Estimates of life-history and growth parameters of exploited fish species in lakes Edward and George: Implications on exploitation status, population dynamics, management, and conservation of native species.

Adequate knowledge is essential for responsible inland fisheries. However, many inland fisheries lack monitoring, and therefore, decision-making for fisheries management is not reliable. In this paper, we used data from surveys and literature to estimate the life-history and growth parameters of 16 exploited fish stocks in the Ugandan part of Lake Edward and Lake George (East Africa). The estimated parameters are pivotal indicators of fish stock status, particularly in data-poor fisheries. The estimated parameters included maximum length (Lmax) and mean length (Lmean) as indicators of size structure in experimental and commercial catches, coefficients of length-weight relationships, length at 50% maturity (Lm50), fecundity, von Bertalanffy parameters, total mortality (Z), and natural mortality (M). These parameters were estimated using empirical formulae, statistical methods, and analyses of length frequencies. Only two stocks of semutundu Bagrus docmak exhibited significant and increasing trends in Lmax (Lake Edward) and Lmean (Lake George). The estimates for the remaining parameters were consistent with those in FishBase and other literature resources, either for the same species or related species. This consistency indicates their reliability for application in decision-making and further assessments. Some parameters showed evidence of unsustainable fishing. For example, estimates of Lm50 for four of the assessed stocks belonging to two species (Nile tilapia Oreochromis niloticus and marbled lungfish Protopterus aethiopicus) were lower than baseline estimates in the studied waterbodies. Furthermore, the Lmean in catches for all the stocks were less than the optimum lengths (Lopt), which maximize catches with a minimal impact on biomass and size structure. No significant changes in Lmean, length-frequency distributions, and size at maturity could be attributed to the management changes implemented in 2018, probably because it is too early to observe changes in these parameters. However, there are positive signs attributable to the changes in management as shown by a high proportion of mature individuals in commercial catches for most of the stocks for which the proportion was calculated, and an increase in Lmean and Lmax for some stocks, such as B. docmak, in commercial or experimental catches. New estimates from this study will enhance decision-making and further assessments of fisheries. Routine monitoring is recommended to update and improve the estimates.

A new framework on climate-induced food-security risk for small-scale fishing communities in Tanzania.

Food insecurity is a pressing issue facing our world, particularly affecting coastal communities who rely on marine resources. The problem is further compounded by the rapidly changing climate, a deteriorating environment and growing human populations. It is essential to evaluate this issue accurately to reduce risk and improve the situation of coastal communities, especially in countries with less socioeconomic development. To this end, we develop a food security social-ecological risk assessment framework for developing communities in coastal areas of the Western Indian Ocean facing a changing environment. The framework integrates local ecological knowledge, expert scientific opinion, survey data, and satellite sea surface temperature (SST) and chlorophyll-a observation. We conducted a local-scale case study in four regions in Tanzania; Mafia, Pemba, Tanga, and Unguja, revealing that they face moderate to high risk levels of food insecurity. The highest risk was observed in the island communities of Pemba and Unguja, while the communities of Mafia and Tanga had the lowest risk due to lower exposure and sensitivity to climate change. Our results show that recognizing the key differences across risk components is crucial in identifying effective intervention strategies for local practitioners. This study highlights the need for detailed assessments to provide accurate information on local-scale food security dynamics, specifically when assessing impacts induced by environmental and climatic changes. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12571-024-01472-x.

Domesticating the wild through escapees of two iconic mediterranean farmed fish species.

