Recommendations for Recreational Fisheries Contents Executive Summary 3 Introduction 5
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PHAROS4MPAS SAFEGUARDING MARINE PROTECTED AREAS IN THE GROWING MEDITERRANEAN BLUE ECONOMY RECOMMENDATIONS FOR RECREATIONAL FISHERIES CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 3 INTRODUCTION 5 PART ONE BACKGROUND INFORMATION: RECREATIONAL FISHERIES 7 Front cover: Catching a greater amberjack (Seriola dumerili) 1.1. Definition of recreational fisheries in the Mediterranean 9 from a big game fishing boat © Bulentevren / Shutterstock 1.2. Importance of recreational fisheries in Europe and the Mediterranean 10 1.3. The complexity of recreational fisheries in the Mediterranean 13 Publication We would like to warmly thank all the people and organizations who were part of the advisory group of Published in July 2019 by PHAROS4MPAs. this publication or kindly contributed in some other PART TWO © PHAROS4MPAs. All rights reserved way: Fabio Grati (Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche - ISMAR), Reproduction of this publication for educational or other Antigoni Foutsi, Panagiota Maragou and Michalis Margaritis RECREATIONAL FISHERIES: INTERACTIONS WITH MARINE PROTECTED AREAS 15 non-commercial purposes is authorized without prior written (WWF-Greece), Victoria Riera (Generalitat de Catalunya), Marta permission from the copyright holder provided the source is Cavallé (Life Platform), Jan Kappel (European Anglers Alliance), PART THREE fully acknowledged. Reproduction of this publication for resale Anthony Mastitski (University of Miami), Sylvain Petit (PAP/ or other commercial purposes is prohibited without prior written RAC), Robert Turk (Institute of the Republic of Slovenia for Nature BENEFITS AND IMPACTS OF RECREATIONAL FISHERIES 21 permission of the copyright holder. Conservation), Paco Melia (Politechnica Milano), Souha El Asmi and Saba Guellouz (SPA/RAC), Davide Strangis and Lise Guennal 3.1. Social benefits and impacts 22 Citation of this report: Gómez, S., Carreño, A., Sánchez, (CRPM), Marie Romani, Susan Gallon and Wissem Seddik E., Martínez, E., Lloret, J. (2019). Safeguarding Marine (MedPAN), Rita Sahyoun, Pierre-Yves Hardy (WWF-France), 3.2. Economic benefits 22 Protected Areas in the growing Mediterranean Blue Economy. Clémentine Laurent (WWF-Mediterranean). Recommendations for Recreational Fisheries. PHAROS4MPAs 3.3. Environmental impacts 23 project. 56 pages. 3.4. Interactions between recreational fisheries, small-scale fisheries Coordinated by: Josep Lloret (University of Girona) and and other sea uses 30 Catherine Piante (WWF-France) Copy editing: Evan Jeffries (Swim2Birds Ltd) PART FOUR Cartography: Alessandro Mulazzani (Consiglio Nazionale delle RECOMMENDATIONS FOR MEDITERRANEAN STAKEHOLDERS: Ricerche - ISMAR) PREVENT OR MINIMIZE IMPACTS OF RECREATIONAL FISHERIES ON MPAS 33 Design/layout: OneBigRobot This report is available at: https://pharos4mpas.interreg-med.eu 4.1. Public authorities 34 4.2. MPA managers 37 4.2.1. Setting up co-management committees 37 4.2.2. Monitoring 38 4.2.3. Implementing the right zoning approach 39 4.2.4. Establishing fishing licences and other sustainable management measures for recreational fisheries 41 4.2.5. Reducing fishing effort and limiting gears 43 Financial support 4.2.6. Dealing with lost fishing gear and its impacts on the marine environment 47 4.2.7. Implementing awareness-raising programmes 48 4.2.8. Implementing effective control and surveillance 49 4.3. Recreational fishers 51 ACRONYMS 52 BIBLIOGRAPHY 53 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Around 9 million people fish for pleasure in Furthermore, the general increase in recreational Europe, generating about €6 billion annually. maritime activities in the Mediterranean coastal zones The Mediterranean is a very popular destination for over the last decades has turned the sea into a space recreational fishers. Nevertheless, unlike commercial of conflicts over stakeholder access and rights. In fishing, recreational fishing is an activity that has not particular, recreational fishers may find themselves yet been properly assessed and managed at odds with commercial , small-scale fisheries (SSF). in the region. The situation is complicated by the lack of data and evaluation on the real effects of marine recreational Recreational fishing can have a significant impact fisheries, which are rarely managed. In addition, on particular fish resources and habitats, and the absence of a common definition of recreational with this in mind it’s important that it’s conducted fisheries at the European level makes it more responsibly right across the Mediterranean, difficult to control and regulate activities particularly in marine protected areas (MPAs). in the sector. Although recreational fishing has many social, economic and public health benefits, it also brings This is