Dynamics of Fishing Gear and Spatial Allocation of Fishing Effort in a Multispecies Fleet

Optimization of fishing effort allocation and efficient deployment of fishing gear are necessary for successful management of multispecies fisheries. Campeche Bank, located in the southwestern Gulf of Mexico, provides an opportunity to understand fishing effort and fishing gear dynamics through the analysis of the fishing operations of a semi-industrial fleet and obtain insights into how to identify management units for these types of fisheries. We analyzed the operation of this fleet over 4 years by splitting it into groups and then fully describing the behavior of each one. Our analysis was based on two data sets, including records from logbooks (8,390 fishing trips) and interviews with skippers from fishing vessels at the landing ports (882 trips). We used multivariate statistical techniques (SIMPER, hierarchical cluster analysis, and nonmetric multidimensional scaling analysis) to define targeted species and define the groups (metiers). Geographical information systems tools helped us to identify the spatial distribution of fishing effort by gear on an annual and monthly basis. We identified four different groups that resulted from the combination of fishing gear, target species, and fishing zones. Shifting behavior between gears and target species was a fishing strategy developed by several vessels, and technological interactions were evident between two gear types that employ longlines. Spatial allocation of fishing effort indicated a preference for certain fishing zones by vessels that operated two of the four gears. This pattern was consistent throughout the years studied; however, monthly differences did exist. The results provide information to identify management units in multispecies fisheries through the identification of metiers and the understanding of fishing strategies.