Extractive fisheries and marine aquaculture share space and target species. Several regional-scale examples exist of escapees entering wild fisheries landings, yet no study has assessed the influence of aquaculture on landings at an ecosystem scale. We examined the effects of farmed fish escapes on fisheries using FAO data and published escape rates for Gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) and European seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax). Seabream landings were significantly correlated with the estimated biomass of escaped seabream entering the wild. There was a similar pattern for seabass until 2005, but the overall relationship between landings and escapes was not significant due to the dramatic drop in catches in recent years. We argue that seabass escapees' relatively high mortality, lower capturability, and minor 'leaking' from farms may obscure their influence on landings. Significant positive fisheries regime shifts were detected for both species, matching the onset of aquaculture in the Mediterranean and the period when escapees from aquaculture surpassed landings. Our results suggest that fish escapes of these two iconic species may mask wild stock overexploitation, confound stock assessments, alter genetic diversity, increase the risk of spreading pathogens and parasites, and compete with wild conspecifics while boosting fisheries landings.

Small-scale fisheries in ecologically sensitive areas in Latin America and the Caribbean: Do marine protected areas benefit fisheries governance?

Many small-scale fisheries (SSFs) in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) operate in ecologically sensitive areas, where balancing conservation and resource use is challenging. 'Multiple-use' marine protected areas (MPAs) have been implemented to accommodate SSFs (among other uses) within areas designated for conservation, creating opportunities and challenges for SSF governance. We analyzed eleven case studies from LAC to explore: (1) how different MPA institutional designs affect key aspects of SSF governance and (2) the links between these effects and the type of initiative that promoted MPA establishment (origin). Results indicate that the existence of an MPA benefited SSF governance in many ways, with more pronounced positive effects in MPAs with mixed to bottom-up origin supported by well-organized fishing groups. In addition, the presence of supportive MPA authorities that leveraged local capacities and initiatives and adopted flexible and collaborative governance systems made a difference in several cases. Lessons for integrating MPA and SSF governance are drawn.

A case study on blast fishing in illegal small scale fisheries in the Aegean Sea: Catch composition and observed external and internal abnormalities for 18 Osteichthyes fish species.

Blast fishing is an illegal, ecologically destructive fishing method, fatal for many fish species at large scales. Blast fishing using dynamite is preferred by the fishers, especially small scale fisheries in Turkey, as it requires minimal effort but still results in higher catches. In the current study, demonstration of 20 controlled real-time blasting results involves species composition, size of fish, catch rates, catch composition, commercial/discard ratios, CPUE estimates and clinical observations of external and internal abnormality symptoms of fish species. Blasting trials were carried out with special permission in limited numbers because of its harmful effect. The collected data was tested using PRIMER v6 and diversity indices were also analysed. For the similarity between collected species cluster analysis was used to examine the stability of the results. Multidimensional scaling (MDS) was also applied for the assessment of fish species in the catch. A total of 1014 individuals (63.8 kg) were collected and 18 fish species belonging to seven families were examined. According to laboratory examinations, it was found that blasting caused different external and internal abnormality symptoms in the sampled fish species during the study.

Improving small-scale fishermen's subjective well-being in Indonesia: Does the internet use play a role?

The expansion of Internet access from urban to rural and coastal areas has changed all aspects of life, including lifestyles and work practices. Although several studies have shown that Internet use is essential in the fisheries sector, more information about the link between Internet usage and subjective well-being among small-scale fishermen is needed. This study is the first attempt to investigate the effect of Internet use on subjective well-being, particularly for small-scale fishers. This study used cross-sectional data from 220 respondents in East Java, Indonesia. Two-stage predictor substitution (2SPS) approaches were used to address the endogeneity issue in the estimation. The results revealed that fishing tools, access to credit, and region positively and significantly influenced small-scale fishers' determination to use the Internet. Savings and off-farm employment significantly and negatively affect adoption decisions. The main findings suggest that Internet use significantly increases small-scale fishermen's subjective well-being (proxied by happiness and life satisfaction). This suggests that improving the Internet infrastructure in coastal areas is needed to support economic activities in the fisheries sector and boost the well-being of small-scale fishers.

Dynamic livelihoods, gender and poverty in marine protected areas: Case study from Zanzibar, Tanzania.

