Perspectives from the water: Utilizing fisher's observations to inform SNE/MA windowpane science and management
Researchers combined electronic monitoring from commercial vessels with fisheries-independent surveys to model windowpane flounder distribution in Southern New England. Findings show accountability areas do not cover highest densities but overlap with discard hotspots, reducing fishing mortality. Integrating fisher and scientific data builds trust and supports more effective, collaborative management strategies.
Subject Tags
- Fisheries
- Policy, Finance, and Markets
- Social Sciences
Abstract
Within fisheries, stakeholders often have varying viewpoints regarding natural marine resources and use different sets of information to evaluate their condition. Windowpane flounder (Scophthalmus aquosus) are a managed species in the northwest Atlantic whose regulations can limit harvest opportunities for target species. We analyzed commercial trip and video monitoring data alongside fisheries-independent trawl surveys to understand the spatial distribution of windowpane flounder and overlap with temporary closed areas. A spatial-temporal model integrated biomass data from multiple sources, accounting for catchability differences and spatial autocorrelation. Discard rates were also analyzed using observer data. Results showed that temporary closed areas were not located where the highest densities of windowpane occurred but did coincide with areas of highest discard rates, where fishing had the greatest impact. Integrating verified fishery-dependent data with scientific surveys can create a single, trusted information source for all stakeholders, improving management decisions.
Citation
Bell, R. J., McManus, M. C., McNamee, J., Gartland, J., Galuardi, B., & McGuire, C. (2021). Perspectives from the water: Utilizing fisher's observations to inform SNE/MA windowpane science and management. Fisheries Research, 243, 106090.
Media Contacts
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Richard J. Bell
The Nature Conservancy
Email: rich.bell@tnc.org