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The opaque nature of illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing means that the data on catches are scarce or unreliable, making it difficult to estimate the volume of illegal fishing and the number of individuals who practice it. In this work, we develop the use of quantification methods for IUU fishing in data-poor fisheries and provide estimates for the main shellfish species exploited in S-fisheries in Galicia (NW Spain). To make the estimates, we use a model whose primary input is the Confiscations per unit of policing effort (CPUPE) index, which relates the sanctions imposed for poaching, estimated poaching, and confiscations carried out by the Enforcement Forces. The estimates for the period 2012–2020 are 660.2 t of illegal catches of different species and an average number of 1,766.2 poachers/year. These estimates provide evidence that makes it possible to analyse tendencies in illegal fishing, to establish assessment baselines and to highlight potential improvements in the fight against IUU fishing in small-scale fisheries

Over the past two decades, enormous progresses have been made in high-throughput sequencing (HTS) method development. This fact unveiled the potential usefulness of HTS methods in a wide range of fields such as fishery assessment and management, for which their application has been extensively discussed. As a consequence of the rapid development, sequencing costs have continuously declined, leading to a general claim that HTS methods are cost-efficient compared with traditional ones. Within this context, the underlying research objective is to assess the cost-effectiveness of genomic techniques through a review of the state of the art (SoA) on three HTS methods: i) environmental DNA (eDNA); ii) epigenetics method for age determination through DNA methylation (DNAm), and; iii) close-kin mark-recapture (CKMR) applied on marine ecosystems and fisheries and for stock assessment purposes. The SoA review of the literature on HTS methods was performed through the snow-balling systematic reviewing approach. The analysis has considered the set of processes and variables necessary to perform the stock assessment and compared the capacity of current and HTS methods for providing the required data. Research reveals that HTS methods constitute a promising tool for fishery research and, particularly, for improving scientific advice. Nevertheless, up to now, only one research, on a non-commercial species, has been conducted on the application of HTS methods for stock assessment purposes. Although some partial data are present in the literature, no systematic analysis on costs has been found. This paper suggests that the future research agenda should attempt to straddle both the scenarios for the transition process, considering complementary implementation and substitution possibilities and their cost-efficiency. Clarifying these questions is likely to pave the way for the effective and step-wise implementation of these methods in fishery management; thus, further research is recom

The mainstream in genomics assumes that the High Throughput Sequencing (HTS) genomic methods’ application will be cost-effective, faster and more efficient than the traditional evaluation methods used in fish stocks’ assessments, which in the coastal systems are supported by evaluation surveys. The underlying research question is whether the genomic techniques are indeed cost-effective compared to traditional evaluation techniques or not. This report reviews the State of Art (SoA) on three HTS methods: i) Environmental DNA studies (eDNA); ii) Epigenetics for Age Determination method (DNAm) and; iii) Close-Kin Mark-Recapture studies (CKMR) applied in marine ecosystems and fisheries. The SoA review has been conducted aiming at identifying the processes that relate to the assessment of marine fishing activities and their costs. However, just a few research articles have addressed the issue in depth or by performing critical analysis. In this sense, the lack of information has been the main hurdle faced up by this report. The main conclusion reached in this research is that more information should be gathered to evaluate whether HTS methods can reduce costs of the assessment processes, by being quicker, more efficient and/or time-saving methods, with respect to the traditional evaluation techniques. Undoubtedly, the combined use of traditional and genomic tools will offer a broader picture about some of the marine ecosystems’ core characteristics such as biodiversity, stock status, age, sex, maturity and fertility than each one of the approaches separately. In summary, taking into account the recent surge of HTS methods, their dependency on the information gathered during traditional research surveys, and considering a short-term scenario, the balance in the use of both approaches should be the critical factor that improves the efficiency of the processes and allows taking advantage of potential cost reductions and scale economies.

The cost-efficiency analysis of genetic HTS methodologies is aimed for understanding the potential of these methodologies for reducing the financial burden of aquatic and marine life assessments without increasing the uncertainty of the biological parameters relevant for such assessments which can be obtained through these methods. Even though several pieces of research have claimed that these methodologies are cost-efficient, most of them refer to uses different to the stock assessment of commercial fish species. The cost-efficiency analysis estimates the ratio of ‘program’ costs to outputs created, allowing to compare cost-per-output for programs producing equivalent outputs. In our case, outputs are the necessary data for performing an accurate stock assessment. The cost-efficiency analysis of the HTS methods compared to the currently used ones in the research surveys requires identifying the cost components in each case, to measure the relative efficiency and to understand the origin of the differences. Fisheries research surveys are not performed in a single way, they differ significantly one to another. A variety of stock assessment evaluation methods are regularly used. They also differ on the requirements on a priori information about the stock, in biological data and fishing parameters, in the time range of this data needed to run it with confidence, etc. A survey design conditions the efficiency of the surveys and the eventual optimization of the cost components. This study presents a contextualised approach for the cost comparison needed and identifies some potential pathways for efficiency both on the surveys at sea and on the lab, where the sampling processing takes place until the output data is made available for the stocks assessment.