Livelihood initiatives are common within marine protected areas (MPAs) aiming for poverty alleviation or higher income opportunities. However, results can be mixed in reality, as well as change over time. Furthermore, who benefits is a key consideration, as results can vary based on inequalities, including gender. Here, the monetary outcomes of different livelihood strategies were investigated across three MPA regions in Zanzibar, Tanzania. Using a quantitative approach, the results show that livelihoods have shifted in a six-year period, with livelihood strategies differing in poverty incidence and income. Livelihood initiatives, namely seaweed farming and tourism, did not provide significantly higher monetary returns compared to long-standing livelihoods, such as fisheries. Seaweed farming showed income stability but a high poverty incidence predominantly within women-headed households. During the study period, men primarily remained in fisheries, whilst women shifted to small-scale businesses and fisheries, largely exiting seaweed farming. This underscores a need for adaptive, gender sensitive management within fast changing coastal contexts.

How do governments respond to the social-ecological traps in small-scale fisheries and aquaculture? A case study in the Tam Giang lagoon, Viet Nam.

Governments play crucial roles in addressing social-ecological traps - situations where feedbacks between social and ecological systems lead to reinforcement between resource degradation and livelihood impoverishment. While it is widely recognized that resolving these traps necesitates integrated measures, empirical studies often focus on the impact of individual measures. This paper investigates all measures employed by the local government to address traps in small-scale fisheries and aquaculture and examines how these measures contribute to solving the traps. Based on empirical data from the Tam Giang lagoon, Central Viet Nam, it finds that the goverment develops measures that align with "good practices" which focus on both ecological and social challenges. Yet, in practice, it prioritizes addressing ecological challenges over the social ones. The government primarily directs resources and efforts toward combating resource degradation. Measures that tackle the high dependency on fisheries resources and lack of alternative livelihoods are often sidelined. These practices fail to address the key drivers and reinforceing feedbacks that create the social-ecological trap. The paper highlights gaps between science, policy and practice in addressing social-ecological traps. Bridging these gaps and transforming government responses to the traps require effective communication of scientific knowledge to the government; facilitation of collaborations among researchers, policymakers, managers and practictioners; provision of financial support to the goverment and addressing the lack of political will of the government.

Usage and coordination of governance principles to address proximate and distal drivers of conflicts in fisheries commons.

Commons' problems and solutions have the elements of local, proximate, and large-scale distal processes. Solutions, therefore, require accessing, implementing, and coordinating information and actions at multiple scales. Restoring commons, such as fisheries, will require a better understanding of how stakeholders access and use information at various scales to resolve governance and restrictions problems. In 179 household interviews, perceptions of fisheries conflicts and their causes were identified, and 16 management committee key informants described their methods for mediating hypothetical small-scale fisheries problems in Kenya. The 6 studied sites varied in human development and demographic contexts but had notable similarities that reflected a respondent's focus on localized, direct, and proximate fishing conflicts. The most cited problems included limited space, disagreement about gears, poor resource conditions, and locally inadequate benefits. The most cited sources of information were local households and the community, and there was considerably less acknowledgment of distal problems and solutions. Key informants selected a limited number of local community-focused solutions. For example, informants chose to mediate conflicts between neighbors with local community meetings rather than through formal national institutions. Therefore, distal solutions were likely to be perceived as ineffectual, possibly due to the challenges of polycentric governance coordination. However, widespread overfishing arises from overarching distal processes not fully amenable to local solutions. Therefore, a focus on local action is expected to limit the ability to address distal problems. These include conflicting values, demographic changes, supportive governance frameworks, emerging technologies, resolving conflicting local rules, fair between-group enforcement, responding to temporary shortages of fish, and intercommunity border and rule disputes. Improved coordination and integration of information and institutions to simultaneously address both proximate and distal common's problems are recommended.

