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A special issue of Fishes (ISSN 2410-3888). This special issue belongs to the section "Fishery Economics, Policy, and Management".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (15 January 2024) | Viewed by 46226

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Dr. Ben Drakeford

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Centre for Blue Governance, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth PO1 3DE, UK
Interests: blue governance; blue economy; fisheries economics and management; sustainable development and management of natural resources
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The blue economy concept has developed strongly over the last decade or so. By 2030, the global blue economy is expected to be worth more than USD 3 trillion. Fisheries represent one of the oldest sectors of the blue economy, and involve crucial activity for income generation, employment, food security and poverty reduction in some of the world’s poorest countries. Fish remains one of the world’s most traded food commodities, with per capita consumption continuing to increase. However, global fisheries face significant challenges, including the impacts of marine litter, declining stocks, and illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing activity, all coupled with increasing demand from the world’s growing population. While fisheries are expected to remain a vital sector, particularly for developing countries, further sustainable expansion of the sector will require transformative blue policies.

The purpose of this Special Issue is to address the role of fisheries in a developing blue economy in both developing and developed country contexts. Contributions can be reviews, syntheses and original research relevant to the challenges and opportunities of developing sustainable fisheries under the blue economy concept.

Dr. Ben Drakeford
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Fishes is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

fisheries in a sustainable blue economy
fisheries’ development and food security
fisheries’ economics and management
resource management
marine policy

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Published Papers (10 papers)

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Research

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39 pages, 401 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Blue Economy Financing Solutions for the Fisheries and Aquaculture Sectors of Caribbean Island States

by Michael Bennett, Antaya March and Pierre Failler

Fishes 2024, 9(8), 305; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes9080305 - 3 Aug 2024

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2763

Abstract

This study reviews various financing solutions available for fisheries and aquaculture development in Caribbean small island developing states (SIDS) and Barbados, Grenada, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Previously identified financing needs within the fisheries and aquaculture sectors have been matched with the most suitable financing mechanisms. However, the use of blue levies is recommended and applicable in almost every scenario, as they allow these sectors to drive their own development in financing research and conservation projects to their own benefit. The use of “blue tokens” with sufficiently low repayment coupons allows development projects to gather public support for fisheries, thereby increasing the likelihood of the project being successful through community buy-in. The possibility of natural capital being traded as public equities as “Natural Asset Companies” provides the opportunity for development projects to fund themselves. The review concludes that natural capital can be leveraged as the base through which public-private partnerships (PPPs) can facilitate optimal delivery of ecosystem services, benefit multiple stakeholders, and provide numerous development opportunities. An enabling environment for debt and lending with low-interest loan repayments is also applicable to almost every scenario, as it facilitates access to capital finance for infrastructure development and the acquisition of increasingly sustainable fishing equipment. Steps towards generating an enabling environment for financing fisheries and aquaculture in the Caribbean region are also discussed. The establishment of dedicated financing institutions, PPPs, and sufficient data reporting infrastructure for the fisheries and aquaculture industry are essential for driving development in these sectors. Likely, the largest limiting factor in financing Caribbean fisheries and aquaculture industries is a lack of awareness of the range of finance and financing mechanisms available to stakeholders, as well as an enabling environment for financing blue Economy sectors. This review is thus intended to aid financing institutions, Blue Economy developers, and specifically Caribbean fisheries and aquaculture stakeholders and Caribbean governments by raising awareness of the financing mechanisms available, encourage the incorporation of their use in the fisheries and aquaculture industries in the Caribbean, and encourage policymakers to create an enabling environment for financing development in these crucial sectors. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fisheries and Blue Economy)

18 pages, 2335 KiB

Open AccessArticle

From Co-Operation to Coercion in Fisheries Management: The Effects of Military Intervention on the Nile Perch Fishery on Lake Victoria in Uganda

by Veronica Mpomwenda, Tumi Tómasson, Jón Geir Pétursson and Daði Mar Kristófersson

Fishes 2023, 8(11), 563; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes8110563 - 20 Nov 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2410