Natural resources management deals with highly complex socioecological systems. This complexity raises a conundrum, since wide-ranging knowledge from different sources and types is needed, but at the same time none of these types of knowledge is able by itself to provide the basis for a viable productive system, and mismatches between the two of them are common. Therefore, a growing body of literature has examined the integration of different types of knowledge in fisheries management. In this paper, we aim to contribute to this ongoing debate by integrating the evolutionary theory of innovation—and specifically the concept of proximity—and the theory of perception. We set up a theoretical framework that is able to explain not only why the different types of knowledge differ, but also why they should differ and why this divergence is useful to develop fisheries management. This framework is illustrated through a well-known complex scenario, as was the implementation of the Landing Obligation (LO) in Europe. We conclude that diversity (distance) between types of knowledge is essential for interactive learning, innovation, the incorporation of new ideas or to avoid lock-in, etc. At the same time, cognitive, institutional, geographical, etc. proximity is needed for effective communication, participation and dialogue

Evidence of the irreversibility of certain social changes has been accumulating in recent years, but both the processes by which perceptions of irreversibility are formed and the relationships between those elements that feed them remain largely unexplored. This work deals with the contribution of land uses to the creation of liveable rural areas, one of the main socio-economic challenges to be faced. Interviews with 10 experts were conducted in 2016 to collect perceptions among forest owners. Through a Causal Loop Diagram, a model of perceived well-being is developed capturing present dynamics between social and natural subsystems as well as their possibilities for change. The results confirm that variables such as self-efficacy, sense of place, or sense of control underlie a perception of irreversibility and reduce the scope for collective action. The need to consider the population’s perception in designing effective rural policies is underlined., A evidencia sobre a irreversibilidade de certos cambios sociais foise consolidando, mais os procesos de formación das percepcións de irreversibilidade e as relacións entre os elementos que as alimentan permanecen inexplorados. Este traballo aborda a contribución dos usos do solo á creación de condicións de habitabilidade no rural, un dos principais retos socioeconómicos destas áreas, empregando 10 entrevistas con persoas expertas no monte realizadas no ano 2016 na Mariña luguesa. Mediante un Diagrama de Bucles Causais, elabórase un modelo de benestar percibido que captura as dinámicas entre subsistemas sociais e naturais no presente, ademais das súas posibilidades de cambio. Os resultados confirman que a autoeficacia, o sentimento de lugar ou a sensación de control asentan unha percepción de irreversibilidade sobre a calidade de vida no rural e reducen a probabilidade de acción colectiva. A necesidade de considerar as percepcións da poboación no deseño de políticas de dinamización rural eficaces queda subliñada., La evidencia sobre la irreversibilidad de ciertos cambios sociales se ha ido acumulando, pero los procesos de formación de las percepciones de irreversibilidad y las relaciones entre los elementos que las alimentan permanecen inexplorados. Este trabajo aborda la contribución de los usos del suelo a la creación de condiciones de habitabilidad en el rural, uno de los principales retos socioeconómicos de estas áreas, empleando 10 entrevistas con personas expertas en el monte realizadas en el año 2016 en la Mariña lucense. Mediante un Diagrama de Bucles Causales, se elabora un modelo de bienestar percibido que captura lasdinámicas entre subsistemas sociales y naturales en el presente, además de sus posibilidades de cambio. Los resultados confirman que la autoeficacia, el sentimiento de lugar o la sensación de control asientan una percepción de irreversibilidad sobre la calidad de vida en el rural y reducen la probabilidad de acción colectiva. La necesidad de considerar las percepciones de la población en el diseño de políticas de dinamización rural eficaces queda subrayada.

O obxectivo deste traballo é amosar a importancia económica do marisqueo a flote na Illa de Arousa. Para lograr este obxectivo empregouse a metodoloxía input-output a través da cal se amosaron as relacións do marisqueo a flote con todas as ramas de actividade coas que está interrelacionado. Para a realización deste traballo, ademais da consulta de fontes bibliográficas, realizouse traballo de campo. En primeiro lugar, para a obtención da información cuantitativa necesaria para cubrir as táboas input-output realizáronse 7 enquisas a propietarios de embarcacións marisqueiras que tiveran traballado durante o ano 2019 na Illa de Arousa. En segundo lugar e para a obtención de información cualitativa que permitise unha mellor comprensión do marisqueo a flote, realizáronse 3 entrevistas a membros relevantes das confrarías. A través da metodoloxía input-output e grazas a información recadada, púidose relacionar o marisqueo con outras 15 ramas de actividade entre as cales destaca a importancia dos servizos. Ademais, existen uns consumos intermedios cuxo valor acadou 1.470.914,13€. Demostrase así a hipótese inicial de que os marisqueo a flote é importante na Illa de Arousa