where public authorities, MPA managers and environmental issues. recreational fishers themselves all have a role to play: effective collaboration will contribute to best practices Recreational fishing has been shown to be an being identified and implemented, regulations being important component of fishing mortality across better enforced, environmental impacts avoided or the globe. Comprehensive data is lacking, but the minimized, and a sustainable future created. EU broadly estimates that recreational fishing represents more than 10% of the total production of all fishing. While the subject is still poorly assessed, several scientific studies have shown that the fishing pressure exerted by recreational fisheries can in some areas be similar to, and even exceed, catches by commercial small-scale fishing fleets. The impact of certain recreational fishing methods such as spear fishing, jigging and trolling on vulnerable species is a major concern. Other potential impacts from recreational fishing include the introduction of exotic species used as bait, pollution from fishing gear lost or abandoned at sea, and damage to sensitive habitats. CATCH OF A RED SEABREAM (PAGELLUS BOGARAVEO) CLOSE TO LE LAVANDOU, FRANCE © NICOLAS BARRAQUÉ / DÉCLIC BLEU MÉDITERRANÉE RECREATIONAL FISHERIES EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 3 INTRODUCTION Over the last 15 years, recreational fisheries have been developing rapidly in the countries The PHAROS4MPAs project explores how surrounding the Mediterranean Sea, in line with Mediterranean MPAs are affected by activities the increasing numbers of tourists who are visiting in the growing Blue Economy, and provides a its shores. At the same time, Mediterranean marine set of practical recommendations for regional protected areas (MPAs) have also grown in number stakeholders on how the environmental impacts and size through efforts to conserve the region’s of key sectors can be prevented or minimized. marine ecosystems, which are increasingly suffering Encouraging international collaboration across from anthropogenic pressures. These MPAs are a key MPA networks and cooperation between state, tool for conservation, but their individual effectiveness industry and other actors, PHAROS4MPAs aims is highly dependent on how well they integrate with to enhance MPA management effectiveness and their specific local conditions. improve the conservation of marine ecosystems As recreational fishing continues to grow, its across the whole of the Mediterranean. environmental impact is being increasingly debated, PHAROS4MPAs focuses on the following sectors and the growth of the sector, especially in coastal of the Blue Economy: and marine environments, is not without controversy. • Maritime transport and industrial ports Recreational fishing comes with a number of issues • Cruise that raise questions over its long-term sustainability, • Leisure boating including pressure on fish resources, habitat degradation, biodiversity loss, social conflicts and • Offshore wind farms pollution. Whether and how recreational fisheries • Aquaculture can be sustainably practised in MPAs is an important • Recreational fisheries question. • Small-scale fisheries This report provides a summary of recommendations to public authorities, MPA managers and the recreational fisheries sector to achieve a sustainable use of marine resources. RECREATIONAL FISHERIES INTRODUCTION 5 PART ONE BACKGROUND INFORMATION: RECREATIONAL FISHERIES AERIAL VIEW OF LA VALETTE HARBOUR PACKED WITH FISHING BOATS © MALTESE ROBINSON ROBINSON / SHUTTERSTOCK 1.1. In the EU’s Blue Growth strategy, coastal and maritime However, despite its considerable strategic potential, EU Member States have not yet agreed on a tourism is the biggest sector in terms of gross added the coastal and maritime tourism industry faces socio- common definition of marine recreational fisheries [8] value and employment. It employs more than 3.2 economic and environmental challenges that threaten . The FAO technical guidelines for responsible million people and generates a total of €183 billion in the important contribution it can make to economic DEFINITION OF fisheries define recreational fishing as “fishing of gross added value1. Coastal tourism accounted for growth in the Mediterranean [6] [7]. aquatic animals (mainly fish) that do not constitute 40% of the GVA, 61% of the jobs and 24% of the the individual’s primary resource to meet basic Tourism can have a negative impact on marine profits of the total EU Blue Economy in 2016 [1] [2]; nutritional needs and are not generally sold or biodiversity and resources if its development is and it is expected to grow a further 2-3% by 2020 [3], RECREATIONAL otherwise traded on export, domestic or black not managed responsibly. Therefore, biodiversity [9] particularly in the Mediterranean [4]. markets” . conservation and environmental protection In