Recreational fisheries in Portofino Marine Protected Area, Italy: Some implications for the management

Abstract

Since the 1970s, recreational fishing has become a mass hobby in Italy, reaching a large number of people, who, using modern equipment, increased their harvesting capacity, provoking serious conflicts with the professional fisheries. Recreational fishing is strictly regulated inside Italian Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and is generally allocated to local residents, mainly to reduce the tensions caused by limitations of access to the resources. The aim of this study was to provide an analysis of recreational fishing activities within the Portofino MPA (Mediterranean Sea), to assess the possible impact on the local fish stocks and to plan potential management actions. Furthermore, some serious inconsistencies on the minimum lengths of fish caught as defined by law relative to the minimum size of first reproduction are discussed. Since 2014, all anglers exploiting the Portofino MPA have been obliged to fill out a logbook. The compilation of these was not completely satisfactory, when compared with a group of reliable anglers whose catches were accurately monitored, but allowed for estimated yields of about 24 kg/angler/yr. After 15 years of protection, the fish biomass has increased within the Portofino MPA, generating a positive spillover effect. At the same time, it has attracted many anglers whose gross harvesting was estimated at about 8 t/year, representing about the 8% of the total yield of the local small‐scale fishery.

The park never born: Outcome of a quarter of a century of inaction on the sea‐floor integrity of a proposed but not established Marine Protected Area

“…Pleasure crafts could be allowed to moor to buoys installed for this purpose, which would be especially useful for diving centres: if correctly managed, scuba‐diving tourism represents a sustainable activity that generates revenue and supports local communities (Lucrezi et al, ), and may even actively support conservation (Cerrano, Milanese, & Ponti, ). Inspections in 2016 showed that derelict fishing gear caused a severe impact on epibenthic communities, suggesting that all forms of bottom fishing must be banned and recreational fishing should be strictly regulated (Venturini, Campodonico, Cappanera, Fanciulli, & Cattaneo‐Vietti, ).…”

Comparing commercial, recreational and illegal coastal fishery catches and their economic values: A survey from the southern Mediterranean Sea

“…The impacts of recreational and illegal fishing for the future of commercial fisheries are therefore extremely significant, especially as illegal fishers are rapidly improving their fishing techniques to catch more valuable fish at relatively low cost. For instance, using new artificial baits, such as jigs, that seem to increase the catchability of vulnerable species such as the Dentex dentex (Lloret et al., ; Venturini et al., ).…”

“…They require low capital investment, using a wide range of fishing gears, allowing multi‐specific and seasonal catches (Farrugio, Oliver & Biagi, ; Freire & Garcı́a‐Allut, ; Forcada, Valle, Sánchez‐Lizaso, Bayle‐Sempere & Corsi, ; Guyader et al., ; Halouani, Ben Rais Lasram, Khalfallah, Zeller & Pauly, ). Concomitantly, the increase in human populations inhabiting coastal areas can contribute to an increase in the practice of recreational fishing, which is recognised as one of the most common leisure activities (Arlinghaus et al., ; Venturini, Campodonico, Cappanera, Fanciulli & Cattaneo Vietti, ). Recreational fishing (REC) is defined as all fishing activities that are not conducted for commercial or subsistence purposes (Pawson, Glenn & Padda, ).…”

“…Recreational fishing has a largely unknown impact on fish stocks (Giovos et al., ), although some Mediterranean countries have adopted legislation to control it (e.g., fishing licences, a minimum legal size) (Gaudin & De Young, ). Even if regulated, it can entail serious ecological and economic consequences, and come into conflict with commercial fishing (Venturini et al., ). In addition, illegal fishing (IF) is a serious issue that must be better understood.…”

Recreational fisheries within the Portofino MPA and surrounding areas (Ligurian Sea, Western Mediterranean Sea)

“…During the last 18 years of protection, fish biomass in Portofino MPA certainly increased, showing an average value of 17.5 kg/125 m², among the highest recorded inside the Italian MPAs (Guidetti et al, 2015). This status generates a positive spill over effect, but attracted a number of anglers who could fish about 3 t/year, corresponding up to the 5% of the total annual local artisanal yield (Venturini et al, 2017). However, these data have to be considered as rough estimates, because the final harvesting is certainly influenced by the real potential of the area in terms of catchable biomasses, by the fishing ability of the single angler as well as by his honesty in providing data.…”