's southern Cape region, this paper presents a range of flexible, adaptive and evolving strategies through which fishers negotiate constantly shifting variability in weather patterns, fish stocks, fisheries policies, and economic conditions. These variabilities constitute a diverse set of vulnerabilities to which fishers must respond in order to sustain their livelihoods. In this context, the act of 'thinking like a fish' on the part of the fishers provides them with an effective means of adapting to variability and uncertainty. Findings of ethnographic research in 2010-11 suggest that a number of the fishers who participated in the research actively work towards achieving a balance between profit and sustainability. 'Thinking like a fish' is an embodied, interactive way of knowing that emerges from interactions between fishers and fish, offering an ethical and ecological outlook which is a valuable resource for fisheries and conservation management in the region. We suggest that the deeply embodied interactional component of 'thinking like a fish' results from a desire to understand the life world of fish and to think from their perspective in order to more effectively target them while sustaining the species and ecosystem.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

‘Thinking like a fish’: adaptive strategies for coping with vulnerability and variability emerging from a relational engagement with kob

2014

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“…2d). Yemane et al (2004) found a decrease in size structure and abundance of large pelagic fish within the Cape region, attributed to overfishing (Griffiths 2000, Yemane et al 2004). Yemane et al (2004) also documented a change in the catch composition of large pelagic fish, with snoek being the dominant species caught.…”

Section: Biomass-based Indicatorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Communicating changes in state of the southern Benguela ecosystem using trophic, model-derived indicators

Shannon¹,

Osman²,

Jarre³

2014

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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An updated trophic model of the southern Benguela ecosystem in the period 2004−2008 was constructed, complementing trophic models for earlier periods. The model represents the trophic structure of the system after a southward shift of major resources. There was an increase in biomass of small pelagic fish and cephalopods between the 1980s and 2004-2008 periods, accompanied by declines in several higher trophic level groups. A 3 step process was followed: (1) a series of snapshots of the ecosystem was used to explore changes in the food web structure over time, (2) trophic indicators were extracted from these models to detect changes, and (3) model-derived ecological indicators which were deemed most meaningful for management within the ecosystem were selected for use in decision trees, providing a logical framework in which to access synthesised information on trends in ecosystem status as a result of fishing. Three decision trees were developed which examined the ecosystem at the community level (pelagiccaught fish and demersal-caught fish community decision trees) and at the system level (ecosystem decision tree).

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“…We feel that during the negotiation process we may come up with suitable solutions that include and will benefit all stakeholders). (Letter to MCM, 28 July 2007) However, at about the same time, concerns about the status of linefish stocks in South Africa led to the introduction of a range of policies and management measures to address the linefish problem ( Van der Elst et al 1996;Griffiths 2000;Hutchings & Lamberth 2002a, 2002bCockroft et al 2002). These included restrictions on recreational fishing and a reduction in traditional net-fishing rights and operations along the entire coastline.…”

Section: The Environmental Evaluation Unit: Ebenhaeser Partnershipmentioning

confidence: 99%

An Evolving Partnership: Collaboration between university 'experts' and net-fishers

Sowman

2010

Gateways

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This paper reflects on the evolution of a university-community partnership that has benefited both the community and the university, through joint research and mutual capacity development. It highlights the value of working collaboratively with communities and other stakeholders to jointly tackle complex human-ecological problems and demonstrates that knowledge that resides in communities is fundamental to resolving problems. While the initial focus of the project was on providing ‘expert’ advice to assist a fishing community, as well as to ‘build their capacity’ to enable effective participation in management decisions, over time the relationship shifted to one characterised by mutual learning, collaborative research and the co-production of knowledge in the face of policy changes. This article offers reflections on this 15 year university-community engagement process and highlights the shifts in perceptions, research approaches and positions of the university researchers as the partnership developed and expanded as understanding of this fishery system increased.

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Long-term trends in catch and effort of commercial linefish off South Africa's Cape Province: snapshots of the 20 _th century

Cited by 136 publications

References 43 publications

‘Thinking like a fish’: adaptive strategies for coping with vulnerability and variability emerging from a relational engagement with kob

‘Thinking like a fish’: adaptive strategies for coping with vulnerability and variability emerging from a relational engagement with kob

Communicating changes in state of the southern Benguela ecosystem using trophic, model-derived indicators

An Evolving Partnership: Collaboration between university 'experts' and net-fishers

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Long-term trends in catch and effort of commercial linefish off South Africa's Cape Province: snapshots of the 20 th century

Cited by 136 publications

References 43 publications

‘Thinking like a fish’: adaptive strategies for coping with vulnerability and variability emerging from a relational engagement with kob

‘Thinking like a fish’: adaptive strategies for coping with vulnerability and variability emerging from a relational engagement with kob

Communicating changes in state of the southern Benguela ecosystem using trophic, model-derived indicators

An Evolving Partnership: Collaboration between university 'experts' and net-fishers

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About

Long-term trends in catch and effort of commercial linefish off South Africa's Cape Province: snapshots of the 20 _th century