Size matters: fishing less and yielding more in smaller-scale fisheries

Abstract

Several factors influence catches and the sustainability of fisheries, and such factors might be different depending on the scale on which fisheries work. We investigated the existence of possible subdivisions within small-scale fisheries (SSF) themselves, regarding their economic performance and relative social and environmental impacts to understand which categories of these two types of fleets are best positioned to support sustainability. By doing so, we investigated if it is a good strategy for SSF to aim to grow towards larger scales. We obtained economic and ecological data from landing samplings and information on technological efficiency of this fleet, using a northeastern Brazilian state as a case study. We defined a cut-off point to separate the SSF into two categories of boats, according to their size and gear. We compared their cpue and the factors affecting it within each category; we also compared economic (number of boats, number of landings, jobs, gears, catch, travel time and total time of the fishery, revenues, costs, profits, revenue per unit of effort, and profit per unit of effort) and ecological factors (vulnerability of species caught) between the two categories. We found that small boats spent less time fishing and employed comparatively more people per landed value and catch. The cpue and profits of small boats were also higher. Both large and small boats exploit species with the same overall vulnerability. Therefore, being smaller, even within the SSF category, seems to be a more advantageous social and economic strategy for guaranteeing higher catches and more employment opportunities per catch. These findings need to be taken into account when defining new policies, such as the distribution of subsidies that support or not the sustainable use of fishery resources.

Reconstruction of Marine Commercial Landings for the Brazilian Industrial and Artisanal Fisheries From 1950 to 2015

“…Data for 2011 and 2014 were provided by Petrobras, a Brazilian oil company, for nine municipalities on the northern coast of the state, as part of a monitoring program in regions subject to possible impacts of offshore oil platforms (Damásio et al, 2020). One municipality on the eastern coast of the state (Baía Formosa) was sampled by the research team between 2013 and 2014 (Damasio et al, 2016). Thus, data from these different sources were combined and proportionality of landings for different municipalities as well as linear interpolation were used for missing data.…”

Defining Small-Scale Fisheries and Examining the Role of Science in Shaping Perceptions of Who and What Counts: A Systematic Review

“…Over the years, many attributes essential for defining and valuing SSF have been proposed, including the size and type of boat, engine horse power, equipment type, time commitment, catch rates and disposal, environmental knowledge, significance of fishing as a livelihood, and marginality, among others (Kurien, 1996;Berkes, 2001;Kittinger, 2013). Some lists emphasize the importance of technological aspects of SSF (Pitcher et al, 1998), while others address combinations of technological, environmental, social, and political parameters to explore finer variations within SSF and between these two, taken-for-granted categories (Johnson, 2006;De Melo Alves Damasio et al, 2016). Several in depth studies grapple with the specifics and limits of national fisheries definitions, including in India (Jadhav, 2018b), Brazil (De Melo Alves Damasio et al, 2016, Peru (Fréon et al, 2014), Azores islands (Carvalho et al, 2011), and Canada (Gibson and Sumaila, 2017), while others address regional challenges such as in the EU (García-Flórez et al, 2014;Natale et al, 2015;Davies et al, 2018).…”

Efficiency Management in Catch Handling Onboard Small Boats - Standardisation of Processes in Icelandic Fisheries

“…A future expansion in Icelandic small-scale fisheries is a possibility, with arguments in the academic literature for the increased use of these smaller vessels compared to traditional trawling methods, due to perceived advantages in terms of the quality of the product, timely landing process, much lower upfront investment costs, and efficient delivery to major markets [19]. Chambers et al [15] found evidence that small-scale fisheries contribute incalculably to cultural identity, sense of place and pride, physical and emotional wellbeing, and food security.…”