Vessels’ site fidelity and spatio-temporal distribution of artisanalfisheries before the implementation of a temperate multiple-usemarine protected area

Costa, Bárbara Horta e; Gonçalves, Leonel; Gonçalves, Emanuel João

http://hdl.handle.net/10400.12/2627

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Authors

Costa, Bárbara Horta e

Gonçalves, Leonel

Gonçalves, Emanuel João

Abstract(s)

Marine protected areas (MPAs) are increasingly proposed as a fisheries management tool besides theirconservation purposes. When assessing the ecological, economic, and social-cultural impacts of protec-tion, the dynamics of fisheries and fishers reallocation within and around multiple-use MPAs should beanalyzed. Despite this, few studies incorporate the baseline information of fisheries distribution, there-fore compromising an understanding of fishers’ preferences, choices and constrains before losing fishinggrounds through the establishment of zoning and protection measures. To fulfil this gap, here we assessthe spatial and seasonal fishers’ preferences from local artisanal fisheries (nets, traps, jigs and longlines)before the implementation of a MPA management plan (the Arrábida Marine Park, Portugal). Zero inflatedmodelling, hotspot analysis, vessels distribution range and site fidelity statistics showed that the maindrivers of fishing effort allocation are the placement of preferred fishing grounds which are likely relatedto the distribution of target species and associated habitats. Proximity to port, weather conditions anddistance to coast are also important factors influencing, in different ways, these artisanal fisheries. Ourfindings highlight the complex dynamics of the distribution of artisanal fisheries operating multiple-gearsand targeting multiple-species and are likely transferable to many coastal multiple-use MPAs where nobaseline data exist. Moreover, the variety of responses and preferences found between gears and fish-ers before the establishment of zoning are important to understand the dynamics of local fisheries, tocontribute to an ecosystem-based management and to improve both conservation and fisheries manage-ment decisions. Our study is one of the few characterizing fisheries dynamics and fishers’ preferencesbefore protection measures are implemented providing important lessons to the management of coastalfisheries where artisanal fisheries prevail.