Artisanal fisher perceptions on ghost nets in a tropical South Atlantic marine biodiversity hotspot: Challenges to traditional fishing culture and implications for conservation strategies. (1st July 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Barbosa-Filho, Márcio L.V.; Seminara, Cecília Inés; Tavares, Davi Castro; Siciliano, Salvatore; Hauser-Davis, Rachel Ann; da Silva Mourão, José
• Is Part Of: Ocean & coastal management. Volume 192(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-07-01
• Subjects: Environmental impact -- Artisanal fishing -- Biodiversity conservation -- Co-management -- Northeast Brazil; Marine resources -- Management -- Periodicals; Coastal zone management -- Periodicals; Coastal ecology -- Periodicals; Ressources marines -- Périodiques; Littoral -- Aménagement -- Périodiques; Écologie littorale -- Périodiques; Coastal ecology; Coastal zone management; Marine resources -- Management; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 551.46
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2020.105189
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0964-5691

Abstract

Abstract: Ghost fishing, the ability of fishing equipment to continue to capture organisms even after it is no longer controlled, leads to serious marine impacts, including bycatch, which contributes to biodiversity loss. Insistent complaints from artisanal fisher in the state of Bahia, Brazil, concerning the impacts of nets lost or abandoned by fisher from other regions that operate in their traditional fishing territory were brought to the attention of our research group. Therefore, this study aims to describe the knowledge and classify fisher perceptions in south Bahia regarding ghost fisheries in the region, as well as the resulting impacts and fisher ideas for solving this problem in a coastal coral reef region. Semi-structured interviews were conducted between August 2015 and September 2017 with 60 fishers, 59 men and one woman, that fish with hand lines and hooks in the studied area. A total of 90% of respondents (n = 54) reported having found ghost nets in their ancestral fishing territories, while 93% (n = 56) associated ghost nets with financial losses and marine environment impacts. Most respondents (n = 56; 93%) also indicated lower fishery yields due to ghost nets and indicated (n = 55; 91.9%) that most ghost nets found in the area are used for lobster fishing, which is banned in Brazil. Fishers revealed an active interest in solving this socio-environmental problem, demonstrating detailed knowledge related to the loss of fishing nets in the local marine environment, as they have been finding and removing ghost nets from the local sea. Fisher's ideas to solve this problem included the implementation of fines for fishers caught in breach of regional and national fisheries regulations, and management actions, such as ghost net removal from the sea. Establishing partnerships between fisher and the federal government in curbing ghost fisheries is crucial. Highlights: Fishers were interviewed regarding perceptions on ghost nets. Most respondents (90%) reported having found ghost nets in their fishing areas. Fishers are interested in reporting the occurrence of ghost nets in the local sea. Fishers pointed out various environmental and socioeconomic ghost fishery impacts. Local fishers can become agents that contribute to the mitigation of this problem.