Uso y coordinación de los principios de gobernanza para abordar los factores prs y distales de los conflictos en las pesquerías comunales Resumen Los problemas y las soluciones comunales tienen elementos de los procesos distales locales, proximales y a gran escala. Por lo tanto, las soluciones necesitan tener acceso a la información y las acciones a escalas múltiples, así como implementarlas y coordinarlas. Restaurar los bienes comunes, como las pesquerías, requerirá de un mejor entendimiento de cómo los actores acceden y usan la información a varias escalas para resolver los problemas de gobernanza y restricción. En 179 entrevistas a hogares, identificamos la percepción de los conflictos de las pesquerías y sus causas, y 16 informantes clave de los comités gestores describieron sus métodos para mediar problemas hipotéticos de las pequeñas pesquerías en Kenia. Los seis sitios estudiados variaron en cuanto al desarrollo humano y los contextos demográficos, pero tuvieron similitudes notables que reflejaron el enfoque de los respondientes en cuanto a los conflictos localizados, directos y próximos. Los problemas más citados fueron el espacio limitado, los desacuerdos sobre el equipo de pesca, las malas condiciones de los recursos y los beneficios inadecuados para la localidad. Las fuentes de información más citadas fueron los hogares locales y la comunidad, además de que hubo un considerable reconocimiento reducido de los problemas y las soluciones distales. Los informantes clave seleccionaron un número limitado de soluciones locales enfocadas en la comunidad. Por ejemplo, los informantes eligieron mediar los conflictos entre los vecinos con juntas de la comunidad local en lugar de por medio de instituciones nacionales formales. Por lo tanto, hubo mayor probabilidad de que se percibiera a las soluciones distales como ineficientes, posiblemente debido a los retos de la coordinación policéntrica de la gobernanza. Sin embargo, la sobrepesca extendida surge de los procesos distales generales no del todo susceptibles a las soluciones locales. Así, se espera que un enfoque en la acción local limite la habilidad de abordar estos problemas distales. Estos problemas incluyen los valores conflictivos, los cambios demográficos, los marcos de gobernanza de apoyo, las tecnologías emergentes, la resolución de normas locales conflictivas, navegar entre el cumplimiento grupal, responder a la escasez temporal de peces y las disputas entre comunidades por las normas y las fronteras. Recomendamos mejorar la integración y coordinación de la información y las instituciones para abordar simultáneamente los problemas distales y proximales de los bienes comunes.

At-sea solid waste production by a small-scale fishery in Peru.

Marine litter is a growing environmental problem for which fisheries-sourced waste remains poorly understood. In Peru, there is an ongoing challenge of waste management from the small-scale fisheries fleet given the lack of facilities to receive the variety of debris produced by fishers, which includes hazardous wastes such as batteries. In this study, onboard solid waste production was monitored daily by land-based observers upon landing at the port of Salaverry, Peru, from March to September 2017. The analysed small-scale gillnet and longline fishing fleets produced annually an estimated 11,260 kg of solid waste. Of particular concern is the production of single use plastics (3427 kg) and batteries (861 kg) due to their potential long-lasting impacts on the environment and challenges related to their proper disposal. A management plan for solid waste has been developed for Salaverry; therefore, a subsequent assessment was conducted in 2021-2022 of the behaviours and perceptions of fishers regarding the implementation of this plan. Most fishers (96%) reported disposing of their waste on land, except organic waste which is disposed of at sea. While fishers in Salaverry have become more conscious of the issues surrounding at-sea waste disposal and have an interest in better segregating and managing their waste, there remains a need for improved waste management and recycling protocols and procedures at the port to make this possible.

Mitigating bycatch in Mediterranean trammel net fisheries using species-specific gear modifications.

Small-scale fisheries (SSF) use static gear which are thought to interact with marine ecosystems more benignly than towed gear. Despite this, trammel nets, one of the most extensively used type of fishing gear in the Mediterranean SSF, generate large amounts of discards, which can account for 25% or more of the captured biomass. Discarded organisms may include endangered or threatened species such as elasmobranchs, as well as non-commercial invertebrates that damage fishing gear or cause disentanglement delays. We evaluated various trammel-net gear modifications, including (i) the use of a guarding net attached to the footrope, (ii) increasing the length of the rigging twine between the footrope and the netting panel, and (iii) decreasing the mesh size of the outer panels. The last two modifications were successful in lowering captures of the marbled electric ray Torpedo marmorata, which is commonly discarded in the study area. Both sorts of modifications are relatively simple, their manufacturing does not represent an added cost to implement, and most importantly they do not negatively affect the catch of the target species. The current study shows that prior evaluation of the discard profile of distinct métiers is essential to accomplish species-specific gear modifications and underlines the importance of collaboration among scientists, fishers and gear manufacturers.