Abstract

In 2017, Uganda’s small-scale inland fisheries underwent a significant transformation, shifting from local co-management to state military enforcement owing to ineffective enforcement of regulations and declining exports. Employing a mixed-methods approach and blending qualitative and quantitative data, we assessed the impact of military intervention on Lake Victoria’s Nile perch fishery, focusing on fishing effort, catch, and exports. Our findings indicate that military operations adhered to regulations, gaining primary support from key stakeholders, specifically motorized fishing operators. Consequently, between 2016 and 2020, legal fishing activities experienced substantial growth. By 2021, approximately 90% of Nile perch catches were made by motorized vessels using longlines and gillnets, despite a declining trend in catch-per-unit effort. Between 2015 and 2021, the Nile perch fishery saw changes: boat seines made up about 5% of motorized fleet catches in 2021, while catches in paddled vessels increased from 20% to over 50%, suggesting a potential role in the growing longline fishery. Therefore, the current management approach does not increase catches or exports compared with the co-management period. The observed decline in catch-per-unit effort among motorized gillnets suggests overcapacity. Further research is needed to comprehend the broader sociological and ecological impacts of the present enforcement strategy for sustainable fishery management. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fisheries and Blue Economy)

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24 pages, 654 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Research on Legal Risk Identification, Causes and Remedies for Prevention and Control in China’s Aquaculture Industry

by Chang Xu, Yang Liu and Zhaobin Pei

Fishes 2023, 8(11), 537; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes8110537 - 29 Oct 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2483

Abstract

Aquatic products fulfill the protein needs of people and play an important role in food safety. And aquaculture is prized for its high productivity, sustainability and environmental friendliness. Considering the importance of aquaculture, the legal risks exposed during the aquaculture process deserve attention in order to prevent them from hindering the development of the aquaculture industry. Through online research, literature analysis and practical communication, it is shown that the current legal risks with commonalities include land use violations, lack of legal documents, failure to meet tailing water criteria, unquarantined fry and misuse of prohibited agricultural pharmaceuticals through online research, literature analysis and practical communication. By analyzing the reasons for the formation of legal risks and combining the experiences in sustainable development of three major aquaculture countries, which are Korea, Norway and Chile, this paper provides targeted preventive remedies and suggestions for aquaculture operators, administrative parties, legislators and other parties on legal risks. It includes promoting the improvement of the rule of law in multiple aspects, clarifying the positioning of the aquatic breeding certificates, improving and propagating the standards for wastewater discharge, increasing the self-sufficiency rate of aquatic fry and fingerlings, as well as making use of the synergy of soft law and hard law. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fisheries and Blue Economy)

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20 pages, 3553 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Spatial–Temporal Characteristics and Influencing Factors of Marine Fishery Eco-Efficiency in China: Evidence from Coastal Regions

by Wendong Zhu, Wenhui Sun, Dahai Li and Limin Han

Fishes 2023, 8(9), 438; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes8090438 - 28 Aug 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1699

Abstract

Marine fishery is an important part of China’s maritime power strategy. Improving the ecological efficiency of marine fishery is the inevitable way to achieve the sustainable development of fishery. Based on the perspective of industrial sustainable development, this study used the Super-SBM model to evaluate the ecological efficiency of marine fishery in 11 coastal provinces of China from 2011 to 2020. Combined with Malmquist index, Moran index and other methods, the spatial and temporal evolution characteristics were analyzed. On this basis, the Tobit panel model was used to explore the influencing factors of marine fishery eco-efficiency. The results show that: (1) From 2011 to 2020, the marine fishery eco-efficiency in the 10 coastal provinces and cities of China shows a clear trend of improvement, and the efficiency values in high-efficiency areas remain basically stable. The relative gap between efficient and inefficient regions remains significant. (2) From the perspective of spatial distribution characteristics, the ecological efficiency of marine fishery in coastal provinces and cities in China had no obvious spatial correlation, and showed a trend of cross-distribution between high-efficiency regions and low-efficiency regions. (3) The change of marine fishery eco-efficiency is the result of a variety of influencing factors. Fishery industrial structure, scientific and technological support levels and environmental regulation play a role in promoting the improvement of marine fishery eco-efficiency. Therefore, optimizing the structure of the fishery industry, improving environmental regulation and increasing investment in science and technology are all effective measures for local governments to improve the eco-efficiency of marine fisheries. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fisheries and Blue Economy)