O maior valor da aleta de tiburón en comparación co resto do animal dende o punto de vista económico incentivou a pescadores a practicar finning, polo que os buques de pesca aforraban espazo de bodega para logo poder encher con peixes máis valiosos, como o espada ou o atún. Tratándose dunha práctica cruel que afecta ao ecosistema, estritamente lexislada (prohibida) dende inicios do recente século, e sendo España, Galicia en especial, dos maiores produtores do mundo de tiburón, demanda a realizar este informe que comprobe o cumprimento ou incumprimento das normativas da frota europea. Examínase a nivel europeo por dous motivos: o primeiro é que están sometidos ás mesmas regulacións (en 2003 se prohibe o finning por lei aínda que si se permite cernar as aletas establecendo como medida de control unha relación de peso aleta-corpo (5%) como límite, e en 2013 elimina as exencións, tendo que desembarcarse as aletas adheridas ó corpo), e o segundo é polos mesmos hábitos de consumo (Europa non consume aletas). Esta segunda razón permite analizar o cumprimento en base o comercio internacional, asumindo que todo o producido e importado será exportado/reexportado. Cos datos acadados se determinou que España incumpriría en tódolos anos entre 2000 e 2011. Sen embargo, a comunidade científica demostrou que o 5% lexislado non é o adecuado para a frota europea, requirindo un máis alto. Ademais, os valores comerciais empregados son ponderacións dunha estimación media anual que está en bruto, cando o ideal sería valores reais e netos. A carencia destes datos débese a que previo a 2012 non existían códigos arancelarios diferenciados para aletas de tiburón. Para o período posterior a 2012, xa con valores oficiais, estes en realidade son inconsistentes, limitando a análise. É un problema que sucede globalmente, non só en Europa. Por este motivo, sospéitase que se debe a unha codificación arancelaria errada, que en calquera caso, en termos xerais, en Europa se pode descartar que se deba

To assess the likely economic outcomes to fishing fleets of the Landing Obligation (LO), bioeconomic models covering seven European fisheries, ranging from the North East Atlantic to the Mediterranean, have been applied to estimate the economic performance of fleets before and after implementing the LO. It is shown that for most of the analysed fisheries, their economic outcome will be negatively affected in the long term by the LO, when compared to the expected outcome with no LO. Efficient mitigation strategies (exemptions, quota uplifts, improved selectivity, effort reallocation and others) may, for some of the analysed fisheries, reduce the negative economic effect of the LO. Moreover, the possibility to trade quotas, both nationally and internationally, may also reduce the economic losses caused by the LO. However, even with mitigation strategies and/or quota trade in place, most of the analysed fisheries are worse off under the LO than what could be expected if the LO was not implemented

The European Commission (EC) has recognised discards as one of the major challenges facing the Community fishing fleet. The obligation to land all regulated catches has been proposed as a mandatory and essential measure to minimise discarding practices. This paper analyses the economic consequences of enforcement of the Landing Obligation (L.O.) for the Spanish trawler fleet in Iberian Waters. A representative number of in-depth interviews were carried out with ship owners and skippers of the fleet in question, to identify the envisaged operational and logistic problems on board and in port arising from the L.O. Furthermore, the current economic performance of the target fishing companies was analysed using the Input-Output methodology to identify their most significant activity costs. The combination of both research techniques enabled the evaluation of the potential consequences of the new L.O., concluding that, although it will generate minor positive and negative economic impacts, the main issue stems from the loss of quota. Some recommendations, including complementary measures to improve the implementation of the new rule, will be made.

To assess the likely economic outcomes to fishing fleets of the Landing Obligation (LO), bioeconomic models covering seven European fisheries, ranging from the North East Atlantic to the Mediterranean, have been applied to estimate the economic performance of fleets before and after implementing the LO. It is shown that for most of the analysed fisheries, their economic outcome will be negatively affected in the long term by the LO, when compared to the expected outcome with no LO. Efficient mitigation strategies (exemptions, quota uplifts, improved selectivity, effort reallocation and others) may, for some of the analysed fisheries, reduce the negative economic effect of the LO. Moreover, the possibility to trade quotas, both nationally and internationally, may also reduce the economic losses caused by the LO. However, even with mitigation strategies and/or quota trade in place, most of the analysed fisheries are worse off under the LO than what could be expected if the LO was not implemented., To assess the likely economic outcomes to fishing fleets of the Landing Obligation (LO), bioeconomic models covering seven European fisheries, ranging from the North East Atlantic to the Mediterranean, have been applied to estimate the economic performance of fleets before and after implementing the LO. It is shown that for most of the analysed fisheries, their economic outcome will be negatively affected in the long term by the LO, when compared to the expected outcome with no LO. Efficient mitigation strategies (exemptions, quota uplifts, improved selectivity, effort reallocation and others) may, for some of the analysed fisheries, reduce the negative economic effect of the LO. Moreover, the possibility to trade quotas, both nationally and internationally, may also reduce the economic losses caused by the LO. However, even with mitigation strategies and/or quota trade in place, most of the analysed fisheries are worse off under the LO than what could be expected if the LO was not implemented.

