Patterns in artisanal coral reef fisheries revealed through local monitoring efforts

Abstract

Sustainable fisheries management is key to restoring and maintaining ecological function and benefits to people, but it requires accurate information about patterns of resource use, particularly fishing pressure. In most coral reef fisheries and other data-poor contexts, obtaining such information is challenging and remains an impediment to effective management. We developed the most comprehensive regional view of shore-based fishing effort and catch published to date, to show detailed fishing patterns from across the main Hawaiian Islands (MHI). We reveal these regional patterns through fisher “creel” surveys conducted by local communities, state agencies, academics, and/or environmental organizations, at 18 sites, comprising >10,000 h of monitoring across a range of habitats and human influences throughout the MHI. All creel surveys included in this study except for one were previously published in some form (peer-reviewed articles or gray literature reports). Here, we synthesize these studies to document spatial patterns in nearshore fisheries catch, effort, catch rates (i.e., catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE)), and catch disposition (i.e., use of fish after catch is landed). This effort provides for a description of general regional patterns based on these location-specific studies. Line fishing was by far the dominant gear type employed. The most efficient gear (i.e., highest CPUE) was spear (0.64 kg h−1), followed closely by net (0.61 kg h−1), with CPUE for line (0.16 kg h−1) substantially lower than the other two methods. Creel surveys also documented illegal fishing activity across the studied locations, although these activities were not consistent across sites. Overall, most of the catch was not sold, but rather retained for home consumption or given away to extended family, which suggests that cultural practices and food security may be stronger drivers of fishing effort than commercial exploitation for coral reef fisheries in Hawai‘i. Increased monitoring of spatial patterns in nearshore fisheries can inform targeted management, and can help communities develop a more informed understanding of the drivers of marine resource harvest and the state of the resources, in order to maintain these fisheries for food security, cultural practices, and ecological value.

Place‐based management can reduce human impacts on coral reefs in a changing climate

“…As shown in a meta-analysis by Cinner et al (2016), our results indicate that marine closures can reduce human impacts on coral reefs by increasing fish biomass within the marine closures, with a smaller change at H a'ena due to the smaller reserve area (Fig. 1B, C ;Halpern 2003, Delaney et al 2017). However, the Makua refuge is strategically located in a prime nursery habitat (Goodell et al 2018), which can supplement adjacent areas through spillover .…”

“…Both communities initiated these marine closures to enhance nearshore fisheries, a large portion of which consists of fish species that feed on algae (herbivorous fishes). At H a'ena, fishing pressure was relatively lower than Ka' up ulehu prior to the establishment of the marine closures (Delaney et al 2017; Table 1).…”

Incorporating reef fish avoidance behavior improves accuracy of species distribution models

“…In 2003 it was expanded to encompass 71 ha and fishing activities were prohibited. Spearfishing effort in the adjacent fished area to the north was estimated to be ∼5,000 h/yr/km 2 (Delaney et al, 2017). Enforcement in this reserve is somewhat lacking and spearfishing has been documented inside the boundaries, though large seasonal ocean swells ensure there is little fishing during the winter months (Stamoulis & Friedlander, 2013).…”

Risk assessment of small‐scale reef fisheries off the Abrolhos Bank: Snappers and groupers under a multidimensional evaluation

“…Coral reef ecosystems and the human‐dependent populations are in danger as a result of threats such as climate change, pollution, overfishing, invasive species and sedimentation (Arias‐González, Johnson, Seymour, Perez, & Aliño, ). Along with these threats, many coral reef fisheries are located in less developed countries (Whittingham, Campbell, & Townsley, ), where fisheries management and monitoring of environments, biodiversity and commercial landings are scarce (Delaney et al, ). Therefore, EBFM in coral reef ecosystems is a key approach used to assess the fishery effects and promote ecosystem recovery (Fenner, ).…”