'From the sky to the ground': fishers' knowledge, landscape analysis and hydrological data indicate long-term environmental changes in Amazonian clear water rivers.

Fishers possess detailed local ecological knowledge (LEK) which can be a valuable resource for tracking long-term environmental changes in less studied tropical rivers. Our goal was to investigate such changes in three clear water rivers in the Brazilian Amazon, focusing on hydrology, water quality and land cover. Additionally, we aimed to compare these changes among three rivers (Trombetas, Tapajós and Tocantins) representing a potential gradient of environmental changes. We interviewed 129 fishers (67 in Tapajós, 33 in Tocantins and 29 in Trombetas), and analyzed temporal series on land cover and hydrology respectively through maps produced by the project MapBiomas, and data from the Brazilian National Water Agency across the last 34 years (from 1985 to 2019). The complementary analyses of these three databases (mapping, hydrological data and fishers' knowledge) revealed environmental changes in the studied rivers. The maps showed a gradient of anthropic changes on land cover, from the less altered Trombetas river, the moderately altered Tapajós and the more intensely changed landscape in the Tocantins River. Fishers from the Tocantins River reported a greater variety of negative changes in water quality related to anthropic actions, such as dams, deforestation, and pollution. Additionally, most fishers indicated hydrological changes making the Tocantins River drier in more recent years, which would cause negative effects on fish populations. In the Tapajós River, fishers mentioned more varied hydrological patterns and negative effects on water quality linked to mining activities, whereas in Trombetas fishers perceived increased floods. The changes mentioned by the interviewed fishers matched observed trends from hydrological data indicating a trend of increasing droughts in the more impacted Tocantins River. Fishers' knowledge provided exclusive 'on the ground' data to track long-term changes on local hydrology and water quality, as well as inform the effects of these changes on fish and fisheries.

Social wellbeing, values, and identity among Caiçara small-scale fishers in southeastern Brazil.

Although much in the lives of members of the Caiçara small-scale fishing communities of Lázaro and Saco da Ribeira in Ubatuba, southeastern Brazil would suggest hardship, that population expresses a surprising degree of satisfaction with life. In this paper, we use a social wellbeing lens as applied through an ethnographic, mixed methods approach to reflect on this overall sense that lives rooted in small-scale fishing are well worth living despite their many challenges. We see the classic maritime anthropology theme of identity at the heart of meaning and life satisfaction. Identity provides core aspects of how people engage with their realities and anchors values that are reference points in work and social relations. With reference to the relational nuances revealed by the social wellbeing perspective, however, we show that Caiçara and small-scale fishing identities are not monolithic, but reflect gender and other social positions, and personal and familial experiences. These experiences include grappling with the complex effects of economic, social, political, and environmental changes. We conclude by arguing that fisheries policy that seeks to prioritize human wellbeing would benefit by adopting a social wellbeing perspective. Fisheries policy could thereby take into account identity, values, and relational elements of social life that give meaning and a sense of belonging to small-scale fishers, while also recognizing the cross-cutting and often contradictory variations in human experience that arise from social and economic differences. This social fabric of small-scale fishers' lives shapes their intentions and actions and is thus a necessary complication to the practice of fisheries management that its proponents need to consider.

Implementing the voluntary guidelines for the marking of fishing gear in eastern Caribbean small-scale fisheries: An assessment of gear marking provisions.