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19 pages, 308 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Governing Distant-Water Fishing within the Blue Economy in Madagascar: Policy Frameworks, Challenges and Pathways

by Mialy Andriamahefazafy

Fishes 2023, 8(7), 361; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes8070361 - 11 Jul 2023

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2782

Abstract

Madagascar’s vast oceanic space hosts distant-water fishing (DWF) fleets from Taiwan, Japan, South Korea, Spain, France and others since the 1960s, making DWF a substantial component of the blue economy. Considering this extensive experience of managing DWF activities for more than 60 years, this paper explores the existing policy frameworks and challenges regarding managing DWF. The results show while it is well equipped legally, the country is struggling to implement its national policies and laws while continuing to adopt new management frameworks. This is due to a limited coherence on long-term policy making and policy implementation, resulting in a mismatch between the two, and a paradoxical vision that promotes DWF without the means to monitor fishing activities and their impacts. The existing institutional settings and governance frameworks make change possible in Madagascar’s approach to DWF. To improve the management of DWF, this paper outlines four pathways. These include (i) a greater attention on the implementation, harmonisation and evaluation of existing policies and projects; (ii) continuing efforts on transparency for DWF operations and contract negotiations; (iii) realigning aspirations and policies with local needs; and (iv) taking better advantage of measures adopted at the regional Indian Ocean level to improve national management of DWF. An efficient implementation of an improved policy and legal framework could contribute to strengthening the governance of DWF activities toward sustaining national benefits while preserving coastal livelihoods. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fisheries and Blue Economy)

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16 pages, 9290 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Changes in Abundance and Distribution of the Sea Pen, Funiculina quadrangularis, in the Central Adriatic Sea (Mediterranean Basin) in Response to Variations in Trawling Intensity

by Michela Martinelli, Lorenzo Zacchetti, Andrea Belardinelli, Filippo Domenichetti, Paolo Scarpini, Pierluigi Penna, Damir Medvešek, Igor Isajlović and Nedo Vrgoč

Fishes 2023, 8(7), 347; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes8070347 - 1 Jul 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2597

Abstract

Marine resources exploitation through bottom trawling affects marine ecosystems; thus, management should consider the presence of sensitive species as ecosystem health indicators. Epibenthic organisms such as sea pens are widely used to assess benthic conditions, as their populations are declining where trawling is intense. The Pomo/Jabuka Pits fishing ground in the Adriatic Sea, subject to various management measures over the years, is a nursery for European hake and hosts a small, but dense, population of Norway lobster and a remarkable abundance of pink shrimp. The sea pen Funiculina quadrangularis shares its habitat (sandy-muddy bottoms) with these crustaceans. Through UnderWater TeleVision surveys conducted from 2012 to 2019, F. quadrangularis abundance and distribution were quantified in relation to changes in the spatiotemporal distribution of fishing efforts. The average density (n/m²) of colonies was calculated for three periods: BEFORE implementation of measures (before 1 July 2015), during an INTERMEDIATE period in which limitations changed (2 July 2015 to 31 August 2017), and AFTER the implementation of a Fishery Restricted Area (from 1 September 2017). F. quadrangularis revealed an increase in density where fisheries were closed, even after a short period. This showed how management measures can positively influence epibenthic communities and that sea pens can be indicators of impact and/or recovery of habitats. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fisheries and Blue Economy)

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12 pages, 1161 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

(Un)wanted Fish: Potential Consumers’ Acceptability of Landings in the Portuguese Case

by Jorge Ramos, Pedro G. Lino, Jaime Aníbal and Eduardo Esteves

Fishes 2023, 8(6), 324; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes8060324 - 18 Jun 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2118

Abstract

The Landing Obligation (LO), introduced in 2015 by the Common Fisheries Policy of the European Union (EU-CFP), has been subject to a transitional period until recently. The rationale behind the measure is that all fish species subject to a total allowable catch (TAC) must be landed to increase the sustainability of fishing activities. Through the analysis of official statistical data, it is possible to find out which species of fish were landed and their relative importance, including their monetary value, and verify the potential for consumer acceptance. Some insights are drawn from the interconnection between these three factors (i.e., social acceptability, landings of main fish species, and their market value) with empirical results and the scientific literature using data from Portugal. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fisheries and Blue Economy)