Analizar a importancia económica da pesca require de información económica detalladarespecto dos inputs, os empregos dos produtos ou a demanda, sendo as táboas input-outputa ferramenta que mellor capacidade ten para amosar a rede de interrelacións e dependenciasentre os distintos sectores da economía.A partir da Táboas input-output da Pesca-Conserva Galega 2011 podemos soster que ocomplexo mar-pesca galega, acadou en 2011 unha cifra de produción de 3.705,4 millóns deeuros, dos que 2.434,7 lle corresponderon a industria conserveira e de alimentos do mar e1.270,7 ao conxunto dos sectores marisqueiro, pesqueiro, mitícola e piscícola mariño,derivándose deles os impactos directos e indirectos, fundamentalmente sobre a economíagalega, pero tamén sobre a economía española e mundial.Da análise da función de producción da pesca galega despréndese que constitúe unhaactividade económica cun elevado poder de arrastre, que produce tiróns en forma de redee/ou de constelación industrial e de servizos nun moi elevado número de sectores. A relacióneconómica directa ven expresada pola dependencia cos 74 sectores que aparecen nas táboas,pero indirectamente relacióna-se á súa vez con todos e cada uns dos que destes dependen.Así mesmo, constátase que se trata dunha actividade económica claramente industrial., Analizar la importancia económica de la pesca requiere información económica detallada con respecto a los inputs, los empleos de los productos o la demanda, siendo las tablas input-output la herramienta que mejor capacidad tiene para mostrar la red de interrelaciones y dependencias entre los distintos sectores de la economía. A partir de las Tablas input-output de la Pesca-Conserva Gallega 2011 podemos mantener que el complejo mar-pesca gallega, alcanzó en 2011 una cifra de producción de 3.705,4 millones de euros, de los que 2.434,7 le correspondieron a la industria conservera y de alimentos del mar y 1.270,7 al conjunto de los sectores marisquero, pesquero, mitícola y piscícola marino, derivándose de ellos los impactos directos e indirectos, fundamentalmente sobre la economía gallega, pero también sobre la economía española y mundial. Del análisis de la función de producción de la pesca gallega se desprende que constituye una actividad económica con un elevado poder de arrastre, que produce tirones en forma de red y/o de constelación industrial y de servicios en un número de sectores muy elevado. La relación económica directa está expresada por la dependencia de los 74 sectores que aparecen en las tablas, pero indirectamente se relaciona, a su vez, con todos y cada uno de los que de ellos dependen. Asimismo, se constata que se trata de una actividad económica claramente industrial.

Nesta tese desenvolveuse unha liña de investigación sobre o furtivismo marisqueiro en Galicia, o cal foi entendido como a falta de adhesión voluntaria á ordenación marisqueira . A achega central deste traballo foi presentar as potencialidades da co-xestión dos recursos nas comunidades marisqueiras galegas, enfatizando a súa capacidade para intervir na xestión adaptada do furtivismo. Catro vectores de estudo foron abordados nesta tese: a) Explorouse o ambiente institucional comunitario e os arranxos informais que se poden materializar neses contextos; b) ao redor da esfera institucional informal e da súa influencia na xestión, foi abordada a posible tolerancia do furtivismo nas comunidades de mar; c) profundouse no estudo dos lindes da comunidade definíndoos segundo a percepción das mariscadoras e mariscadores galegos; d) Satisfacendo a premisa de que cada tipo de furtivo debe ser combatido dun modo adaptado, elaborouse unha clasificación de furtivos, exclusiva e exhaustiva. Esta clasificación non só viu a encher un baleiro teórico na literatura sobre furtivismo, ademais creouse co fin de orientar políticas de acción especificas que melloren a xestión adaptada do furtivismo marisqueiro.

The demersal fisheries in the Mediterranean Sea are heavily overfished but the landing obligation will not help to reach MSY because it will not decrease fishing mortality. The new proposal of the Commission introduces total allowable effort as a new way to regulate Western Mediterranean demersal fisheries by significantly reducing fishing time. However, this new management measure must be complemented with increased gear selectivity, implementation of closed areas and local co-management plans. Different approaches to reduce fishing mortality may have different socio-economic impact.