Managing abandoned, lost and otherwise discarded fishing gear (ALDFG) is a critical challenge that can be aided by the establishment of strong provisions for the marking of gear. This study presents an analysis of implementation of the VGMFG in Eastern Caribbean states. It provides a socio-legal review of this issues and an analysis of compliance and implementation gaps. Empirical data was gathered through interviews with 56 fishers in 2 jurisdictions as well as 6 national and regional fisheries management experts. Antigua and Barbuda's Fisheries Regulations provided the strongest support to implementation of the VGMFG, while neither Dominica nor Grenada had weak regulatory support for gear marking. Both fishers and fisheries managers in the region confirmed compliance and implementation gaps in the establishment of gear marking schemes, while regional fisheries experts highlighted the limited human, financial and infrastructural capacity of departments to effectively implement such schemes along with other ALDFG management measures.

Complementary Role of Fishers' Experiential Knowledge to Conventional Science in Terms of Species-Specific Biological Traits and Population Changes in Azorean Waters.

Combining scientific information with fishers' perceptions may be a robust approach for directing decision-makers working with marine ecosystems. This is particularly the case when baseline data on a vulnerable stock are poor, as the integration of fishers' experiential knowledge can help fill data gaps, as well as inform legitimate management actions, and empower fishing communities in resource management. This study aimed to analyze fishers' knowledge regarding the biology (reproduction, growth, and maximum size) and temporal changes in the abundance and size of six commercially important marine species (red porgy Pagrus pagrus, veined squid Loligo forbesii, blue jack mackerel Trachurus picturatus, blackspot seabream Pagellus bogaraveo, blackbelly rosefish Helicolenus dactylopterus, and European conger Conger conger) in the Azores small-scale communities. Additionally, a comparison between fishers' knowledge and available scientific information was performed to determine the former's value and its possible complementarity with the latter. A total of 105 fishers were surveyed in the nine islands of the archipelago. The results demonstrated a reasonable level of agreement between the information from fishers and scientific literature on the species-specific spawning seasons and growth rates. The median values of size at maturity and maximum length were not statistically different between data sources. Most participants indicated size and abundance trends that were consistent with the literature. This study highlights the usefulness of fishers' perceptions in improving knowledge about species characteristics and temporal changes in commercially exploited stocks, especially when scientific research is limited, but further research should be encouraged to improve the reliability and consistency of these results.

Understanding change, complexities, and governability challenges in small-scale fisheries: a case study of Limbe, Cameroon, Central Africa.

Climate change, globalization, and increasing industrial and urban activities threaten the sustainability and viability of small-scale fisheries. How those affected can collectively mobilize their actions, share knowledge, and build their local adaptive capacity will shape how best they respond to these changes. This paper examines the changes experienced by small-scale fishing actors, social and governance complexities, and the sustainability challenges within the fisheries system in Limbe, Cameroon. Drawing on the fish-as-food framework, we discuss how ineffective fishery management in light of a confluence of global threats has resulted in changes to fish harvesters' activities, causing shortages in fish supply and disruptions in the fish value chain. The paper uses focus group discussions with fish harvesters and fishmongers to present three key findings. First, we show that changes in the fisheries from increased fishing activities and ineffective fishery management have disrupted fish harvesting and supply, impacting the social and economic well-being of small-scale fishing actors and their communities. Second, there are complexities in the fisheries value chain due to shortages in fish supply, creating conflicts between fisheries actors whose activities are not regulated by any specific set of rules or policies. Third, despite the importance of small-scale fisheries in Limbe, management has been abandoned by fishing actors who are not well-equipped with the appropriate capacity to design and enforce effective fishery management procedures and protections against illegal fishing activities. Empirical findings from this understudied fishery make scholarly contributions to the literature on the fish-as-food framework and demonstrate the need to support small-scale actors' fishing activities and the sustainability of the fisheries system in Limbe. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40152-023-00296-3.

Investigating variability among fisheries litter accumulation on beaches in Paraná, Brazil.