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15 pages, 4131 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Investigating the Relationship between Aquaculture Investments, Training, and Environmental Factors in Guangdong: An Alternative Perspective

by Peiwen Wang, Isabel Mendes and Ramona Franić

Fishes 2023, 8(5), 237; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes8050237 - 1 May 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2188

Abstract

This study investigates the interplay between investment, training, and environmental factors in the aquaculture industry in the Guangdong region of China. Using NIPALS regression to address multicollinearity, we identify the factors that significantly impact losses of aquaculture products due to environmental factors. Our findings highlight the importance of targeted training and education for fisherfolks and extension staff to enhance environmental management practices and reduce losses. We also emphasize the need to consider regional variability and challenges in developing universal models. Based on our results, we propose using innovative technology, fostering public–private partnerships, and adapting to regional variability to address environmental challenges. Finally, we suggest establishing a comprehensive monitoring and evaluation system to assess the effectiveness of interventions and promote evidence-based decision-making for sustainable development in the region’s aquaculture sector. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fisheries and Blue Economy)

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12 pages, 2794 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sampling Error and Its Implication for Capture Fisheries Management in Ghana

by Temiloluwa Jesutofunmi Akinyemi, Denis Worlanyo Aheto and Wisdom Akpalu

Fishes 2022, 7(6), 333; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes7060333 - 12 Nov 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3061

Abstract

Capture fisheries in developing countries provide significant animal protein and directly supports the livelihoods of several communities. However, the misperception of biophysical dynamics owing to a lack of adequate scientific data has contributed to the suboptimal management in marine capture fisheries. This is because yield and catch potentials are sensitive to the quality of catch and effort data. Yet, studies on fisheries data collection practices in developing countries are hard to find. This study investigates the data collection methods utilized by fisheries technical officers within the four fishing regions of Ghana. We found that the officers employed data collection and sampling procedures which were not consistent with the technical guidelines curated by FAO. For example, 50 instead of 166 landing sites were sampled, while 290 instead of 372 canoes were sampled. We argue that such sampling errors could result in the over-capitalization of capture fish stocks and significant losses in resource rents. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fisheries and Blue Economy)

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31 pages, 3070 KiB

Open AccessReview

Recent Advances in Tilapia Production for Sustainable Developments in Indian Aquaculture and Its Economic Benefits

by Manikandan Arumugam, Sudharshini Jayaraman, Arun Sridhar, Vignesh Venkatasamy, Paul B. Brown, Zulhisyam Abdul Kari, Guillermo Tellez-Isaias and Thirumurugan Ramasamy

Fishes 2023, 8(4), 176; https://doi.org/10.3390/fishes8040176 - 24 Mar 2023

Cited by 41 | Viewed by 20750

Abstract

Tilapia is a widely cultured species native to Africa; these fish are prolific breeders and constitute an economically important fish species supplying higher-quality protein. To meet the global food demand and achieve the UN’s Sustainable Developmental Goals (SDG), the aquaculture industry has conceived of productive solutions with the potential for adaptability, palatability, and profitability. Tilapia may play a vital role with respect to the possibility for sustainability in the nutrition and aquaculture sectors. India contributes to the promotion of aquacultural practices through a structural framework focused on agricultural, environmental, geographical, and socio-economic factors that provide opportunities for tilapia farming. Globally, the Indian aquaculture sector is currently the second largest in terms of aquacultural production but is moving toward different species that meet SDG and facilitate international marketing opportunities. The farming of aquacultural species with innovative technology constitutes an efficient use of resources. Productive research on feeding, disease management, construction, and layout helps overcome the challenges faced in aquaculture. These focused and sustained factors of the aquaculture industry offer a latent contribution to global food security. This review reports on the state of the art, the challenges regarding tilapia aquaculture in India, and the Indian government’s schemes, missions, subsidies, projects and funding related to tilapia production. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Fisheries and Blue Economy)

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