Browsing by Author "Moutopoulos, Dimitrios K."
Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
Results Per Page
Sort Options
- Effect of landings data disaggregation on ecological indicatorsPublication . Moutopoulos, Dimitrios K.; Libralato, Simone; Solidoro, Cosimo; Erzini, Karim; Stergiou, Konstantinos I.Ecological indicators calculated from landings data have been extensively used to evaluate the effects of fishing on marine ecosystems. However, few studies have tested the possible effects of gear and spatial aggregation of landings data on different ecological indices over a long-term period. To do this, we applied the Marine Trophic Index (MTI) and Fishing in Balance (FiB) index to Greek landings data disaggregated by gear and area for the period between 1928 and 2010. Aggregated data showed an increase in MTI due to expansion of fisheries that was also confirmed in most of the disaggregated analysis conducted by fishing subareas and main gear types. On the other hand, disaggregated landings by gear and area provided additional insights: while aggregated landings showed no decline in MTI, disaggregated landings showed that 63% of cases indicated an increase in MTI while 11% showed a decline. When small pelagics and other species were excluded, these values changed to 42% and 24%, respectively. Thus, disaggregated data permitted the identification of ecologically meaningful critical situations with decreasing MTI, as has been observed in shallow enclosed gulfs in close proximity to large cities and/or for the main fishing grounds exploited for long periods by seiners (purse and beach). Moreover, disaggregating landings data by gear increased the ability of explaining observed trends, avoiding masking (averaging) effects and accounting for differential development and adaptability of different gear.
- Strong fisheries management and governance positively impact ecosystem statusPublication . Bundy, Alida; Chuenpagdee, Ratana; Boldt, Jennifer L.; Borges, Maria de Fatima; Camara, Mohamed Lamine; Coll, Marta; Diallo, Ibrahima; Fox, Clive; Fulton, Elizabeth A.; Gazihan, Ayse; Jarre, Astrid; Jouffre, Didier; Kleisner, Kristin M.; Knight, Ben; Link, Jason; Matiku, Patroba P.; Masski, Hicham; Moutopoulos, Dimitrios K.; Piroddi, Chiara; Raid, Tut; Sobrino, Ignacio; Tam, Jorge; Thiao, Djiga; Angeles Torres, Maria; Tsagarakis, Konstantinos; van der Meeren, Gro I.; Shin, Yunne-JaiFisheries have had major negative impacts on marine ecosystems, and effective fisheries management and governance are needed to achieve sustainable fisheries, biodiversity conservation goals and thus good ecosystem status. To date, the IndiSeas programme (Indicators for the Seas) has focussed on assessing the ecological impacts of fishing at the ecosystem scale using ecological indicators. Here, we explore fisheries Management Effectiveness' and Governance Quality' and relate this to ecosystem health and status. We developed a dedicated expert survey, focused at the ecosystem level, with a series of questions addressing aspects of management and governance, from an ecosystem-based perspective, using objective and evidence-based criteria. The survey was completed by ecosystem experts (managers and scientists) and results analysed using ranking and multivariate methods. Results were further examined for selected ecosystems, using expert knowledge, to explore the overall findings in greater depth. Higher scores for Management Effectiveness' and Governance Quality' were significantly and positively related to ecosystems with better ecological status. Key factors that point to success in delivering fisheries and conservation objectives were as follows: the use of reference points for management, frequent review of stock assessments, whether Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) catches were being accounted for and addressed, and the inclusion of stakeholders. Additionally, we found that the implementation of a long-term management plan, including economic and social dimensions of fisheries in exploited ecosystems, was a key factor in successful, sustainable fisheries management. Our results support the thesis that good ecosystem-based management and governance, sustainable fisheries and healthy ecosystems go together.