Fishing activities strongly influence coastal and marine environments and are responsible for generating marine litter. In southern Brazil, there are several artisanal (small-scale) fisher settlements that potentially contribute towards regional marine litter. The present study sought to address the deficit in available information by investigating the in situ contribution of artisanal fishing communities to marine litter on adjacent beaches. During one month in the 2019 austral winter, 200-m stretches of beach were investigated at four locations (three artisanal fishing and one control community) in Paraná state. In total, 2196 items were collected; among which only 104 (<5 %) were fisheries related and these remained partially independent of the presence of the three fishing communities across both small and large spatial scales (i.e., from m to km). Rather than the presence of fishing communities, fisheries-related litter appears to primarily originate from external sources and may regionally accumulate via natural vectors such as oceanic currents.

Exploring vulnerabilities of inland fisheries in Indian context with special reference to climate change and their mitigation and adaptation: a review.

Tropical inland capture fisheries are susceptible to a series of vulnerabilities such as habitat destruction, biodiversity loss, pollution, overfishing, invasive species and anthropogenic climate change. A comprehensive review of the impact of climatic uncertainties on Indian inland fisheries has not been adequately attempted yet. Recent approaches emphasizing ecosystem-based management in a regional context, specific to inland fisheries for combating climatic changes, have not been reported to date. The paper presents a critical bibliometric review of the climatic vulnerabilities faced by Indian inland fishery resources and various adaptive and mitigation strategies put forward by the country for the sustainability of the resources. In this communication, a systematic review of the impact of climate change and other stressors on various inland ecosystems of the subcontinent and the ecosystem-based management strategies adopted in India is presented and discussed.

Fuel use in small-scale fishing vessels along the southeast coast of India: a comparative study to ascertain possible reasons and potential recommendations for effective management.

Regulating the fuel consumption of small-scale fishing vessels could help to keep global warming well below 1.5 °C and lead to effective management in small-scale fisheries (SSF) of developing countries like India. In this regard, a bottom-up approach was carried out to collect the requisite data to explore the fuel consumption of small-scale fishing vessels along India's southeast coast. Consequently, twenty-four fishing vessels (type A to type X) were grouped into seven categories based on fishing methods. The estimated numerical value of fuel use intensity (FUI) ranging from 0.08 to 0.80 was used to examine the fuel-efficient fishing vessel and engine type. In addition, the estimated revenue on fuel ranging from ₹5625.06/l to ₹218.07/l and annual greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions using the Tier 1 method were used to understand the economic efficiency and GHG emission trend, respectively. The total annual GHG emissions from all the fishing vessels at the selected sites were about 1.25E + 08 t CO2-eq year-1. The result shows that longline-cum-gillnetters, seine-netters, longliners and drift-gillnetters largely contributed to 65% of the annual GHG emissions. By recognizing the factors influencing the fuel consumption of fishing vessels in SSF, this sector could be understood, effectively managed, and performed well. Therefore, the possible reasons were extensively discussed through a comparative approach, and potential recommendations for effective management were made.

Social-ecological system analysis of an invertebrate gleaning fishery on the island of Unguja, Zanzibar.

Invertebrate gleaning is a small-scale fishery that commonly occurs in the intertidal zone across the tropical Indo-Pacific. In this study, we investigated and analyzed several components of this fishery on the island of Unguja, Zanzibar by employing the social-ecological systems framework from Ostrom 2009. In doing so, we conducted ecological surveys, catch assessments, interviews with gleaners, household surveys, focus group interviews and analyzed the governance structure. This social-ecological systems analysis showed that gleaning is important for food security, local culture and livelihood. Yet, the multiple approaches in our study revealed that the local intertidal zone is degrading and that the gleaned catch is changing. Local narratives indicate that economically important bivalves (Modiolus spp.) and gastropods (Strombus spp.) are in decline, which was paralleled with low abundances of both genera within the ecological survey of the intertidal and catch landing assessment. We recommend that invertebrate gleaning, a fishery mainly comprised of women should be included in fisheries management.